Independent Midwife of The North Ltd

Independent Midwife of The North Ltd Independent Midwife providing antenatal, birth & postnatal care in the North East Hello! I am a member of the RCN and RCM and I am registered with the NMC.

My name is Debbie Hemmingway and I am a Registered Midwife here in the North East of England. Welcome to my page Independent Midwife of The North Ltd, offering holistic maternity care throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond. I have worked for many years as a midwife in the NHS and until more recently, as a private midwife. I left the NHS to practice independently of the constraints within our curre

nt maternity system and outside of the NHS, I have been able to offer a different model of care and deliver continuity of care and home birth support as a private midwife. Now, with a new indemnity insurance product available for independent midwives by working with ZEST I am able to continue to offer not only antenatal and postnatal care but also attend births. This will enable me to offer a more personalised, holistic model of care with focus on continuity, advocacy, evidence based care, choice and empowerment. I am passionate about supporting families through the transition to parenthood and preparing them for this incredible journey and supporting choice every step of the way and now i am delighted to say i can offer the full package of care as an independent midwife! Continuity of care in maternity services is known to improve patient care, satisfaction and outcomes for women & babies. Unfortunately due to many constraints this is not always achievable within our NHS. I offer 1:1 individualised and compassionate antenatal, birth and postnatal care from booking until 4 weeks postpartum, depending on your individual needs and preferences. All packages of care are tailored to suit your needs and range from individual antenatal and postnatal appointments to full packages of care including home or hospital birth support. Unhurried appointments take place in the comfort of your own home at a time that suits you, whatever works best for you & your family. I am based near Durham and cover the North East and a large geographical area beyond this, including up to the Scottish Borders and as far as South Yorkshire. If my services are of interest to you and you are looking at an alternative to other models of care then please contact me if you would like to have a chat about any additional information on the services i offer, packages of care and prices to see if i am able to support you on your journey. I am fully trained in swedish and pregnancy massage and aromatherapy in childbirth which I also offer alongside my midwifery care.

A little life update from IndependentMidwife of the North...🤍After a wonderfully busy few months supporting families and...
12/07/2026

A little life update from Independent
Midwife of the North...🤍

After a wonderfully busy few months supporting families and welcoming babies into the world, l’ve been taking some much-needed time off from being on call.

I’ve still been busy doing other “midwifery work” like providing extended postnatal care to some wonderful families and travelling to see my antenatal clients but this little break has been a chance to rest, recharge, spend time with my own family, and refill my cup 😊

I’m so grateful to every family who has trusted me to be part of their journey. Your stories, your births, and your babies will always hold a special place in my heart 💗

I’ll be back on call in late summer, ready to support more families with personalised midwifery care and I have lots of lovely moments to share with you and lots to catch up on.

If you’re expecting and considering independent midwifery, I’d love to hear from you. Here’s to the next chapter and the incredible births still to come.

Celebrating a little life and a growing family 💕 A privilege to walk alongside this family from pregnancy to th...
22/06/2026

Celebrating a little life and a growing family 💕

A privilege to walk alongside this family from pregnancy to their baby’s naming day ✨

Being invited to a such a special day is one of the greatest compliments a midwife can receive 💕

Thank you 🙏 ❤️

Creating safe spaces for every kind of birth experience 🤍✨Safe✨Seen✨Supported
22/05/2026

Creating safe spaces for every kind of birth experience 🤍

✨Safe
✨Seen
✨Supported

Through my many years of midwifery practice, I have learned that true informed choice is not achieved by simply listing ...
03/03/2026

Through my many years of midwifery practice, I have learned that true informed choice is not achieved by simply listing risks and benefits. At a minimum, it also requires ensuring understanding, allowing space for questions, and respecting the families right to decline intervention and that they are still fully supported in doing so. In addition to this, providing continuity of care allows the building of a trusting relationship which enhances confidence in decision-making.

One of my recent clients was faced with many decisions to make during her pregnancy about her preferred care pathway, including navigating some tough decisions deemed “out of guidance” but she did so with trust & confidence and fully supported by her care providers ❤️

This is what she has commented about her recent experience~

“With Debbie’s support I was able to make informed decisions throughout my pregnancy, and leading up to the birth of my baby. It was amazing to have him at home, surrounded by his loving family, and in the steady support of midwives Debbie and Sonja who I had been able to build a great relationship with.
The postpartum support from Debbie has been invaluable - I feel very held, supported, and guided in my transition to being a mother of three!”

The birth of this little man was a true family affair, born at home in the pool watched on by his older brother & sister then Grandma arrived a minute later ❤️

Fire on, mum snuggled up on her sofa feeding her baby with the other children happily playing around, Grandma reading the children stories and dad busy cooking everyone pizza! 🥰❤️

Another of my lush families I have had the honour of supporting, this is baby Lara & her lovely parents, the first of th...
01/03/2026

Another of my lush families I have had the honour of supporting, this is baby Lara & her lovely parents, the first of the February 2026 babies 💕

“Working with Debbie has been one of the most supportive and empowering experiences of my life. She helped me learn to trust my body and find my voice. Even though our daughter’s birth didn’t happen where we’d hoped, it was still truly magical and transformative experience that I will deeply treasure ”

❤️❤️❤️

Sometimes birth plans change — and that’s okay. 🤍

Birth is unpredictable, and flexibility doesn’t mean failure. What matters most is that you feel informed, supported, and empowered to make the choices that are right for you and your baby.

Here are a few ways to stay empowered, even if plans change course ~

✨Stay informed: Understand your options around pain relief, interventions, and different birth settings.
✨Ask questions: You have the right to clear explanations about risks, benefits, and alternatives.
✨Build a supportive team: Whether it’s a partner, doula, midwife, or doctor — support makes a difference.
✨Focus on your values: A “successful” birth is one where you feel heard, respected, and safe.
✨Give yourself grace: Adapting to change is strength, not weakness 🙌

Your birth experience is yours. Plans may evolve, but your voice and your choices always matter. 💛

Another of my February families.My little birthday buddy ❤️This little man’s arrival is extra special not only because w...
01/03/2026

Another of my February families.
My little birthday buddy ❤️

This little man’s arrival is extra special not only because we share a birthday, but also because of the AMAZING multidisciplinary team work between the NHS, my amazing client, her husband and myself to make his birth as safe and trauma free as possible for him & his Mummy.

This amazing Mummy had significant pre existing complexities, further exacerbated by pregnancy. I will write more in a blog post soon as there’s a LOT worth sharing, but I just wanted to share this little statement from my client about her experience & highlight how much individualised support from known care providers can make such a big difference.

Also, massive thanks to all maternity and anaesthetic staff at UHND in going above and beyond ❤️

“I was very apprehensive about both birth and parenthood due to a severe medical phobia and autism. Debbie was brilliant supporting us and advocating for me and we are all doing incredibly well”

Baby Daphne 💗 February’s final blessing.A week of waiting, worrying, and wondering —and then she arrived, calm and right...
28/02/2026

Baby Daphne 💗
February’s final blessing.

A week of waiting, worrying, and wondering —
and then she arrived, calm and right on time. 🤍

“It was epic in its own wild way, just very glad you came when you did!! And as someone who struggles to accept help and wanted to do everything myself the first time, it was actually really nice to feel more supported and have you and Jess closer and more involved. I just think it’s fascinating, and more so in the absence of fear and feeling supported, just so good”

🥰🥰🥰

Birthed at home in her kitchen, just where she needed to be in that moment. Held in a space encircled by love, anchored in wisdom and carried by strength.

In awe of this mamas incredible strength and mindset, she just knew what was right for her and her baby, she listened to her intuition and trusted her body and great things happened ❤️

Witnessing the miracle of birth in the dead of the night, when the rest of the world sleeps, feels like standing at the ...
28/02/2026

Witnessing the miracle of birth in the dead of the night, when the rest of the world sleeps, feels like standing at the quiet edge of eternity.
The darkness holds its breath.
The clocks tick softer.
Even the walls seem to listen.
And then—
a cry splits the silence, not as noise, but as announcement.

Life, fresh and fierce, arrives unaware of the hour, unconcerned with the weight of yesterday.
While the old dreams of what has been, the new inhales what will be.

In that sacred hush, time folds in on itself-endings and beginnings sharing the same heartbeat.

Night becomes witness.
Stars become lanterns.
And you, standing there, feel both impossibly small and profoundly chosen.

Because while the world sleeps, you have seen tomorrow open its eyes 💕

Address

Sunderland

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 8pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+447418099656

Website

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