"Julia is very passionate about her job and accepts only the best outcome for Mum and baby, which made me feel safe supported and empowered"
Diana October 2024
Meet The Founder of Beautiful Birth Club
Made with Love...delivered with love...
Julia Melinek
I am a registered midwife with a first class honours degree from King's College London experience at a major London teaching hospital with an outstanding CQC rating. I am also an experienced doula, hypnotherapist and NLP counsellor with a passion for holistic oxytocin rich birth. I currently work exclusively as a private midwife, offering un-rushed, oxytocin rich continuity of care in the comfort of your home.
I have supported women through hypnobirth, water birth, home birth, epidural and C-section births. I have even helped support a woman giving birth outside a Costa coffee shop! I have supported teenagers and women who are terrified of birth, women whose plans have gone out of the window at the last minute and women who just want the most beautiful birth experience possible. However your birth goes, we can make it beautiful together. The whole experience starts months before the actual delivery and of course beyond the birth of the baby, including breast feeding support if needed. I am happy to support and cheer lead you for as long as you would like.
I see every pregnancy and birth as a miracle. I have three beautiful children of my own who were born with the assistance of angelic midwives. I have supported hundreds of women through pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. No two women are the same and no two journeys are the same. My particular passions are hypno-birthing, water birth and home-birth but I am passionate about all birth. I also have experience with trauma survivors and women who have a fear of birth (tochophobia). I never forget what an honour and privilege it is that you have chosen to share the journey with me as you enter the Beautiful Birth Club.
Like your baby, my services were created with love and are delivered with love!
I am fully insured in my antenatal and postnatal care through the Royal College of Nursing and for my intrapartum care packages through Zest-Midwives. I am registered and accredited with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and am a member of the Royal College of Midwives and The Royal College of Nursing.
Why employ a Private Midwife?
“If continuity of care were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it.”
John H. Kennell MD
What does a private midwife do?
We are there to hold your hand from beginning to end. I can offer stand-alone antenatal or postnatal care in the copmfort of your home. I can also offer full care at home for a home birth and support in hospital or birth centre for all other births. We know that the evidence supporting continuity of care is extraordinary. Research shows this model to lead to happier outcomes for Mum and baby, fewer miscarriages / still-births, less need for analgesia, less episiotomy and higher rates of breast feeding.
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Regular antenatal appointments of 1-2 hours in length in your home at a time to suit you
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Support to birth your baby either at home or in hospital
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Telephone and text support between appointments
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Postnatal support at home with appointments lasting 1-2 hours each
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Breast feeding and baby care support
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Holistic care from a familiar midwife who knows you and understands your hopes and fears
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Hypnobirthing and birth preparation support
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Provision of evidence based clinical care with an emphasis on safety and woman centred care
I facilitate safe, positive and empowering birthing experiences by offering evidence based information, emotional support and physical / clinical support needed during this time. Together we will plan out your journey and assist with anything you want from hynobirthing, evidence to support your choices, massage, counselling, birthing positions, aromatherapy etc
No two women are the same and no two journeys are the same. My purpose is to support you to experience the most beautiful birth, however that looks to you.
I am registered with Nursing and Midwife Council, am a member of the Royal College of Midwives and Royal College of Nursing and fully insured for all care .
My particular passions are hypno-birthing and water-birth but I am passionate about all birth. I also have experience with trauma survivors and women who have a fear of birth (tochophobia). I never forget what an honour and privilege it is that you have chosen to share the journey with me as you enter the Beautiful Birth Club. The whole experience starts months before the actual delivery and of course beyond the birth of the baby, including breast feeding support if needed. I am happy to support and cheer lead you for as long as you would like.
Like your baby, my services were created with love and are delivered with love!
What are the benefits of having continuity of care?
Many academic studies have documented the benefits of having continuity of care. The recent Cochrane Review, Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth, showed a very high number of positive birth outcomes when continuity of care was offered.Women were less likely to have pain-relief medications administered and less likely to have a cesarean birth. Women also reported having a more positive childbirth experience. (http://www.childbirthconnection.org)
Other studies have shown that having a known and trusted midwife decreases the overall cesarean rate by 50%, the length of labor by 25%, the use of oxytocin by 40%, and requests for an epidural by 60%.
(Hodnett ED. Gates S Hofmeyr GJ. Sakala C. Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. CD003766, (2003).
Doula or midwife?
The word “doula” is an ancient Greek word meaning ‘woman caregiver’. Midwife means 'with woman'. The roles certainly overlap. However, only a midwife is trained to provide clinical care. It is illegal for a doula to work in place of a midwife. A private midwife can be there throughout the whole pregnancy journey and is a constant presence throughout the birth. She is someone you trust and who you will know will be an advocate for your wishes throughout.
Is a midwife a birth partner?
A midwife will support you clinically and emotionally throughout your birth, but it is more common for a midwife to work alongside a birth partner or partners. To have a significant other or relative by your side can increase the sense of wellbeing and the flow of oxytocin. A midwife will work with your birth partners to support you all to have a beautiful experience. A midwife can guide partner’s hands in labour massage, remind them of your chosen birth mantras, and ensure you are safe while your partner holds your space.
How should I choose a private midwife?
The most important part in choosing a midwife is the chemistry you (and your partner) feel with that person. The beauty of having a private midwife is that you have a part in choosing who will have the honour of being your midwife. You need to feel such faith in her as your advocate that you can relax in to your beautiful birthing zone knowing she has your back. I offer the first consultation free of charge. We can chat about the type of birth you would like to have and any other pregnancy issues you may be thinking about. This is your birth. My role is to keep you and baby safe and to empower and support you on your beautiful journey! If you feel I am the right person for you we can discuss next steps. If not, then I would encourage you to chat to another private midwife When you meet the right one, you will know!
Services
Antenatal and pre-conception Visits
After beginning our relationship with a meet and greet, I am there to support you through your pregnancy journey. I can offer evidence based sources to help you create your pregnancy and birth plans. All appointments will take place at a time and place to suit you, usually in your home, and will last 1-2 hours. We will check Mum and baby, listen in to and measure baby, check blood pressure and urine etc We also offer packages where we can take bloods at home and arrange scans. I will offer continuous emotional support throughout your journey and be available by phone or text between appointments. Depending on your wishes we can also spend this time practicing relaxation and hypno-birth techniques, planning for your birth, practicing colostrum harvesting and answering any questions you may have. We can design a personalised care plan based around your needs, starting at any point from conception to 36 weeks of pregnancy. Appointments are 4 weekly from 6-28 weeks of pregnancy, 2 weekly from 30 - 36 weeks and weekly thereafter.
Let the journey begin...
Your birth - made with love and delivered with love
Personalised care with your private midwife
My role during your birth is to take care of you and your baby throughout whilst offering holistic support. My aim is that you achieve a beautiful birth, however this looks. We will have discussed every eventuality before labour so you can enter your beautiful birthing zone and know that we understand your wishes. I can also offer hypnobirthing support, create light and sound moods in the room, offer massage and protect your birthing zone so you can have the ultimate conditions for birth. If things don't go to plan I can ensure that your wishes are observed by liaising with the rest of the medical team. All births can be beautiful, even those that don't go to plan! I will stay with you until you are settled with your baby in your arms.
Postpartum and Breast Feeding Support
Creating beautiful bonds...
After the birth I will support you as you bond with your new member of the family. I can offer feeding support, examine you and baby, assess and support you emotionally and help with baby care and any questions you may have about your newborn, your own body and your emotional wellbeing. We weigh baby, carry out the newborn NIPE assessment and the NBBS test at home. We can also offer enhanced lactation support packages. We offer 3-4 visits in the first week, 2 visits in the second week and weekly visits for week 3 and 4. visits are usually 1-2 hours long and in your home. I am also available to contact by phone/email throughout. The midwife / family relationship is a special one and I love to stay in contact and see your news and photos as your little bundle grows. This is a labour of love and I am here for you.
Hypnobirthing and Trauma Counselling
Creating a beautiful state of mind...
When we feel fear and dread we produce adrenalin which in turn inhibits the hormone Oxytocin. Oxytocin is the 'love' hormone, the hormone that gushes through our blood when we cuddle, when we make love, when we hold and breast feed our babies, and when we give birth. Oxytocin is essential to allow the uterus to contract. Part of my role is to ensure that your birth room is an oxytocin rich environment. This is helped by low lighting, calm and quiet, massage, and through the mother achieveing a semi hypnotic state known as neo-cortical inhibition. One of the best ways of achieveing this is through hypnobirthing. Hypnotherapy is also wonderful to overcome previous sexual or birth trauma or to conquer fear of child birth (tochophobia). I offer sessions before the birth and leave you to practice as you lead up to the birth. I then support you throughout the labour and birth to stay in your oxytocin rich zone.
Prices
Individual appointment and discount package prices
Initial video consultation - Free 20 minutes
Initial Home Consultation - £125 1hr
(Fully redeemable if you book a midwifery care plan)
Fit to Fly letter - 1-1.5 hours £175
Full holistic antenatal check plus 'Fit to Fly' letter (recommended from 27/40)
MatB1 certificate - 1-1.5 hours £175
Full holistic antenatal check plus MatB1 certificate to prove pregnancy for work and benefits
Birth preparation classes in the comfort of your home - 5 hours over 2 sessions £495
Discussion of all aspects of your birth including birth plan
Q&A tailored to your needs
Hypnobirthing and guided meditation included
Full antenatal, birth and postnatal continuity of care packages
Platinum Holistic Continuity of Carer Plan
£7995 with 10 postnatal visits
£6995 with 5 postnatal visits
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Booking appointment lasting 2-3 hours
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Antenatal care at home (4 weekly from 8/40, 2 weekly from 28/40, then weekly from 36/40). Appointments with your named midwife lasting 1-2 hours each
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Personalised care plan
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Antenatal education including breathing, hypnobirthing, biomechanics, sound healing and affirmations as per your personalised care preferences.
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Support to create Birth Plan
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Antenatal guided meditation and sound healing as requested
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Liaison with NHS and multi-disciplinary team if needed
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WhatsApp, email and telephone support available in between appointments.
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On-call for your birth from 37 weeks
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Home birth midwifery care or hospital/birth centre labour support
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Second midwife on-call and birth attendance for homebirth
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Entonox
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Natural Pain relief options discussed including massage and meditation and signpost to birth pool and TENS hire
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Postnatal care (days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28 & 35 or days 1, 3, 5, 10 & 14 schedule flexible to individual and clinical need)
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Expert feeding support and referral to tongue tie practitioner or laction consultant if necessary
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Personalised postpartum care for you and your baby
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Newborn blood spot screening test day 5
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Postnatal education on SIDS, sleep, winding and settling baby
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Full antenatal, birth & postnatal insurance cover
Gold Holistic Continuity of Carer Plan
From 28/40 Onwards
£7450 with 10 postnatal visits
£6450 with 5 postnatal visits
Includes the same aspects as the full care plan above, with antenatal care starting from 28/40 onwards.
Silver Holistic Continuity of Carer Plan
£6795 with 10 postnatal visits
£5795 with 5 postnatal visits
Includes the same aspects as the full care plan above, with antenatal care starting from 34/40 onwards.
Plans do not include private blood tests, scans or NIPE examination. Private referral and prices can be provided upon request or you can access these tests through the NHS.
Monthly payment plans are available and will be discussed during our initial consultation. All payments are to be completed by 36 weeks of pregnancy.
Antenatal Care Plan - £2495
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Booking appointment lasting 2-3 hours
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Antenatal care at home (4 weekly from 8/40, 2 weekly from 28/40, then weekly from 36/40). Appointments with your named midwife lasting 1-2 hours each
-
Personalised midwifery care plan
-
Antenatal education including breathing, hypnobirthing, biomechanics, sound healing and affirmations as per your personalised care preferences.
-
Liaison with NHS and multi-disciplinary team if needed
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WhatsApp, email and telephone support available in between appointments.
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On-call for your birth from 37 weeks
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Antenatal education
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Antenatal insurance cover
Postnatal Care Plan
£2000 10 visits
£1000 5 visits
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Postnatal care (days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28 & 35 or days 1, 3, 5, 10 & 14 schedule flexible to individual and clinical need).
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Personalised midwifery care for you and your baby in the comfort of your home
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WhatsApp, email and telephone support available in between appointments during office hours.
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Newborn blood spot screening test day 5
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Expert feeding support and baby weighing
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Holistic support and education around newborn
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Help with baby bathing and settling
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Liaison with other specialists inclusing tongue tie practitioners and lactation consultant if necessary
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Postnatal insurance cover.
Single Postnatal Home Visit - £185 1-2 hrs
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Full holistic assessment of mother and baby in the comfort of your home
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Expert feeding advice and advice on winding, changing, bathing etc
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Newborn blood spot screening test on day 5
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Weigh baby
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postnatal insurance cover
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postnatal advice and support on all aspects of care for your baby
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Referral to specialists if necessary including tongue tie practitioners
Platinum postnatal care (10 visits around day 1,2,3,5, 7,10,14, 21, 28, 35) £2000
Gold postnatal care (5 visits around day 1,3,5,10,14). £1000
Plans do not include private blood tests, scans or NIPE examination. Private referral and prices can be provided upon request or you can access these tests through the NHS.
Monthly payment plans are available and will be discussed during our initial consultation. All payments are to be completed by 36 weeks of pregnancy.
Julia was like an angel from beginning to end. She anticipated my needs and empowered me to birth my darling big boy with no pain relief and no tears. She even ran out in early labour to fetch me much needed McDonalds fries. I can't recommend her highly enough.
Elizabeth First time Mum
Having Julia there to support my labour and birth made such a difference. I had complete trust in her and was able to switch off from everything else....We will definitely be requesting Julia to be our midwife again when we have our second baby!
Taylor First time Mum
Julia enabled me to have the birth of my dreams. She was recommended to me after a traumatic experience with my first birth. She really empowered me to take control and to be at one with my beautiful baby. I had the birth of dreams and it made all the difference to the bonding process thereafter. I have already booked her for baby 3!
Char second time mother
“The parallels between making love and giving birth are clear, not only in terms of passion and love, but also because we need essentially the same conditions for both experiences: privacy and safety.”
Sarah Buckley
“There is power that comes to women when they give birth. They don’t ask for it, it simply invades them. Accumulates like clouds on the horizon and passes through, carrying the child with it.”
Sheryl Feldman
“Having a highly trained obstetrical surgeon attend a normal birth is analogous to having a pediatric surgeon babysit a healthy 2-year-old.”
Marsden Wagner
“Many women have described their experiences of childbirth as being associated with a spiritual uplifting, the power of which they have never previously been aware … To such a woman childbirth is a monument of joy within her memory. She turns to it in thought to seek again an ecstasy which passed too soon.”
Grantly Dick-Read
