Basic Package

The basic package is the budget option with care starting at 28 weeks until 2 weeks postnatal. 

The basic care package is the option that, with minimal appointments, still allows for some time to prepare for birth and mimics the antenatal and postnatal care you receive on the NHS but with appointments still lasting 2 hours. There is still time for discussions around birth but this package is better suited for women that have had a baby before. It has added extras, Entonox and TENS hire.

Care starts preferably at 28 weeks but it can be started up to 34 weeks if I have the availability to schedule the same number of appointments in a reduced time frame. Postnatal care is short, bare this in mind if you think you will need extra support with breastfeeding. This package requires care on the NHS up to 28 weeks. Labour care is included whether at home or the hospital but please note that I cannot offer direct clinical care a hospital setting but I can support you with decision making and coping strategies. I will be available for you by phone or  text anytime during working hours. Mileage included up to 1 hour or 50 miles.

This package includes

Click the boxes to find out more.

Antenatal features

10 antenatal appointments starting at 28 weeks

You get

• Appointments at 28, 31, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 weeks • Weekend home appointments available • Support during scans or consultant appointments • Partner and children welcomed • 5h of personalized birth preparation

Postnatal features

5 Postnatal appointments over 2 weeks

You also get

• Appointments on day 1, 3, 5, 10 and 14 • NIPE check included • Newborn Blood spot • Limited breastfeeding support • Babywearing advice • Co-sleeping advice • Elimination communication demo • Cloth nappies demo

Birth features

Homebirth or hospital birth**

The important bit

• On Call from 37 weeks • TENS hire with pads • 10L Entonox • Birth insurance • All equipment, notes and drugs needed for your care • A second midwife for your birth

Extra features

Because you deserve it

Amazing!

• Basic goody bag worth £100 • Mileage up to 50 miles or 1h

What is special about this package?

MATERNITY COVER

Care for 4 months from late pregnancy (28 weeks) until 2 weeks postnatal.

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

If you don’t need ENTONOX you can save £170

EXTRA TREATS

Extra treats: A goody bag worth £100.

Not included: birthing pool, scans, blood tests, consultant care.

It is advisable to still book your pregnancy on the NHS so you can access these services and speed up a potential hospital admission if you ever need one. If you do not want to access NHS care at all in pregnancy, do not worry, there are services I can refer you to.

Package pricing

Basic package

Perfect if:

– You are on a budget but you still want an independent midwife.

– It is your second baby so you do not need much birth preparation, but there is time to go over your choices if the NHS is not supporting your home birth. 

– You had a successful breastfeeding journey with a previous baby.

– You have your own slings and cloth nappies but you would like some extra advice.

Package price

£6000

Total service value of this package totals £6,330. By booking the comprehensive package you will save 5%

Not sure if this package is for you?

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Any questions?

Resources For Fetal Heart Monitoring

1.When did we start monitoring babies in labour?

For more high quality evidence around fetal monitoring please visit Kirsten website here, an obstetrician with a PHD in CTGs. https://birthsmalltalk.com/

In this post she discusses intermittent auscultation: https://birthsmalltalk.com/2023/08/23/what-is-intermittent-auscultation/

Hear her talk about the lack of evidence behind CTGs in this podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1eXZY973Oxbs1ducavpSAk?si=872f8c4077be4ba5

Post on the history of fetal heart monitoring: https://birthsmalltalk.com/2023/08/09/listening-to-the-fetus-the-history-of-fetal-heart-rate-monitoring/

Cochrane review comparing CTG to intermittent ausculation (CTG increases interventions
): https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006066.pub3/full

Does CTG use improve outcomes for high risk women? https://birthsmalltalk.com/2024/10/16/the-story-behind-our-paper/

2. How should we use intermittent auscultation in labour?

These are the NICE guidelines for fetal monitoring in labour: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng229/chapter/Recommendations

Midwife researcher and lecturer Rachel Reed has a brilliant article and podcast about this where she unpicks the evidence around the recommendations for intermittent auscultation protocols here https://www.rachelreed.website/blog/listening-to-baby-during-labour

and podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3sJeIR3xUOr20EBRGilHxl?si=818537594dd04457

The WHO recommendations for intrapartum care: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/260178/9789241550215-eng.pdf?sequence=1

3. How does intermittent auscultation detect fetal distress?

For more on normal and abnormal heart rate monitoring watch this explanatory video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni48bbtiZgs

4. What happens if there are concerns with the fetal heart rate at a homebirth?

NICE guidelines for fetal monitoring in labour: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng229/chapter/Recommendations

5.What is better for fetal monitoring in labour: a Doppler or a Pinard/fetoscope?

To read about the research and the experiences of midwives using a fetoscope/pinard antenatally and in labour check these links out.

Short facebook comments compiled in this magazine here: https://www.midwiferytoday.com/mt-articles/wisdom-of-the-midwives-issue-131/

Midwives perceptions of fetoscope vrs Doppler Tanzania https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-018-1736-y

Midwives experiences of Pinard use Norway https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266613822000407

Defense of fetoscope article by American midwives

https://hearthandhomemidwifery.com/blog/fetoscope-a-tool-of-the-midwifery-trade#:~:text=Fetoscope%20uses%20go%20beyond%20just,birthing%20person%20and%20the%20baby.

A Cochrane review that compares Doppler and Pinard use in low income countries: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD008680.pub2/full

For a compilation of research that compares the use of Doppler to Pinard check this link: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/content?templateType=related&urlTitle=%2Fcentral%2Fdoi%2F10.1002%2Fcentral%2FCN-01110791&doi=10.1002%2Fcentral%2FCN-01110791&p_p_id=scolariscontentdisplay_WAR_scolariscontentdisplay&_scolariscontentdisplay_WAR_scolariscontentdisplay_action=related-content&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_mode=view&type=central&contentLanguage=

6. What if you decline some or all fetal auscultations?

Is fetal monitoring essential?: https://birthsmalltalk.com/2024/11/06/myth-busting-3-fetal-monitoring-is-essential/

7. What to bear in mind about intermittent auscultation in labour?

Examples of womens experiences of fetal auscultation in labour: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871519224002658#bib14