What is a Private Midwife?

A private midwife is a professional who supports the mother before and after birth. The midwife you meet and bond with before birth will support you like a sister during delivery and help you complete your birth experience with positive feelings. The private midwife also provides emotional and positive support to the mother until the breastfeeding period.

Mothers who receive one-on-one support during pregnancy and birth feel more comfortable and secure throughout the process. This helps make the birth process considerably more comfortable.

Working with a professional midwife during birth helps create a comfortable and safe environment. The mother can discuss her preferred birth method, requests, and other expectations with the private midwife. The midwife maintains constant communication with the doctor. The doctor, midwife, and mother collaborate closely.

What Are the Advantages of a Private Midwife?

A private midwife, who stays with the mother from pregnancy to the breastfeeding period, helps fulfill birth preferences set during pregnancy and ensures a safe birth environment. The health status of the baby and mother is monitored.

The mother is also relaxed using appropriate massage and breathing techniques. A professional midwife is always by the mother’s side at the center of the birth. With her medical knowledge and experience, she provides informational support. The mother, whose preferences are respected and whose medical questions are addressed, experiences the birth process with less stress and better health.

• The risk of complications decreases with a private midwife.
• The birth process is completed much more comfortably.
• Birth is completed naturally when possible, with less need for interventions such as induction, vacuum, or cesarean.
• The likelihood of choosing epidural and other painkillers decreases.

What Does a Private Midwife Not Do?

• A private midwife does not have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the mother and father. She supports the family when needed and reviews birth plans sharing medical considerations.
• She does not make any requests to the doctor without the consent of the mother and father.
• She maintains constant communication with the doctor and does not make independent decisions.

What Does a Private Midwife Do During Birth?

• Before birth, she provides the mother and father with both emotional and medical information about pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.
• She medically explains all birth preferences and informs the mother what to expect.
• She supports the mother throughout the birth process.
• She helps the birthing mother understand general hospital procedures and make informed decisions.
• She supports the mother in active birth positions.
• She provides physical and emotional support through massage or simple touch.
• She repeatedly reminds the mother of breathing techniques during birth.
• She helps protect privacy.
• She supports the father and informs him on how to support the mother.
• She uses positive affirmations.
• In early labor, she provides home birth monitoring and supports the mother until transfer to the hospital.
• After birth, she visits the home to evaluate breastfeeding and supports the transition to life with the baby.

What is One-on-One Midwife Support?

One-on-one midwife support begins in the active labor phase, when regular contractions start, meeting the mother at the hospital and staying by her side until birth and first breastfeeding are complete, providing continuous support.

It does not include home visits before or after birth. Its purpose is to ensure the mother is not alone in the hospital and to help her complete the process with positive feelings. During the hospital stay, the private midwife provides all her services.