Choosing a Midwife?

Hi Lorna Congrats - not sure what the difference is think it might be more to do with you will have your own independent midwife (or her backup) at your birth if you choose and independent one and if you choose a hospital one it is who is on that night. But I might be wrong with that.

But here is what I have learnt - I would be happy to have a hospital midwife (after a long labour) I had so many other people in the room it didn't matter who was my midwife.
I think I would do more research into who I went with, we just took the first person who actually answered my call (still waiting for 5 others to call back), she didn't do anything in particular 'wrong' but nothing that made me say YES I LOVE my midwife. So keep looking if you are not satisfied ask lots of questions.

Not sure what happens with the after care with a hospital midwife either but with an independent they come to your place for the first 6 weeks.

Take care and good luck finding a midwife (in Auckland sorry can't help with a good one in Nelson)

Something I sort of wished I did was say yes to my midwife but then actually keep looking for another one, I know bad.   I was going to ask if the hospital could offer any recommendations but you probably haven't told them yet. But if one of the OBs can recommend an independent midwife that might be another path... I think (but again could be wrong) that there is sometimes a bit of friction between midwifes and the hospital staff, just a feeling I got.

I hope the lady you have got in contact with works out.

That was one of the hardest things I found was not telling anyone when all I wanted to do was tell everyone! I guess that is why I was so happy to find Oh Baby so I could tell 'people'. FX she works out!