Midwives view pregnancy and childbirth as a normal life event, and they are the key professionals in ensuring women have a safe and satisfactory experience throughout pregnancy. The Community Midwives service offers a model of care where, where possible, you’ll see the same small team of midwives across your pregnancy — in the hospital or at an outreach clinic closer to home.
Women whose pregnancies are low risk are eligible to attend. You’ll have the option of having your care provided by a team of midwives throughout the antenatal period, either at the hospital or at an outreach clinic.
If your pregnancy becomes higher-risk at any point, you’ll continue to be supported — but some of your appointments may move to the consultant-led clinics, working closely with the midwives team.
The benefits of choosing the midwives clinic include:
At your first hospital booking visit, if you’d like to be cared for by the midwives team, you can ask to be referred by:
Let your maternity team know early — preferably at the booking visit — so we can plan your care from the start.
Most women will see the same small team rather than one individual midwife. This gives continuity while making sure someone familiar is always available.
Yes. Midwives clinics support hospital births — the difference is in who provides your antenatal and (where eligible) postnatal care, not where you give birth.
If your delivery is straightforward and you live within the catchment area, a midwife can visit you at home in the days following the birth, so you can go home earlier and recover in familiar surroundings. Ask your midwives if you may be suitable.
If a complication develops, your care will be reviewed and you may be seen by a consultant team. The midwives stay involved in your care wherever possible.
