Midwife description and costs

Research has repeatedly shown the safety and benefits of midwife care. Statistics show that births attended by midwives have:

  • lower infection rates
  • lower C-section rates
  • fewer complications
  • healthier outcomes
  • lower overall medical costs – than doctor-attended hospital births.

In addition, there is no difference in infant mortality between midwife-attended and doctor-attended births for low-risk women. Countries such as the Netherlands, Sweden, and New Zealand, which have the best birth outcome statistics in the world, use midwives as their main maternity care providers.(www.mothersnaturally.org)

Care with a modern midwife is truly an art form. Not only do you get a careful attendant that is nurturing and trustworthy – you also get a professional who is aware of the latest research, and knows when technology is necessary, when to use it and when not to.

A midwife’s care is based on the idea that the woman is the central decision maker in matters regarding her birth and her child. Midwives respond to mothers as a caring and collaborative partner, highly trained to work with each unique situation individually. Her goal is the health and well being of mother and baby. She has the resources, wisdom and professional training to safely guide the journey of pregnancy.

A qualified midwife is a specialist in natural birth. She is skilled in monitoring women and their babies through pregnancy, labor, birth and into motherhood.
As well as her clinical expertise, she shares with you the desire for a healthy and empowering birth experience and uses her knowledge and experience to guide you towards this goal. During pre and postnatal visits that are three to ten times longer than standard doctor visits, the midwife listens to what is needed at each step of the process. She can then offer appropriate information, physical, emotional or clinical support, and discuss options of care.

IN SOUTH AFRICA INDEPENDENT MIDWIVES OFFER:

ANTENATAL AND POSTNATAL CARE
HOME BIRTH
WATER BIRTH
HOSPITAL BIRTH
BIRTH IN A BIRTH CENTRE
CESAREAN ATTENDANCE
INDEPENDENT MIDWIVES WORK IN BOTH THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC HOSPITALS

APPROXIMATE COSTS OF CARE (2018):
INITIAL BOOKING VISIT (1-1 1/2HRS): R400-R750
ANTENATAL VISITS (each) (30MIN-1HR): R300-R750
LABOR AND BIRTH: R8000.00-R12000.00
POST NATAL VISITS (each): R500-R800