Hi,
An independent midwife and a doula are not the same thing. A midwife is medically trained and can provide you with continuity of care for your pre-and post natal times. If you opt for a hospital birth, then they will act as a doula for the actually birth, as independent midwives no longer have hospital rights anywhere in London. The can also be your advocate at the hospital and speak medical speak to the midwives and doctors and be able to give you sound medical advice on your options.
Doulas do not have any medical training. They can't provide you with your prenatal care, so if you hire one, you will still have to deal with the NHS for prenatal care or also hire an independent midwife. They can coach you through the birth, give lots of encouragement and suggest positions to relieve the pain, but they most likely will not hold the same clout as a midwife, if you want the option to question what the doctors/midwives in hospital want you to do.
Postnatally, they will both help you to establish breastfeeding, however, a doula will also stay around and make tea and food for you and help out with the baby (if you pay for it). A midwife will come everyday for the first 10 day - 2 weeks to make sure you and baby are fine, answer questions, do the checks on the baby, take bloods, check your tear/incision if there is any to check. The first visit could be a few hours and then will become 15-30 min as you and the baby settle in and if everything is going well. The midwife will then visit every few days, then weekly until she discharges you around 6 weeks.
I used Melody Weig (
www.birthrites.uk.com) for both of my kids. When I first got in touch with her, I was planning a hospital birth (even though I had always wanted a home birth, but thought I couldn't really do it in a flat and my husband wasn't keen). She recommended St George's, as they are the most midwifery led of the hospitals.
After meeting with her, she addressed my concerns, and more importantly my husband's, so we opted for a home birth. It was my first and everyone thought I was crazy and reckless, but I had a fantastic birth experience and really wish more woman felt comfortable opting for it.
It was empowering. Quick and much less painful than I expected. And the best bit of a home birth is that you get to crawl into your bed at the end of it. No hospital ward. No painful ride home. No MSRA (I have a near phobia about hospitals and germs, which is why I was so keen for a home birth.) And you get to control your environment and who's around.
I had total faith in Melody. She's been practicing as an independent midwife since 1985. She's seen it all, she's done it all. She stays calm. She recognises when things aren't going right, and knows when to transfer.
Her fee also includes hypno-birthing and a birth pool. The hypnosis helped for both births. My first came before the pool was up and my second was born in the pool. It's very nice for pain and being able to get into positions that you wouldn't be able to do except in a near weightless environment.
