A midwife is a specialist practitioner trained to support people through pregnancy, labour, birth, and the early postnatal period. In the UK, midwives are the lead professionals for the majority of straightforward pregnancies, which means that for most people, the midwife is the person they'll see most often throughout this period and the one who provides most of their care.
Midwives hold a regulated qualification and work within the NHS and independently in private practice. Independent midwives, sometimes called private midwives, offer more personalised continuity of care than is always possible within NHS provision, though this comes at significant cost. Doulas, who provide non-clinical emotional and practical support in birth, are a related but distinct role and are covered in a separate article.
Antenatal care
The midwife relationship typically begins with the booking appointment, usually around weeks 8 to 10 of pregnancy. This is a long appointment that covers medical and family history, current health, lifestyle, and the care pathway for the pregnancy. It also involves taking blood samples for a range of routine tests and providing information about the antenatal screening options that will be offered.
Subsequent antenatal appointments are scheduled throughout the pregnancy at intervals that increase in frequency toward the end. These visits involve monitoring the baby's growth and position, checking the pregnant person's blood pressure and urine, reviewing blood test results, and answering questions. For first pregnancies, around ten appointments are offered; for subsequent pregnancies, around seven. Some people choose to supplement NHS midwifery care with private midwifery appointments or additional scans.
"Midwives are trained to care for the whole person, not just the physical pregnancy. The emotional and psychological aspects of this experience are very much within their remit."
Labour and birth
During labour, a midwife is responsible for monitoring the mother and baby, providing physical and emotional support, assessing progress, and managing the birth. In hospital settings, midwives are on shift and may change during a long labour; in home births or birth centre settings, there may be more continuity. Midwives are trained to manage normal labour and birth and to identify complications that require obstetric involvement.
In the UK, it's possible to choose between home birth, a midwifery-led birth centre, or a hospital birth. The right setting depends on individual circumstances, preferences, and any risk factors in the pregnancy, and the midwife is the right person to have that conversation with.
Postnatal visits
After birth, midwives visit at home to check on the mother and new baby during the first days and weeks. These visits cover the physical recovery from birth, including wound care if needed, and breastfeeding support if that's the chosen feeding method. They also provide an important opportunity to check in on how the new parent is coping emotionally. The midwife-led postnatal period typically continues until around 10 to 28 days after birth, when care is handed over to the health visitor.
Some people choose to complement their midwifery care with additional support, including private midwifery, a doula, or a birth preparation course. Others find that an osteopath or physiotherapist is useful for managing the physical discomforts of pregnancy. Welvow can help you find relevant practitioners in your area.
Find your practitioner →Midwives are an important resource and ally throughout pregnancy and birth. Knowing what they can offer and using that relationship fully tends to make the whole experience more supported.