Birth Rites: Independent midwife services in London

If you are looking for an independent midwife, Birth Rites has over 35 years of independent midwifery experience. We are members of the Royal College of Midwives, the Independent Midwives' Association and the Radical Midwives' Association.

 

All visits take place in your own home. Our first visit is an opportunity to get to know one another in a friendly and unhurried atmosphere while a full medical and maternity history is taken. We then visit you regularly to check your urine, blood pressure, the growth of your baby and your general well being, to talk through any concerns, and to prepare for your baby's (or babies') birth and your care afterwards.

 

There is an array of screening, diagnostic tests and scans, changing constantly as new research and technology becomes available. We are happy to discuss these and help you to decide which, if any, are right for you, then book them either privately or through the NHS.

 

A series of 6-8 Natural Childbirth and Parenting Evenings is offered 3-4 times per year. Holding these evenings is our way of providing you with information to help you make choices and prepare for the birth and afterwards. It is also an opportunity to meet with other women / couples. Topics include: 'Preparing and coping with labour', 'When things don't go as you planned', 'Is there life after birth?', and 'Breastfeeding'.

We are on call 24 hours a day. We are there to support you by providing midwifery care during your labour and your baby's birth . We stay with you until you are both comfortably settled. If you need help in labour that requires transfer to hospital, we arrange this and accompany you throughout. We may be able to continue your midwifery care in conjunction with the hospital team. If all is well we can assist you and your baby to go home very soon after the birth.

 

We place great emphasis on the importance of good aftercare, individualised to suit you, your baby and your family circumstances. At first we visit daily, gradually spacing the visits as you gain in confidence, recover from the birth and your baby's feeding becomes established. We tailor the length and number of visits to your needs. Ninety-eight per cent of the women we work with are fully breast feeding their babies by the time we discharge them from our care. A demonstration of baby massage can also be included. Very importantly, we spend time discussing your birth experience, answering any questions and explaining the maternity notes with you. We encourage women to be well supported by friends and family during this time to enable them to rest sufficiently and to enjoy these early days. This, we believe, lays the foundations for confident and successful parenting.

 

Birth Rites