What is a Private Midwife?

A private (independent) midwife is contracted by families, not hospitals.  In NSW, private midwives are accountable to the Nurses and Midwives Board of NSW.  Additionally, midwives practice according to safe and professional standards such as The Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics (ANMC).  Private midwives follow professional, evidence-based guidelines established by the Australian College of Midwives, and we consult and refer care when needed to the appropriate professional.

Midwives are the qualified specialists in normal pregnancy and birth.  The World Health Organisation (WHO) accepts midwives as the most appropriate professionals for healthy pregnant and birthing women.  Midwives are educated in all aspects of normal pregnancy, birth and postnatal care, and importantly, are also educated in detecting complications and accessing obstetric care if needed.

As a private midwife, I value the relationship I develop with you during your pregnancy and look forward to working with families to ensure their confidence as they approach their birth.

Why have midwifery care?

A recent study presented several advantages to midwifery care.  The study was large, involving 12,276 women. Women who had midwifery care were:

• Less likely to be hospitalised during pregnancy
• Less likely to have an epidural
• Less likely to have an episiotomy
• Less likely to require forceps or a ventouse birth

They were more likely to:

• Have a normal vaginal birth
• Feel in control during labour and birth
• Breastfeed

How is a midwife different to a doula?

A midwife is the primary care provider for low-risk pregnant, birthing and postnatal women.

Both midwives and doulas provide emotional and physical support to women in labour and birth, and work with labouring women to suggest position changes and provide emotional support.

Midwives are registered health professionals, usually with a university degree or two and they are recognised by legislation.  The doula industry is not regulated and formal qualifications are not required.  There are no formal standards of practice for doulas, however it is illegal for doulas to provide midwifery services such as giving advice, clinical opinion or clinical care.

Midwives are educated in skills such as newborn resuscitation and care of the pregnant, birthing and postnatal woman - including knowledge of how to keep the pregnancy and birth normal.  Midwives are also educated to know when medical care is necessary, and they can execute emergency measures while waiting for medical care to arrive.

Midwives can offer professional advice and clinical care, whereas doulas cannot advise or comment on clinical practices and cannot provide clinical care such as listening to the baby's heart rate, checking blood pressure etc.

Midwives can book and attend a home birth as the primary care provider, whereas doulas attend births in a support role with a midwife or doctor as the primary care provider.

Working together, midwives and doulas make a great team for the pregnant and birthing couple, however, the outcome for any birth will depend on the knowledge, skill, judgment and experience of the couple's chosen midwife or doctor, and the couple's determination to have a healthy and safe birth experience.