Midwives who do not work within the government system will not be allowed to call themselves midwives, though, so providing antenatal care will carry with it the same risks as providing care during birth - a fine for practising as a midwife unregistered.
yeah .. this is the bit where i realised that it is not just the birth the government are taking control of with this proposed legislation .. but all aspects of antenatal, labour, birth, placenta care, postnatal and breastfeeding ..

the term midwife is an ancient latin word for 'with woman' .. i ache that this term has been taken off women and become part of an insitiution.
i use the word medwife
and birth support worker for those who truly midwife - ie listen to the woman above all else, regardless of what doc or ob is in the room

as for the homebirth thing in the future .. there will be publically funded homebirths.
but don;t get too excited .. you only qualify if you do every single test they expect off you (no exceptions) .. and meet their ridiculous criteria .. but they are not being to outspoken about that either of course