Choosing the right care provider

Pregnancy and birth are often times of great excitement, mixed with a spoonful of trepidation and a sprinkling of anxiety. Knowing that you are in safe hands, receiving high quality care that is respectful of your choices and needs, can be invaluable to your emotional well being – not just during pregnancy and birth, but also after baby has arrived.  A positive birth experience goes a long way to a happy transition in to parenthood. We hear expert views from www.privatemidwives.com

Key questions

There are many options and choices. NHS or private? Home, birth centre or hospital? Obstetric led or midwife led. Some women want a natural birth with minimal intervention whilst others want an elective caesarean or an epidural. When researching your care provider, there are a number of key questions you should ask:

  • Am I being cared for by someone I know and can trust?
  • Is it important that I have continuity and see the same person all the time?
  • Do I need flexibility in my appointments? Can you have appointments out of normal hours so your partner can be involved without having to take time off work?
  • Do I want a low-tech birth or a high-tech birth?
  • Is my care provider listening to me and respecting my choices?
  • Does my care provider meet the quality standards expected? You can find out all about this by visiting the Care Quality Commission website and looking up the last inspection   report.
  • Does my care provider have appropriate indemnity insurance to practice legally?
  • What is the outcome data for a provider? If you want a VBAC[1] or a home birth, can you be sure that your provider has the skills to support you? How many women having a           home birth do they care for and how many are transferred to hospital?
  • How many women who use the service would recommend it to a friend or a family member? How many women complain about their care?
  • Does your provider have the resources you need; such as pools for a water birth or an epidural service if that is what you want?

Knowing all of this information before you are pregnant or early in pregnancy, means you can feel in control and make informed choices about what you want. Don’t be afraid to change care provider to one that meets your needs.

[1] Vaginal Birth after Caesarean Section

 

What can we offer you?

For those of you who are considering private midwifery care, Private Midwives may be the right option for you. We are a well established company providing care throughout most areas of the UK and also the Republic of Ireland. All of our midwives are experienced, skilled midwives who are dedicated to supporting you in your birth choices – whatever they may be.

We allocate a midwife to you. One who you can get to know throughout your care. She is available in between appointments for advice and support. She will have a small case load of mums to look after so she can make sure you have all the time and attention you need.

We pride ourselves on working in collaboration with the NHS, as they provide an invaluable service. In some areas, we are able to “rent a room” in an NHS birth centre and your own private midwife who you know and trust can care for you during birth within that facility.

In most areas, we can offer a home birth service and this can include us providing a new birthing pool, liner and connection kit to you, along with some gas & air. Your experienced home birth midwife is fully committed to supporting you to birth at home and will respect your choices and wishes.

In pretty much all areas, we can provide antenatal care in your own home at a time convenient to you. We can accompany you into hospital and be a professional support and advocate during birth, and we can provide extended postnatal care for up to six weeks.

How do we compare?

Looking at the questions above, how do we compare?

  • You will get to know your midwife and the same midwife will be with you throughout all of your care[1] The latest evidence shows that continuity of care provider has better               outcomes for mum and baby.
  • You can have appointments in your own home at weekends or in the evenings so you can all share this exciting journey into parenthood together. Appointments are unhurried         with plenty of time to ask questions and explore options and choices.
  • We will always aim to give you information, explore your choices with you and support you in the choices you make. We will never pressurise you or try to frighten you with     stories of what might go wrong.
  • We are fully registered with the Care Quality Commission. All of our midwives are regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council[2]
  • We have full indemnity cover comparable to that of the NHS. Our cover has been deemed appropriate and adequate by the regulators.
  • We can provide a pool at home. Or we can assist you to access the services you need elsewhere.

Our outcome data [3]

  • For women who commence labour in our care, 89% go on to have a normal, healthy birth without medical intervention. This includes some women who have not had straight           forward pregnancies in the past.
  • For women who had a previous Caesarean Section and commence labour in our care, 70% go on to have a normal vaginal birth without medical intervention.
  • 98% of women in our care choose to breast feed their baby.
  • 100% of women who commence breast feeding are still breast feeding on discharge, thanks to the continued help and support we provide.
  • Only 7% of women who booked a home birth with us, required transfer to hospital in labour.
  • 96% of women who use our service would recommend us to friends or family and less than 3% had any concerns about our service.

[1] You may be introduced to a “back up” midwife to look after you, should your midwife be unexpectedly unavailable due to illness for example. Last year, 99% of our mums were cared for by their named midwife.
[2] In The Republic of Ireland, they are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
[3] Data from 2015/16

What next?

As a private provider, there is a cost to our services, but we try to keep this as low as possible and we do have flexible payment options available to you. We believe we offer a high quality, safe service at an affordable price. This gives you peace of mind and the best possible start to life as a new family.

If you would like to know more, please give us a call or visit our website.

Tel: 0800 3800 579  Website:  www.privatemidwives.com  Email: Info@ukbirthcentres.com