Money is a difficult subject for most of us, and hiring an independent midwife is a significant cost. I really wish it was not so expensive, and that this type of care was easily affordable and accessible to everyone, but our new indemnity insurance has meant that the cost of independent midwifery has gone up substantially.
I do not offer reduced fees for late booking, as my expenses for each birth are about the same, and a late booking usually means that I am doing the same amount of work but in less time. I also cannot offer discounts as I need to be able to pay the expenses and costs of running my business, and because of the commitment of being on-call and working as I do, there is a limit to how many clients I can take on at any one time.
I understand that it is a big decision and big commitment to hire an independent midwife, but your investment in independent midwifery care will have lifelong benefits for you all - yourself, your baby and your family. The birth of your child is one of the most - perhaps even the most significant day of your life and their life, and the implications of not just what happens but how supported and held you are during the journey can have lifelong implications.
Please don't let money put you off from contacting me to discuss your needs, longer term interest-free payment plans can be arranged, for those who would genuinely struggle paying the full fee in the usual time frame. I also accept PayPal, which means that it is possible to pay by card if needed.