My Transformative Journey as The Compassionate Midwife: An Independent Midwife
I had always dreamed of becoming an Independent Midwife, but for a long time, the timing never felt right. Over recent years, I have noticed a change in the landscape of NHS maternity care. When the continuity of care model at my local unit was scaled back, I felt a real sense of loss, not only for myself as a midwife, but for the families who would no longer receive that consistent, relational care.
Then, following some significant changes in my personal life, the opportunity finally arrived. I decided to leave my substantive NHS post and step into independent practice.
I hoped that becoming an IM would allow me to support women and birthing people with true continuity, with compassion, time, and trust at the centre. I wanted families to know the person who would be with them on the day they gave birth, to feel safe in that relationship, and to experience birth with someone who already understood them. I also hoped for a healthier work–life balance. Midwifery is a way of life, and I’ve always accepted being on call, but it feels different when you are on call for someone you know, someone you have built a connection with. There is purpose in that kind of commitment.
My priorities for this first year were simple and human: to rebuild my health and fitness, to be more present with my children and family, and to provide outstanding care to the clients who placed their trust in me.
And yet, alongside the hope, there was uncertainty.
What if no one booked with me?
What if I couldn’t make it work financially?
What if leaving the NHS was a risk I wouldn’t be able to sustain?
These questions came with me into this new chapter, and they shaped the beginning of my journey as an Independent Midwife.
Relearning What Midwifery Feels Like
As I approach one year of being an Independent Midwife, I’ve realised just how much this chapter has taught me about what midwifery truly is. Stepping into independence hasn’t just been a clinical shift; it has been a personal one. I’ve had to learn how to run a business, manage systems, and navigate the practical realities behind the scenes. I’ve also grown through networking, meeting midwives, doulas, therapists, and other practitioners who have enriched both my practice and the experiences of the families I support.
What has surprised me most is how deeply satisfied I feel in this work. The fulfilment I’ve found in independent practice has exceeded every expectation. I feel incredibly fortunate to enjoy my job as much as I do.
The pace is different here.
The time is my own.
Relationships form naturally; no rushed appointments, no conveyor belt care. Real connection has room to grow. I can share information fully, support decision-making thoughtfully, and truly listen. That kind of communication is pure gold.
One of the most meaningful parts of this year has been witnessing emotional healing. Clients who began their journey with anxiety slowly start to soften and settle. As trust builds and they realise they are genuinely heard, supported, and advocated for, something shifts. Seeing someone relax into their pregnancy, not because everything is perfect, but because they feel safe, is one of the greatest privileges of this work.
Holding Space vs. Holding Responsibility
One of the biggest lessons of this year has been learning how to hold space and hold responsibility at the same time. On-call life carries its own weight; the unpredictability, the emotional labour, the moments of second-guessing, the nights where sleep is light because part of you is listening for the phone. It is a labour of love, preparing yourself quietly for the call that says a baby is on the way.
The autonomy of independent practice is refreshing, and I’ve found it energising to research, reflect, and bring evidence into each conversation. Every discussion is intentional, designed to support informed decision-making rather than direct someone down a path. I’m learning constantly, not just clinically, but humanly.
The balance can be delicate. There is a freedom in this work, but it sits alongside the responsibility of keeping safety at the centre. Clients have the right to make informed choices, even if those choices sit outside guidelines. My role is to support that autonomy while assessing risk honestly and transparently.
Trust becomes the bridge between those two spaces.
There have been moments where things have changed quickly, where a situation has deteriorated, and clinical judgement has been needed to lead. In those moments, what mattered most was the relationship that had been built, that my concerns were heard, respected, and acted upon to protect the birthing person and their baby. Those experiences have reminded me that holding space is not passive; it is an active, skilled presence.
This year has taught me that midwifery isn’t just about being there; it’s about knowing when to step back, when to stand steady, and when to say, “I’m concerned, and we need to move now.” Both are care. Both are compassion.
Looking Ahead
As I step into my second year as an Independent Midwife, my hopes feel quieter and more grounded than they did at the beginning of last year. I’m no longer driven by the need to prove that this path was the right one. Instead, my focus is on sustainability, for myself, for my family, and for the people who place their trust in me.
Part of this next chapter is stepping into shared care with Beth through East Anglian Midwives. Working together feels like a natural progression of everything I’ve learned this year: the value of collaboration, the importance of continuity, and the need for care models that are both safe and sustainable. By offering shared care, families are supported by two known midwives throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period, and we, as midwives, can practise in a way that allows us to show up present, rested, and fully available.
It feels like a thoughtful way forward, one that strengthens care without stretching it thin.
What I’m learning to release is the need to say yes to everything. The quiet pressure to overextend myself in the name of opportunity. The belief that more always means better. Letting go of comparison, self-doubt, and the idea that success must look a certain way feels like an important part of this next chapter.
This year has shown me that independent midwifery is not the easier path, but it is the right one for me. It asks for courage, presence, and responsibility, and in return, it offers meaning, connection, and deep fulfilment.
I’m choosing this work because I believe in care that is relational, compassionate, and honest. Because I believe people deserve to feel safe and heard during one of the most vulnerable times of their lives. And because, even on the hardest days, this way of practising still feels aligned with who I am, as a midwife, and as a person.
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