Accessibility of IMs..

[Dappy]

I would love to have a independent midwife who works with me to achieve the birth that I desire instead of having to fight for it via the system due to protocols and availability etc.

I could never afford to pay for a IM's service though.

Is having a IM as your care giver through pregnancy seen as a 'luxury', if not how do you make your self accessible to women who don't have disposable income.

Do you ever have to turn away clients due to money, or do you work to be able to be accessible to everyone?

[Joyfull]

Everyone can afford an IM if they really need one and try hard enough. I was only working part time and we had debts when I looked into an IM for my VBAC. I would have found the money somehow but they would not support home VBAC at tthat time so I went with NHS care.
It is seen as a luxury which puts many off enquiring, but it can make such a difference. Always phone an IM and discuss your needs. This can be useful in itself.
Now as an IM and being aware of the effects of the current economic climate I am very flexible. I don't want women to go into debt, but they don't have to if they have transferable skills to offer. When I need a gardener, painter, builder, accountant, dog sitter I ask women if their family can help me. it is about energy exchange. as long as a proportion of the fees are in cash (as I do have bills which need paying in cash!)we can discuss other ways of paying. One woman's family had a whip round which paid my expenses, one cooked for me, one gave me photos for my advertising and some pay by long term interest free payments.

Why not ask an NHS midwife if she can be on call for you or a student could caseload you? Where there's a will there's a way.

[Delilah]

I would also echo that. Most IMs negotiate their fees trading services sometimes.