Ideally in early pregnancy to build the relationship that supports you through the whole journey. I occasionally have space for later bookings, so reach out even if you are further along..
You can choose to have NHS care alongside private midwifery, or private midwifery only. It is your right to access NHS maternity services, and we encourage booking with your local trust so you can access NHS-funded blood tests and scans throughout your pregnancy.
Some women use the 10 Moons package for pregnancy support while planning to birth with the NHS. Others choose full independent care including birth. If you book with the NHS, I can attend appointments with you if helpful and advocate for your preferences.
We can discuss what works best for your situation on the exploration call.
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I stay with you and advocate for your preferences. In hospital, my role becomes non-clinical – I support you emotionally and help ensure your voice is heard. I maintain relationships with local units across Sussex and surrounding areas to ensure continuity of care wherever your birth unfolds.
It’s not better – it’s different.
The difference is relationship and true continuity of care. You have one midwife who knows your story.
Research shows that continuity of care improves outcomes – fewer interventions, better birth experiences, and stronger postnatal wellbeing.
Bodies respond to feeling safe with someone who knows them.
Independent midwifery offers what the system often can’t: the time to build the kind of relationship that allows your body to do its best work.
It depends on your specific situation, and we explore it together honestly.
Some conditions that fall outside standard guidelines can still be safely supported at home with the right preparation and monitoring and individual assessment.
We discuss your full history on the exploration call. I’ll be honest about what I can safely support and what I can’t.
The conversation is always: what does your body need, what are the risks and benefits and what feels right for you.
Birthrights (birthrights.org.uk)
The UK’s leading charity dedicated to improving women’s experience of pregnancy and childbirth by promoting respect for human rights. Essential reading on informed consent, your right to decline interventions, and what to do if things go wrong.
AIMS – Association for Improvements in Maternity Services (aims.org.uk)
A vital resource for understanding your maternity rights in the UK. AIMS provides clear, accessible information on everything from birth choices to complaints procedures, and offers one-to-one support when you need to advocate for yourself.
Human Rights in Childbirth
Global movement working to ensure respectful maternity care as a human right. Their resources help you understand what dignified, woman-centered care should look like.
Sara Wickham (sarawickham.com)
Midwife, researcher, and author who translates complex research into practical guidance. Her work on informed decision-making tools and evidence summaries is invaluable for understanding common interventions like membrane sweeps, induction, and vitamin K.
Rachel Reed
Dr. Rachel Reed’s blog breaks down the physiology of birth in accessible, empowering ways. Her articles on the hormonal orchestration of labor, the fetal ejection reflex, and undisturbed birth are essential reading for anyone wanting to understand how birth works when left to unfold naturally.
The Great Birth Rebellion – Melanie Jackson (thegreatbirthrebellion.com / @thegreatbirthrebellion)
Melanie Jackson—midwife, author, and fierce advocate for birth rights—challenges the obstetric status quo with evidence, wit, and unwavering commitment to informed choice.
Dr. Stuart Fischbein
Obstetrician and advocate for physiological birth, VBAC, and vaginal breech birth. His podcast and social media offer a refreshingly woman-centered medical perspective.
Breech Without Borders (breechwithoutborders.org)
International organization providing evidence-based information about breech birth options. Whether you’re hoping for vaginal breech birth or seeking to understand your choices, this is the definitive resource.
Shawn Walker – Breech Birth (shawnwalker.com / @breechandbirth)
Leading international expert in physiological breech birth. Shawn’s courses and resources offer evidence-based, practical guidance on supporting vaginal breech birth safely. Her work is internationally recognized and essential for anyone seeking to understand breech mechanics, assessment, and the skills needed to support physiological breech birth with confidence.
Optimal Birth – Biomechanics for Birth (optimalbirth.co.uk / @biomechanicsforbirth)
Specialized education on the biomechanics of physiological birth—how position, movement, and pelvic dynamics facilitate optimal fetal positioning and labor progress. This resource bridges traditional midwifery wisdom with modern understanding of how babies navigate the birth canal, offering practical guidance on supporting physiological birth through body mechanics and movement.
Birt-ed (birt-ed.co.uk / @birt.ed)
Megan Rossiter’s antenatal education combines hypnobirthing techniques with practical preparation for all birth scenarios. Down-to-earth, empowering, and rooted in physiology rather than fear. Birt-ed helps you understand how birth works, build confidence in your body’s abilities, and develop tools for navigating whatever your birth brings—whether that’s homebirth, hospital, or anything in between.
The Positive Birth Company (thepositivebirthcompany.co.uk / @thepositivebirthcompany)
Accessible hypnobirthing courses founded by Siobhan Miller that help you approach birth with confidence rather than anxiety. Their breathing techniques, relaxation tools, and reframing of birth language are genuinely useful for labor. Courses available for hospital birth, homebirth, cesarean birth, and VBAC—proving that positive birth is possible in any setting.
Sara Wickham
“In Your Own Time” series (induction, due dates, post-dates pregnancy)
Evidence-based guides including: “Vitamin K and the Newborn,” “Anti-D Explained,” “Aspirin in Pregnancy”
Rachel Reed
“Why Induction Matters” (Why It Matters series)
“Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage”
Milli Hill
“The Positive Birth Book,” “Give Birth Like a Feminist”
Robin Lim (Ibu Robin)
“After the Baby’s Birth: A Woman’s Way to Wellness,” “Placenta: The Forgotten Chakra”
Ina May Gaskin
“Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth,” “Spiritual Midwifery,” “Birth Matters”
Amity Reed
“The Roar Behind the Silence”
Dr. Michel Odent
“Birth and Breastfeeding,” “The Caesarean,” “Childbirth and the Future of Homo Sapiens”
Heng Ou
“The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother”
“Nine Golden Months: A Holistic Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum””
Heng Ou with Amely Greeven & Marisa Belger
“Awakening Fertility: The Essential Art of Preparing for Pregnancy”
Pam England
“Birthing from Within”
“Ancient Map for Modern Birth”
Toni Weschler
“Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health”
Uma Dinsmore-Tuli
“Yoni Shakti: A Woman’s Guide to Power and Freedom Through Yoga and Tantra”
Giuditta Tornetta
“Painless Childbirth: An Empowering Journey Through Pregnancy and Birth”
Mayim Bialik
“Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident, Loving Children the Attachment Parenting Way”
Kate Evans
“The Food of Love: Your Formula for Successful Breastfeeding”
“Bump: How to Make, Grow and Birth a Baby” (illustrated guide)
Ray Peat
“You Are Your Child’s First Teacher: Encouraging Your Child’s Natural Development from Birth to Age Six”
Pinter & Martin “Why It Matters” series
This accessible book series covers essential topics in bite-sized, evidence-based formats. Other titles include “Why Breastfeeding Matters,” “Why Babywearing Matters,” “Why the Politics of Breastfeeding Matter,” and many more.
Over the years, we’ve learned what actually works, and what doesn’t. We’ve curated Amazon shop lists of products and books that align with physiological birth, evidence-based care, and responsive parenting.
From birth preparation essentials to postpartum recovery, breastfeeding support to our complete reading list, these are the resources and products we trust and recommend to the families we serve.
These are Amazon affiliate links. Any purchases through these links support Rise Midwives at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and books we’ve used clinically or that align with our philosophy of woman-centered, physiological care.
One focused hour with an experienced midwife to discuss your questions, concerns, and birth preferences. Whether you’re considering independent midwifery care, need help interpreting conflicting advice, or want support navigating NHS protocols: we’re here.
This isn’t generic advice. This is your birth, your body, your questions: answered.
Investment: £111
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