The Motherhood Practice

Birth support

You don't have to do this alone.

Your midwife, by your side, from the first contraction to the first cuddle.

£3,500Two midwives on-call from 37 weeks. Early-labour phone advice and advocacy at the hospital.

London only · complementary to your NHS care

Two hands intertwined, calm and steady

The gap

A service built to address your concerns.

Three things women tell us they need at birth, and that the NHS system was not designed to give. Many feel they have to choose between clinical safety and a personal, empowered experience. You don't. We bring the continuous, expert support usually reserved for home births directly into the hospital labour ward.

  • I want the safety of the hospital, with the intimacy of a home birth.

    We bring continuous, expert support into the labour ward, alongside the hospital team.

  • I want to be heard.

    Your midwife is your advocate, ensuring your preferences are respected and your questions answered.

  • I don't want to be sent home in labour.

    From your first contraction we are on the phone, helping you read your labour and time the trip in.

The evidence

What a familiar midwife at birth actually changes.

These are not soft outcomes. Continuity of care at birth produces measurable clinical differences, for you and your baby.

  • −17%

    episiotomy rate

    vs. standard care

  • −9%

    caesarean section rate

    vs. standard care

  • −11%

    instrumental delivery (forceps and ventouse)

    vs. standard care

  • 98%

    satisfaction rate at birth

    with midwife continuity

Sandall et al., Cochrane Review of Midwife-led continuity models versus other models of care for childbearing women.

The service

Continuity tailored for hospital births

We combine the safety of the hospital with the reassurance of a familiar, expert face.

  • Early labour telephone support

    The NHS doesn't offer support until you are established in labour, which can mean hours of managing contractions alone at home, not knowing when to go in. From your very first contraction, you have direct clinical access to your midwife by phone. She guides you through the breathing and active birth techniques you practised together, reads your contractions, and tells you exactly when it is time to head to the hospital, so you arrive neither too early nor too late.

  • Expert presence in the labour ward

    Once at the hospital, your midwife is your constant. The hospital team holds primary clinical responsibility, and she is your emotional anchor and professional advocate. She translates medical jargon, protects your birth bubble, ensures every intervention is explained and your preferences respected. With our clinical eyes, if we spot anything of concern, we escalate immediately.

The duo model

When you book birth support, you book a team.

Birth doesn't run on a schedule. Two midwives on-call from 37 weeks means a rested, familiar face is always ready to be by your side, however long your baby takes to arrive.

  • Two midwives, both familiar

    You meet both midwives in pregnancy. By the time labour begins, you know them, they know you, and you know what to expect from each.

  • Shift handover during long labours

    If labour stretches into a second day, the duo hands over without you having to brief a new face. Continuous, expert support without compromising on a rested clinician.

  • Both registered midwives

    Both members of the duo are fully RCM-registered with deep experience across NHS and private settings. Neither role is a substitute. Both lead.

  • On-call from 37 weeks

    From week 37 onwards we are reachable 24/7. Phone, WhatsApp, however you want to get in touch. There is always someone available.

Testimonials

Voices from our families

I can't recommend The Motherhood Practice enough. With their support, we feel so much more prepared and so much more capable of handling the unknowns.
Lynne · Birth preparation

For all journeys

Care for all birth journeys

Whether your birth is straightforward or complex, our midwives are experienced and trained to adapt to your situation. We work alongside your NHS team at all times. If we identify any concern for you or your baby, we escalate promptly to the right specialist, with a complete handover of clinical notes.

Pricing

Investment in your peace of mind

  • Most popular

    Birth support package

    £3,500

    Two midwives, on-call from 37 weeks

    • Two midwives on-call from week 37
    • Early-labour telephone advice and triage
    • Advocacy and continuous presence at the hospital
    • Birth preparation in late pregnancy
    • First postnatal visit within 48 hours

Birth support is offered as an add-on to a pregnancy package booked from at least the 3rd trimester.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked

Everything you need to know.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? See all FAQs or ask us directly.

  • How do you ensure a midwife is always available for me?

    When you book your birth support, you are booking a team. We provide two midwives who will both get to know you during your pregnancy. This duo model ensures that when labour begins, a rested, familiar midwife is ready to be by your side. By working in shifts, we can provide continuous, high-level support no matter how long your baby takes to arrive.

  • Is this package suitable for all types of birth?

    Our birth support is designed for those planning to deliver in hospital labour wards or birth centres, where a second birth partner is permitted. While we do not attend planned C-sections or home births, we are here for almost every other path your birth might take.

  • What if I have a prolonged labour that ends in an unplanned C-section?

    Birth is an unpredictable event. If your labour journey leads to the theatre, we will be by your side right up until the doors, as most theatres only allow one birth partner (usually your partner).

  • What if I'm having a planned caesarean?

    We support planned C-sections too. While we are unable to be in theatre with you, we can be with you on the ward beforehand, present for your recovery, and lead your postnatal care from the moment you are back. You will not be navigating that transition alone.

  • What exactly does the Early Labour Triage involve?

    The NHS doesn't offer support in the early hours of labour. Through our telephone triage, you have immediate access to your midwife to help you navigate your contractions at home. We will guide you through the breathing and active birth exercises we practised in our workshops and provide informed, expert advice on the best time to head to the hospital.

  • How long will you stay with me at the hospital?

    We stay for as long as you need us. Because we help you navigate early labour at home via phone, we usually meet you at the hospital once labour is well-established. From that moment on, we are a constant presence. Our two-midwife system means we can hand over to one another if labour is long, ensuring someone is always alert and by your side until your baby is safely in your arms.

  • What is your role once we are at the hospital?

    Think of us as your professional advocate and emotional anchor. We are the familiar, reassuring face that allows you to feel safe and relaxed. We act as your voice and a professional liaison with the hospital team, ensuring your birth preferences are respected and that you understand all your options. While the hospital team holds primary clinical responsibility, we maintain a duty of care: if we spot anything of concern, such as an abnormal foetal heartbeat, we will immediately escalate this to the NHS team.

  • Are you a midwife or a doula? What is the difference?

    Our midwives provide the same continuous emotional presence and physical comfort as a doula, but they bring a full layer of clinical expertise that a doula cannot. As registered members of the Royal College of Midwives, they perform all the clinical checks at every visit: blood pressure, urine, foetal heartbeat, growth, and more. They are trained screeners for mental health, able to identify early signs of perinatal anxiety or depression that might otherwise go unnoticed. They bring an evidence-based approach grounded in the latest research and guidelines, and the experience to translate that into honest, practical guidance you can actually use. You receive the warmth and continuity of a birth companion, with the trained eyes and clinical authority of a midwife who knows exactly when something needs escalating, and how to make that happen.

  • Can I book the Birth Package on its own?

    To ensure the highest level of safety, we don't offer birth support as a standalone service. We require that you book our pregnancy care from at least the third trimester. It is essential that we know your medical history, your fears, and your hopes, and that you feel completely comfortable with us before we enter the birth room together.

  • What hospitals do you cover?

    All NHS and private maternity units across Greater London: UCLH, Chelsea and Westminster, St Mary's, the Portland, the Lindo Wing, Whittington, Royal London, Lewisham, and others. Tell us your hospital on the free introductory call and we will confirm everything.

Free intro call

Let’s start with a chat.

A free 20-minute call. No pressure, no commitment. Just space to ask whatever is on your mind.