The Personal Touch from MOM

With NHS constraints meaning less antenatal and postnatal care for mums-to-be, is 2012 set to see a boom of private midwifery services?

Elite speaks to Catherine, Mum of two, and one of the four very qualified members of My Own Midwife, a private, bespoke midwifery service for Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and West Yorkshire, who believes that women are beginning to search outside their local hospital for a more personal touch.

My Own Midwife is made up of Catherine, Janet, Andrea and Colette. “We’re not just four midwives, we’re four friends,” Catherine says. They have shared experience and friendship together for years, and have helped each other through the worries and fears of pregnancy (each Mum has two children). This is what inspired them to set up a one-to-one home consultation service for pregnant women, providing advice and reassurance through those daunting nine months. Soon their clients were asking more and more for antenatal and postnatal care, and so MOM was born, with the aim to give fantastic, individualised care to Mums and Dads all over the North West, from the beginning of pregnancy, all the way up to six weeks after birth.

At only one year old, MOM is quickly growing in popularity. Their antenatal, postnatal and breastfeeding support is a hit with expecting parents everywhere, and their “pay as you go” service means Mums can personalise their package, choosing to dip in and out of sessions to compliment NHS care, or use MOM as a stand-alone service. Catherine also talks about their individual parent education which gives advice on looking after your newborn baby; “We have some set topics, but it’s really a client led, personalised session that covers whatever the parents want to know – great for first-time parents!” And it seems Mums and Dads want MOM to be there for everything, including labour, which Catherine says unfortunately isn’t possible – yet.

The only barrier stopping MOM from providing care during labour in hospital or at home is insurance, as with all private midwives who work independently from the NHS. For now, it is possible for them to offer their complete services in all other areas of pregnancy, and they will give all their advice on labour and maternity care to every client, making sure mum and dad can experience a happy birth wherever they are. “It’s the final piece of the jigsaw,” Catherine says, “and it’s a work-in-progress.”

Labour services aren’t the only work-in-progress for this blossoming business. They have introduced private amniocentesis and CVS sampling at Bridgewater Hospital recently, but in 2012 Catherine says MOM is planning to increase their services even more. Along with an update to their already informative website, an early pregnancy assessment is being planned which will include a scan and consultation. Glucose tolerance tests, which can reveal diabetes in pregnant Mothers through a simple blood testing process, are in development, and GBS screening clinic is also in progress. “We’ve got loads planned for the New Year,” she says, “it’s so exciting!”

One fantastic quality of MOM that shines through the rest is the care and attention that every midwife takes to ensure every client is looked after. “Emails are second nature to us now,” Catherine says, “it doesn’t cost a thing to keep in touch and make sure our Mums are OK.” All four midwives operate in the same way, a testament to their long lasting friendship and passion for their job. “It comes naturally to us, to want to provide a good service and a special and unique experience for every parent.” So if you’re a Mum-to-be wanting more, whether it’s your first baby or your fourth, we guarantee you will find the personal touch you’re looking for with your own private midwife from MOM.

To book your consultation today, ring 0808 186 5205

www.myownmidwife.co.uk