Busy pregnant executives bring midwife to the office

The 24-hour working culture means many female executives find it impossible to juggle hospital check-ups with meetings.

But a London midwife has now launched the first ante-natal service tailored for women who want to combine motherhood with a high-profile career.

Lexie Minter, 29, set up The Prenatal Company after identifying a gap in the market for a service for women in the workplace.

A typical consultation lasts from half an hour to an hour and is arranged to fit round the client's work schedule.

The cost of the service, which provides support throughout pregnancy, is £5,000.

This includes blood tests, work check-ups and advice on the best place to give birth and exercise tips during pregnancy.

Ms Minter trained as a nurse at The Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead and did her midwifery course at Chelsea and westminster-Hospital. The Fulham-based businesswoman said the bespoke service enables expectant mothers to continue working but also retain control of their pregnancy. she said: "GPs, physiotherapists and dentists have been in the City for years offering corporate care. But to date no midwifery care has been offered.

"This service is tailor-made for the demands of the City. it gives value for money with the minimum of hassle and time.

"High-flying City women quite rightly want more control over their lives and the opportunity to compete on a par with male colleagues."

Ms Minter's clients include sheryl Marjoram, who lives in stoke Newington and works for advertising company Ogilvy & Mather.

The 40-year-old executive came to Britain from Australia so was faced with a medical system that she did not fully understand and was without close family and friends. Ms Marjoram, currently 26 weeks' pregnant with her first child, said Ms winter has been "invaluable" in highlighting the best places to have her baby. she said: "Having Lexie at my side to guide me through the system has been wonderful. Having her there to answer my biggest worries and to reassure me like a friend or family member might has been invaluable.

"From helping me understand which exercises are best to helping me choose the perfect place to have my baby, Lexie has been there. she is never more than a phone call away and has made trips to both my office and home to ensure my pre-natal care never becomes a burden."

This comes just weeks after the standard revealed the crisis facing maternity care in London.

The Royal College of Midwives estimates 1,150 more midwives are needed to deal with the soaring birth rate in the capital.

There is also still not enough choice over where mothers give birth, with standards reported as "poor" in nearly three-quarters of London maternity wards by the Healthcare Commission.