What is a Private Midwife and How Much Does it Cost?

What is a private midwife and how much does it cost?

It's one of the most Googled questions in preg

nancy, and if you've landed here, you're probably weighing it up. So let me give you a straight answer.

What actually is a private midwife?

A private midwife (also called an independent midwife) is a fully qualified, NMC registered midwife who works outside of the NHS. That means I'm not employed by a hospital or trust. I work for you.

It sounds simple, but the difference in experience is significant.

In the NHS, midwives do incredible work under enormous pressure. But the system wasn't built around you as an individual. Appointments are short (we're talking 15 to 20 minutes), teams rotate, and continuity of carer seeing the same midwife throughout your pregnancy and birth, is something most families never experience.

With me, appointments are at least an hour, often two. There's always time for a cuppa, a proper chat, and every question you didn't know you needed to ask. Nobody is watching the clock. Nobody is rushing you out of the door. This is your pregnancy and your care, and it gets the time and attention it deserves.

What does a private midwife actually do?

This varies depending on the package you choose, but at Brighter Births, full birth care includes:

Antenatal appointments from as early as 10 weeks, all in the comfort of your own home, with as much time as you need. Pregnancy massage and complementary therapies to support your wellbeing and prepare your body for birth. 1:1 antenatal/hypnobirthing course. A second midwife at your birth. And six weeks of postnatal care including feeding support, baby checks and as much time as you need to recover well.

I'm also on call for you from 37 weeks, so when labour starts, you're not ringing a labour ward and speaking to a stranger. You're calling me.

Where do you support births?

This is a question I love answering because the answer might surprise you.

You don't have to be planning a home birth to benefit from having an independent midwife. I support families across home birth, birth centre, and hospital labour ward settings.

At home, I lead your care completely (unless you want the NHS team there, then i'm an advocate and support for you and your partner). In a birth centre or on a labour ward, I work alongside the NHS team as your advocate, making sure your voice is heard, your choices are respected, and you never feel alone in the room.

Whatever you're planning, having a familiar face who already knows you and your wishes changes everything.

How much does a private midwife cost?

I won't dance around it. Independent midwifery is an investment, and it's worth being honest about that.

Full birth care at Brighter Births is £8,900, which includes everything from early pregnancy through to six weeks postnatal. I also offer payment plans to spread the cost, and I'm always happy to have a conversation about bespoke packages if full birth care isn't what you're looking for.

For context, many families find that when they break it down across the months of care they receive, it's a more manageable figure than it first appears. And for a very small number of families each year, it's genuinely life changing.

Is it worth it?

I'd be biased answering that, so I'll let a client do it instead:

"From the moment she came round to see me I felt a weight lifted. All the stresses and uncertainties of pregnancy and birth were discussed and I felt heard and supported, which was a feeling I didn't experience through the system." — Saphire

That's what this is really about.

If you're curious about whether Brighter Births could be the right fit for your family, I'd love to hear from you. No pressure, no hard sell. Just a conversation.

Get in touch here

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