Why Maternity Care Is Failing Women, and How We Can Do Better.
Why Maternity Care Is Failing Women — And How We Can Do Better
A system in crisis
Maternity care is at a breaking point. Funding that was promised to improve services has been cut by millions. Experienced midwives are leaving in droves due to burnout, while passionate new midwives — ready to care — can’t find work.
At the same time, health inequalities remain stark. Women of colour are still five times more likely to die during pregnancy, often because they don’t get personalised care. More women are now labelled “high-risk” than “low-risk,” funneling families onto a conveyor belt of interventions.
As a midwife, I find this deeply worrying.
The hidden cost of birth trauma
More women than ever are leaving birth traumatised — not because of what happened physically, but because of how they were treated and spoken to.
Birth trauma doesn’t end at discharge. It can affect how a mother bonds with her baby, lower breastfeeding rates, and even shape a child’s long-term physical and mental health. Poor maternal wellbeing can weigh on entire families, and in the most devastating cases, lead to maternal suicide.
Why I built something different
I burned out trying to provide gold-standard care in a system where box-ticking often mattered more than listening. The relentless pressure nearly broke my own mental health.
I know many other midwives feel the same — desperate to give the kind of care we trained for but unable to within the current system.
That’s why I created Mobile Midwives: a space where women can access personalised, respectful care, and midwives can work as they were meant to — with time, trust, and true partnership.
Kerry’s story: from fear to freedom
Kerry had given birth to a large baby before and wasn’t afraid of birth itself. But during her next pregnancy, constant fear-mongering took its toll. She was labelled gestational diabetic solely because of her baby’s size, sent for repeated growth scans, and pressured to accept induction.
When we met, she confided fears she didn’t feel safe sharing with her care team, worried about judgement and being gaslit. After exploring her options, she chose a homebirth in a pool and even stepped back from most obstetric appointments to escape relentless pressure.
In the end, Kerry’s labour was fast, and she welcomed her beautiful 10lb 3oz baby at home in the water — just 40 minutes after messaging me that she thought it was a false alarm.
She now can’t stop telling people how empowering her birth was — and how different it all could have been without the right support.
What must change
We need a maternity system where both women and midwives feel safe, respected, and supported.
Personalised care must come first — every woman deserves to be heard without fear or pressure.
Midwives need the freedom to practise the way they were trained — with continuity, compassion, and time.
Independent support must be accessible — so more families can choose the kind of care that’s right for them.
Trust and confidence must ripple outwards — reducing trauma and helping families thrive.
A hopeful path forward
Even with all these challenges, positive, empowering birth experiences are still possible. The right support makes all the difference — for women, their babies, and the families they become.
As an independent midwife, it brings me real joy to serve families. Growing Mobile Midwives means more women can find midwives working this way, and more midwives can reach the families who need them most.
Your next step
If you’re looking for personalised care, get in touch with me directly. I can support you or signpost you to trusted midwives if you’re out of my area
mailto:[email protected]
Still exploring your options? Download my free guide, “Pregnancy Choices in the UK,” and follow along for my Monday Musings and updates about Mobile Midwives — a growing network of midwives offering the care women truly deserve.
