Information for those considering giving birth without  a midwife

Article 45 of the Nursing and Midwifery Order (applicable throughout the UK) makes it a criminal offence for anyone other than a registered midwife or doctor to ‘attend’ a woman during childbirth. This does not apply in an emergency where unassisted birth is happening unintentionally without medical support. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/253/article/45/made

This offence is not intended to prevent birth partners from supporting women, but they must ensure that they do not assume the role of a midwife by performing midwifery functions, such as monitoring the progress of labour. A person convicted for this offence cannot be imprisoned but they may incur a fine of up to £5,000.

Midwives are here to ensure a personal and safe maternity experience. They are here to look after the health and wellbeing of you and your baby. Your midwife and other professionals can also support you in completing your Personalised Care and Support Plan (PCSP) to ensure your maternity journey is designed to meet your individual needs. Before making any decisions about labour and birth it is important to explore all your options. Talk to your midwife about what matters to you most. You may find it helpful to start thinking about a personalised care and support plan.

If you are not satisfied that your needs can be met, you can contact your local Deputy Head or Head of Midwifery. There is information about how to do this in the ‘Your Rights’ tab of this website.

If you choose to be supported by a midwife, they offer a wide range of care for you and your baby, whether you choose to birth at home, at the Birthing Centre or in the consultant-led unit:

• Regularly monitoring your health and wellbeing, for example taking your temperature, blood pressure and pulse
• Regularly monitoring your baby’s health and wellbeing, for example listening to your baby’s heartbeat
• Providing information, support, advice and guidance in labour and following the birth
• Supporting with movement and positions to promote active birth
• Supporting with coping strategies, such as breathing techniques
• Help with safe and effective use of birth pools
• Offering pain management
• Supporting the safe birth of your baby and placenta
• Ensuring any tears are identified and any stitches required can be offered
• Supporting your baby to feed in the method of your choice
• Ensuring that if you or your baby require urgent medical assistance or resuscitation, it is recognised promptly and provided or accessed immediately
• Providing information about signs and symptoms that may require urgent care after birth

You should call an ambulance or have someone drive you to hospital as soon as possible if there are problems when you are giving birth.

If you choose an unassisted birth, you will need to ensure your baby has an NHS number. This is a legal requirement in case they require NHS healthcare. This process will also ensure you are offered appropriate newborn health screening for your baby.

The NHS number is generated by the Child Health Information Service (CHIS). However, the service can only generate the NHS number after a referral from a midwife, health visitor or GP. One of these health professionals will need to see your baby before completing the paperwork.