How to Tell If You Need Extra Pregnancy Support (and Where to Get It)
How to Tell If You Need Extra Pregnancy Support (and Where to Get It)
Pregnancy is a big life change — physically, emotionally, and mentally. While NHS maternity services offer excellent clinical care, many parents-to-be find the standard pathway feels rushed, inconsistent, or simply not personal enough.
You might leave an appointment with more questions than answers, or feel like you’re repeating your story to a new midwife each time. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and you might benefit from extra pregnancy support.
In this post, I’ll walk you through the signs you might need more help, explain the differences between doulas and midwives, share why continuity of carer is so important, and point you towards where you can find the right support — including a link to my own service, Mobile Midwives.
Signs You Might Benefit from Extra Pregnancy Support
You might want to explore additional support if:
You feel anxious, unheard, or unsure about your care.
You wish you had more time to ask questions during appointments.
You want support tailored to your specific needs — for example, plus-size pregnancy, VBAC, or recovering from a previous traumatic birth.
You’d like someone to help you prepare for labour, advocate for your preferences, and support your decisions.
The Power of Continuity of Carer
One of the most valuable forms of extra support is continuity of carer — being looked after by the same midwife (or small team) throughout your pregnancy, birth, and postnatal period.
According to NHS England, continuity of midwife-led care is linked with:
16% lower risk of baby loss
19% lower chance of loss before 24 weeks
24% lower risk of preterm birth
But it’s not just about the numbers — continuity builds trust. You feel comfortable asking the questions that matter most, and your midwife gets to know you as a whole person, not just a set of notes. This relationship-based care can make a huge difference to your confidence, wellbeing, and birth experience.
What Midwives Do
Midwives are registered health professionals trained to:
Monitor your health and your baby’s wellbeing.
Detect potential complications early.
Offer evidence-based information about your pregnancy and birth options.
Provide clinical care during labour and after your baby is born.
They can work in the NHS, privately, or independently. Independent midwives, in particular, often offer full continuity of carer — something that can be harder to guarantee in the NHS.
What Doulas Do
Doulas are not medical professionals. Instead, they:
Offer emotional, practical, and informational support during pregnancy, birth, and postnatally.
Provide a continuous presence during labour.
Support your choices and help you communicate with your healthcare team.
A doula can’t perform medical checks or give clinical advice, but they can be a constant, reassuring presence alongside your midwife.
How They Work Together
When you combine the clinical expertise of a midwife with the continuous, non-clinical presence of a doula, you get the best of both worlds:
Safety and reassurance from clinical monitoring.
Emotional and practical support from someone whose sole focus is your comfort and needs.
Where to Find This Support
NHS Continuity of Carer models – Ask your local maternity service whether this is available in your area.
Independent midwives – Often offer full continuity packages for antenatal, birth, and postnatal care.
Doula UK directory – Find a doula whose experience matches your needs.
Mobile Midwives – My own service, where you can start with a non-clinical one-to-one video or phone call for emotional support, reassurance, and personalised signposting. If you decide you’d like ongoing clinical care, we have trusted links with independent midwives across the UK. You can begin with a single advice session and, if you wish, progress to full continuity care with a midwife who already understands your needs.
Final Thoughts
You deserve to feel heard, understood, and supported in your pregnancy — not like just another name on a list. Whether that means finding a continuity-of-carer midwife, working with a doula, or starting with a supportive conversation, the right care can transform your pregnancy experience.
💬 If you’d like to talk through your options, I’d love to help.
Send me a message or book a Mobile Midwives session today — we’ll work out what support feels right for you and help you take the next step with confidence.
