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 current 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.

23/01/2026

✨A few highlights from 2025✨

I had the privilege of supporting so many incredible women and families through such a wide range of journeys - each one unique, each one a reminder of why I love what I do ❤️

Every family, every story, and every experience I was a part of will stay with me, and there were many great moments and opportunities to remember.

It’s a huge honour to be trusted during such an important time in people’s lives, and I never take that lightly.

As I look back, I feel so grateful for the connections, the lessons, and the moments that made last year so special. What were some of your 2025 highlights?

22/01/2026

It’s been a little while.

I took a step back after a very full-on year to rest, reset, and be more present in my home life. The past couple of months have been slower, quieter, and exactly what I needed 🥰

That time has helped me reflect on my boundaries and how I care for myself, not just others. I realised I was pouring so much into everyone else that there was very little left for me — and that’s not sustainable.

Looking after ourselves isn’t selfish, it’s essential.
Midwifery is still (and always will be) my passion. Supporting women and families through pregnancy, birth, and beyond is what lights me up, and I feel so privileged to do this work ❤️

Last year in independent midwifery was full of the most meaningful, varied, and humbling moments 🥰
Every family. Every journey. Every story.

Such a privilege to provide personalised, continuity-of-care support through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. So grateful for the trust, the connections, and the memories made ❤️🥹

Can’t wait to start sharing some of these special moments with you all ✨

Hi 👋 It’s been a while since I shared a little update on who I am and what I do. I’m Debbie, your North East Independent...
21/09/2025

Hi 👋
It’s been a while since I shared a little update on who I am and what I do. I’m Debbie, your North East Independent Midwife.

A lot of what I share is from my experiences as an IM supporting the many diverse families during their births, many of whom choose to birth at home. As that is their choice and right to do so.

I don’t just support births at home — I support births wherever you feel safest.
Whether that’s in your home, a birthing centre, or a hospital — my role is to stand beside you, to protect your choices, and to ensure you feel informed, empowered, seen, heard, and respected every step of the way.
Birth isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s personal, powerful, and yours.

✨I hold space.
✨I listen deeply.
✨I walk with you - before, during, and beyond birth.


Happy birthday to my first born 🥳🥰Born on the 6/7/93 at 42+1, weighing 9lb and born on my brothers birthday! My pregnanc...
06/07/2025

Happy birthday to my first born 🥳🥰
Born on the 6/7/93 at 42+1, weighing 9lb and born on my brothers birthday!

My pregnancy was uneventful, his birth was straight forward and I had an uneventful recovery. I had a 5 day stay in hospital, which back then was pretty standard even after a normal birth! I birthed him in hospital and accepted the care that was provided was what everyone had. I had absolutely no idea that there were options as none were presented to me. That was just how it was, or so I thought. I was young and very naive.

I didn’t have a bad experience but I also didn’t have an empowering experience either looking back. I was just delighted to have my baby. I think current maternity care and offering choice is a lot better than it was when I had my babies but we still have such a long way to go!

I was always maternal and knew I always wanted to be a mother from being very small (just hadn’t planned for it to happen as young as I was!). I had my first baby very young, I was still at school!

Having my own babies & being in awe of my midwives sparked a passion in me that I knew I wanted to do the same and help make a difference to other women having their babies. Here we are, 32 years on, 4 babies of my own and over 15 years of being a midwife and supporting families having their own babies ❤️

My first born, who made me a mother and changed my world 🥰

Being asked if I would help out on set as a midwife advisor of the filming of some very interesting scenes of the movie ...
20/06/2025

Being asked if I would help out on set as a midwife advisor of the filming of some very interesting scenes of the movie 28 years later last June was an absolutely amazing experience!

A very different & exciting few days of independent midwifery!

I was invited to the gala screening of the movie last night and WOW, what a film!! Seeing how some of those scenes were shot on location at the time & have all came together, knowing I was there hiding out of the way of the cameras during some of those scenes and a scene I had advised on, was amazing 🤩 Also the incredible role that a very talented young North East actor Alfie Williams played as “spike” just wow 👏

I met some lovely people while I was there, the lovely baby Lachlan was the most adorable baby ❤️ and his lovely mummy

Danny Boyle & Jodie Comer were so down to earth and friendly, as were all the other cast and crew members I met and spoke with. Some very surreal moments, but such an incredible experience! You all need to go and watch and let me know what scene you think I might’ve been advising with 👀

All in a days work for this independent midwife 😆

✨Sarah’s beautifully inspiring home birth story✨I have shared Sarah’s HBAC birth story over on my website that she has s...
12/06/2025

✨Sarah’s beautifully inspiring home birth story✨

I have shared Sarah’s HBAC birth story over on my website that she has shared with me today to also share with you all. Grab yourself a cuppa, some tissues and settle yourself in for a beautiful read. What a woman! 🥹❤️

I was commissioned by Sarah’s NHS trust recently to provide home birth care for Sarah to be supported at home during the birth of her 3rd baby due to the local suspensions of home birth provision.

Reading the words of Sarah’s inspiring birth story and feeling the emotions of her whole experience has certainly brought tears to my eyes today.

Providing support during the most intense and intimate journey someone can experience, is a profound responsibility and privilege. To be a part of someone’s life transforming journey and being able to support them in their chosen place of birth is a feeling like no other. To hold that space and see them feel strong, supported, empowered, safe and trusting in their birth space, to enable them to fully connect with their mind body and soul, is something I wish everyone could experience.

The power and the beauty of fiercely strong and independent birthing women surrendering to birth 🙌❤️💪

“I am eternally grateful for everyone who was involved in my care. My community midwife Vickie, who listened to my hopes for birth and did her best to get me the care that I needed. Jess, who supported me through an emotional, traumatic 3rd trimester and used all the tricks in the book to make my labour more comfortable. And Debbie, who stepped in when I had lost hope, both in my pregnancy and labour, and handed my power back to me. I am forever in your debt. You all gave me the strength to continue through a difficult few months and to achieve the healing birth I had hope for. What a joy it is to be held close by such inspiring women”

Read the full story from the link below or in my bio https://www.independentmidwifeofthenorthltd.co.uk/blog/sarahs-inspiring-home-birth-story

✨Team work makes the dream work✨Big shout out to these amazing women I’ve had the pleasure of supporting or had supporti...
10/06/2025

✨Team work makes the dream work✨

Big shout out to these amazing women I’ve had the pleasure of supporting or had supporting me, during home birth care in the last few weeks. Helping women feeling empowered, supported and cared for during their births.

Fantastic, empowering & inspirational 🥰🙌💪

The fabulous & Sonja Knopf Independent Midwife.

✨Sometimes all you need at birth is space, feeling safe & supported, trusting intuition, trusting your care providers, u...
05/06/2025

✨Sometimes all you need at birth is space, feeling safe & supported, trusting intuition, trusting your care providers, understanding physiology and having time. Time to rest, to move, to surrender ✨

When birth can takes longer than expected, and in the absence of any concerns with mother or baby, just by being at home you’re more likely to have an intervention free birth.

This was certainly true in the case of Chloe’s labour. A first time mother’s second stage of labour was prolonged due to a malposition of baby. OP to OT then OA but with an asyclintic head, confirmed during a VE.

In a hospital setting quite commonly this birth may have resulted in some intervention such as the use of instruments to assist with birth. The “midwife interventions” we utilise at home include much lesser invasive or traumatic methods and usually involve some biomechanics, positional changes, allowing rest and time!! All of which we were able to utilise to enable Chloe to remain at home for the birth her beautiful baby.

✨Client Review ✨I received this lovely review today from a new family who welcomed their first baby into the world last ...
21/05/2025

✨Client Review ✨

I received this lovely review today from a new family who welcomed their first baby into the world last month at home.

I provided individualised care throughout their pregnancy, during the birth of their beautiful son and into the postpartum period, before saying “see you later” to this lovely family last week 🤍🤍🤍🤍

Today’s antenatal visit with my little helper, soon to be big brother, helping me check his mummy & baby ❤️🥰😊The 2nd pic...
21/05/2025

Today’s antenatal visit with my little helper, soon to be big brother, helping me check his mummy & baby ❤️🥰😊

The 2nd picture is the same little fella moments after his birth at home in 2023 that I had the honour of witnessing, watched on by his big sister 🥰

Big beautiful eyes full of wonder and curiosity and of course a sprinkling of mischief 😆

Family centred relationship based continuity of care at home is the best 🙌❤️

A few days away to rest & reset with the youngest offspring ☀️🏖️Back to midwifery in a few days 🥰
06/05/2025

A few days away to rest & reset with the youngest offspring ☀️🏖️

Back to midwifery in a few days 🥰

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

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