Abstract
M.Cur.
Few South African studies have been done with regard to private midwives and their
clients. The practices of these midwives are overloaded, indicating a growing need for
their services.
An exploratory, contextual and descriptive study was undertaken to investigate some of
the issues relating to the practice of the private midwife. This was done from the
perspective ofthe women attending these practices.
The aims of this study were to explore and describe how women experience the care they
receive from their private midwives in Gauteng during antenatal visits, labour and
postnatal contacts; to explore and describe the reasons for clients of private midwives in
Gauteng to choose an independent midwife as birth attendant and to explore how these
clients get to hear about their midwives.
Eight women, attending a total of two different midwifery practices, were interviewed.
The main categories that emerged from analysing the women's experience of private
midwifery care were that the midwives were caring, family orientated, informative,
knowledgeable, guiding and unintrusive. Time was both respected and given by the
midwives. The midwives saw childbirth as a normal and natural process. The midwives
empowered the women and left them in control oftheir childbirth. A mutual, intimate
relationship was formed between the women and their midwives, which was based on
trust and continuity of care. The women felt they were treated as unique individuals. One
woman related some negative aspects ofthe care she received.
A variety of reasons were given for choosing a private midwife as birth attendant.
Some had specific wishes for their birth, such as a homebirth and knew that private
midwives would grant them Other reasons included cost effectiveness, control over
childbirth, one on one care, shorter waiting periods, longer consulting times and wanting
an experienced birth attendant. Previous negative experience with staff at government
hospitals and private gynaecologists; and hearing about positive experiences with private
midwives also contributed to women opting for independent midwives.
The women got to hear about their private midwives through their general practitioner,
obstetrician, antenatal class instructor, friends, family members or health professional
that delivered a previous baby.
These research findings were supported by existing literature and recommendations were
made to midwifery practice, education and research.