Midwife Supporting Families Abroad: Interview with Founder of Solare Maternity

Navigating pregnancy and early motherhood abroad can be both a beautiful and deeply challenging experience. For many women, being far from familiar healthcare systems, support networks, and even their own language can add layers of uncertainty to an already transformative time.

In this article, Laura Smith, founder of  Solare Maternity and a UK-trained midwife, shares the story behind her work supporting international families. Drawing on both her professional experience and personal inspiration, she explores the unique challenges women face when expecting a baby abroad, and how personalised, continuous care can make all the difference. Through her approach, Laura offers a reassuring perspective on how mothers can feel informed, supported, and empowered, wherever in the world they are.

Supporting Families Abroad Through Pregnancy and Motherhood

A midwife supporting families abroad provides personalised maternity care, guidance, and education tailored to the country you are living in. This includes antenatal support, birth planning, and postnatal care, helping mothers feel confident navigating unfamiliar healthcare systems.

A Non-Linear Path to Becoming a Midwife

My name is Laura and I am originally from Scotland. I also speak Italian and am currently in the process of moving there myself. My journey to midwifery was not linear, rather it was shaped from my experiences and the realisation I wanted to make a difference to women’s experiences. If you’d asked me earlier in life where I’d end up, I might have said an office somewhere in HR!

I actually have a History degree and was well on my way down that path. However I decided I wanted a career where I could make a real difference and empower women in their pregnancy, birth and postnatally. My grandma was a midwife and neonatal nurse, so I always remember her ‘call the midwife’ style stories growing up. Those stories stayed with me, and I think they planted a seed long before I even realised it.

The Inspiration Behind Solare Maternity

The heart of my work is inspired by my own mother. Over 30 years ago, she gave birth to my twin brothers while living abroad, and she still speaks of the deep-rooted anxiety she felt. She still tells me how isolated she felt and how the language barriers increased the anxiety of a first time mum with twins! When I first told her about Solare Maternity she was genuinely moved and stressed the massive difference a service like this would have meant to her at the time. 

My brother and sister in law have also recently had a baby in China. Their stories also really opened my eyes to how pregnancy and birth can differ so much country to country and culturally. I was inspired to start Solare Maternity to help bridge this gap and offer support to mothers and families in such a vulnerable and unknown time. 

The Meaning Behind “Solare”

The word ‘Solare’ was something I first heard when I was living in Palermo Sicily. I got called a ‘Solare person’ and I had never heard of it before. Solare as an adjective is centred around the concept of being sunny, bright and warm. This really resonated with me and to this day it is my favourite word, one that doesn’t have an exact English translation. 

Pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period can bring so much uncertainty and vulnerability, and I believe wholeheartedly that every woman deserves to be met with warmth, respect and joy during that time. To feel truly safe, seen and cared for.

Why Pregnancy Abroad Can Feel Challenging

Common Challenges of Being Pregnant Abroad

There are a whole host of hidden challenges women face when pregnant abroad, including: 

• Language barriers: Be it medical jargon, quick communication in emergency situations, or lack of translators.
• Insurance and paperwork: Navigating visas, health insurance and more.
• Far from support networks: This one is probably the most significant. Being far away from family and friends when you really need them most. A lot of women mention missing their mums the most. 
• Different medical systems and protocols: What is normal in your home country may not be in the country you are living in and vice versa. 
• Feeling isolated and homesick: Pregnancy itself can be an isolating experience, doing it abroad catalyses this massively.
• Culture differences: With partners being present, feeding, safe sleeping, postnatal care etc.

Being pregnant abroad can also be a beautiful experience, it is important to stress it can be challenging and beautiful at the same time. 

Blended Maternity Care: Combining Structure and Flexibility

How Solare Maternity Supports International Families

Solare Maternity offers personalised and researched maternity care depending on the country you currently live in. Each country in the world has its own unique protocols and standards when it comes to maternity care. It can feel overwhelming and confusing trying to pick this apart. As a midwife I will unpack all of this for you in a clear way. Offering maternity education that makes sense both in your language and in your current circumstances.

Perhaps the most important thing I offer is consistency. In a situation where so much feels new and unfamiliar, having one trusted, familiar face throughout your pregnancy and beyond can make the world of difference. That continuity of care means families can build a real relationship with me, ask questions without hesitation, and feel genuinely supported rather than just processed through a system.

Navigating a foreign healthcare system while pregnant can feel overwhelming and can leave you feeling disconnected from your own care. My services aim to help you map out your birth journey abroad, combining my UK clinical expertise with a deep understanding of how to advocate for your choices in a different culture.

UK-Trained Expertise:

You receive evidence-based education grounded in the high standards of UK midwifery training. This provides a familiar and reliable service.

Highly Localised Support:

I will research your specific local healthcare system to help you understand their protocols, common practices, and how they might differ from what you’d expect at home.

Translated Birth Plans:

Language shouldn’t be a barrier to a safe birth. I help you translate your preferences into a professional, clear birth plan that your local medical team can easily understand and respect.

Cultural Advocacy:

We discuss how to bridge the gap between your personal values and the local medical culture, ensuring you feel like an active participant in your care.

Laura’s Approach to Maternity Care

How NHS Experience Shapes Her Work

Working within the NHS has given me an incredible foundation, and I will always be grateful for that. The clinical skills, the experience, the sheer breadth of situations I encountered, it has shaped me into the midwife I am today, and I carry all of that with me into everything I do at Solare Maternity.

However working within a large healthcare system also gave me something else, a very honest insight into where women can feel let down. I have supported countless women through childbirth and the postnatal period, and while those experiences were so often beautiful and rewarding, I also witnessed the reality of what relentless demand on the system can look like. The rush, staff shortages, handovers. The feeling that there simply isn’t enough time to give every woman the attention and care she truly deserves.

I have also seen firsthand the difference that antenatal education makes. Time and again I have seen how women who feel informed and prepared going into their birth experience have a fundamentally different journey to those who haven’t had access to that education. Knowledge is so empowering, and yet it isn’t always something every woman receives in the way she needs it.

The way I support women with Solare Maternity really emphasises this gap in maternity education. The chance to slow down, to offer something genuinely personal and support women in a way that feels completely tailored to them and their unique circumstances. 

What Makes This Approach Different

There are a few things that I think make Solare Maternity genuinely different, and I’m really proud of what I’ve built.

Firstly, I am a UK qualified midwife which means I have hands-on experience with pregnancy care, births and postnatal care. I understand how the systems work and can explain any complex confusing aspects of your pregnancy journey, in a clear way you can understand. 

Secondly, I pride myself on offering highly personalised services. Every session is tailored entirely to the individual woman and family in front of me. There are no generic handouts or one size fits all approaches, just honest, personalised, expert guidance built around each unique situation. The group sessions allow for women to meet other mum’s living abroad going through the same situation as them. 

Thirdly, everything I do is online and virtual meaning I can support women and families anywhere in the world. Whether you’re in Europe, Asia, South America, or beyond.

Antenatal Support for Families Living Abroad

My antenatal classes are the perfect option for anyone navigating pregnancy in a country that is not their own, particularly first time mums. Antenatal education is so important regardless of where you live, as pregnancy itself can bring a world of unknowns. Being educated can completely empower you to feel in control of your pregnancy, birth and postnatal experiences. 

Antenatal Group Classes: Learning and Community

The group classes are a wonderful option for those who enjoy learning alongside others and sharing that experience with people who are at a similar stage of their journey. There is something really special about that sense of community, particularly for families living abroad who may not have their usual support network around them. Everyone in the group will be going through the same experience of being pregnant abroad, and sharing stories can be hugely beneficial.  Each class runs for one hour and covers a really rich range of topics, from the physiology of labour and the incredible role of hormones, to pain relief and coping mechanisms, decision making, the postnatal period, feeding, baby care and even the fascinating world of newborn brain development. It is thorough, evidence based and delivered in a way that is genuinely accessible and easy to understand. I will research the maternity context of the countries represented, so that the content feels relevant and recognisable to everyone in the group. This will be less in depth than the 1:1 sessions. 

One-to-One vs Group Antenatal Support

The private one to one sessions offer everything the group classes do, but with complete flexibility built entirely around you. Your questions, your concerns, your specific maternity system, your circumstances. These sessions are particularly valuable for international families who need support that reflects the country they are actually living in, as well as for first time parents, those feeling anxious or underprepared, or anyone who simply wants that dedicated personal attention.

For families living abroad, both options offer something that can be genuinely hard to find, a qualified, trusted midwife who can fully explain the maternity context of your current country. When you’re navigating pregnancy in a foreign country far from family and in a language that isn’t your own, the reassurance of having someone in your corner who truly gets your situation is invaluable. You don’t have to figure it out alone, and you shouldn’t have to. 

Birth Planning in a Foreign Healthcare System

Navigating Options and Making Informed Choices

I am really passionate about birth planning and preferences. Education and preparation is one of the best tools to feeling in control.  I begin to guide parents through these sessions by simply listening. I want to understand who they are, what matters to them, what their fears are, and what their hopes look like.

From there, I will take the time to explain exactly what is available to them in the country they are giving birth in because this varies enormously. What is routine in one culture can be completely unheard of in another, and navigating those differences without guidance can feel really isolating. I help families understand those cultural nuances, and importantly, I help them feel confident communicating their wishes clearly to their local healthcare team, even when there are language or cultural barriers involved.

These sessions will specifically cover: 

• Place of birth
• Mode of birth
• Who you want and don’t want present
• Pain relief and coping mechanisms 
• Initial postnatal period 

After our session, I will finalize your unique birth plan using the Solare Maternity template and provide a translation into your local language, ensuring your voice is heard and understood by your entire healthcare team.

I always stress that you are allowed to be an active participant in your own birth experience. Heard, respected and empowered. That is what every woman deserves, wherever in the world she is bringing her baby into.

Preparing for Twins and Multiple Births

Additional Considerations and Support when Expecting Multiples

Expecting twins is such an exciting and special experience but it also comes with its own unique set of considerations, and I think it’s so important that parents expecting multiples have access to preparation that truly reflects that.

Twins have actually been part of my world for as long as I can remember. Both my mum and my partner’s mum had twins, so growing up I was surrounded by the stories that came with that, the chaos, the joy, the beautiful uniqueness of a multiple birth family. So alongside my midwifery training and NHS experience, there is something quietly personal about supporting twin families that I really cherish.

The reality is that a twin pregnancy is a different journey to a singleton pregnancy, and parents deserve to understand what that means for them from the very beginning. One of the first things I cover with twin families is the increased level of monitoring and appointments that comes with a multiple pregnancy. This can feel quite overwhelming at first as suddenly there are more scans, more check ins, more decisions to navigate. I help parents understand why each of those appointments matters and what to expect at every stage, so that rather than feeling anxious about the extra attention, they feel reassured by it.

We also spend time exploring the different birth options available for twins, which can vary significantly depending on the type of twins, their position, and the country and healthcare system the family is in. Understanding those options clearly and feeling empowered to ask the right questions of their care team is something I feel very strongly about.

Beyond the pregnancy itself, twin preparation at Solare Maternity also covers the practical realities of life with two newborns including feeding twins, establishing routines and newborn care.

Postnatal Support for Mothers Abroad

Building Support When You’re Far From Home

The saying goes ‘it takes a village’ however sometimes when living abroad this can not be the reality. The postnatal period can be a whirlwind of emotion, new routines, lack of sleep, the unknown, so much love. The absence of friends, families and loved ones during this time can feel enormous. 

For families living abroad, having a familiar, trusted face to turn to in those early weeks can make a profound difference. Someone who knows your story, understands your circumstances, and is genuinely invested in how you and your baby are doing. Not a different professional at every appointment, not a rushed phone call, just consistent, warm, expert support that feels like a small piece of that village, delivered right to wherever you are in the world.

My postnatal packages are structured across a set number of sessions over several weeks, giving families that consistent, reliable presence during the period when they need it most. Through video consultations we cover everything from newborn care and feeding and breastfeeding guidance, to emotional and mental wellbeing check ins.

Birth Debrief and Emotional Wellbeing: Why Processing Your Birth Experience Matters

Birth is a transformative experience, and sometimes it leaves behind questions, surprises, or complex emotions. The truth is that birth trauma is far more common than many people realise, and it doesn’t only come from what the outside world might consider a ‘dramatic’ or ‘complicated’ birth. Women can feel traumatised by experiences that others might minimise or dismiss, and that disconnect between how a woman feels and how others perceive her birth can be one of the loneliest feelings imaginable. 

My birth debrief session offers a quiet, compassionate space to unpack your story at your own pace. Together, we’ll process the moments that felt overwhelming or unclear, helping you find closure, validate your feelings, and hold space for the transition into your new role as a parent.

For many women this brings an enormous sense of closure and emotional healing. For others it is an important step in preparing for a future pregnancy, approaching it with understanding rather than fear. 

Feeding Support for New Parents: Finding What Works for Your Family

Everyone’s feeding journey is completely unique and what works for some families may not work for others. I approach my feeding support with this ideology and provide evidence based education regarding feeding, to ensure all families make informed choices. 

From there, my support covers everything from practical guidance and techniques, to emotional reassurance and confidence building, to navigating the challenges and difficulties that can arise, because feeding rarely goes entirely smoothly for everyone. Having someone knowledgeable and calm in your corner can make all the difference.

For families living abroad there is an additional layer to this too, feeding culture and attitudes can vary enormously from country to country, and I help families understand and navigate that context too.

Getting Started with Solare Maternity

What to Expect from Your First Conversation

This first conversation is a warm and informal introduction to each other with no obligations. I will be led by you in this conversation in terms of your unique situation, we can discuss what each of my services offers and what service would suit your situation best. We can also discuss bespoke services and creating a session or service that is more suited to your circumstances. 

It is also a chance for both of us to get a feel for whether we are the right fit for each other and I think that matters enormously. The relationship between a woman and her midwife is such a personal one, built on trust and comfort, and I never want anyone to feel pressured into committing to something before that feels right.

Why Continuity of Care Matters in Pregnancy Abroad

Birth Language Support and Building The Solare Community

I am currently working with some language teachers to build specific birth and language modules. For families living abroad, one of the most daunting aspects of pregnancy and birth can be navigating medical appointments and conversations in a language that isn’t their own. Medical terminology is complex enough in your mother tongue and in a foreign language it can feel completely impenetrable and incredibly isolating. These will not just be general language lessons, but targeted, practical preparation covering pregnancy, birth and medical language that women and families will be hearing throughout their pregnancy journey. It is another tool to help you feel empowered, educated and in control of your journey. 

The Solare Community Village is going to be an exciting online space where pregnant women living abroad can connect and chat. Navigating pregnancy abroad can be extremely isolating, and only other women going through the same thing can understand. I want it to be a place where women can connect with local mums in the country they are living in, because sometimes what you need most is someone who truly understands what life is like on the ground where you are. Those local connections can be invaluable,  the recommendations, the reassurance, the simple comfort of knowing someone nearby.

The community will also be home to regular blog posts covering everything from maternity guidance and newborn care to navigating life abroad as a new parent. I am also developing a 24 hour chat feature, so that whenever a question arises  whether it is two in the afternoon or two in the morning with a newborn who won’t settle there is always somewhere to turn. 

Both of these services are still in development, but they are coming and I truly believe they are going to make a real difference to families all over the world.

Is This Type of Support Right for You?

Reassurance for Women Feeling Overwhelmed

I want to stress that you are not alone despite how isolated you may feel. Talking to others about how you feel is massively important and finding local communities. Remember that family and friends at home are only a phone call away and do not be scared to tell them how you feel. 

Also it is so important to recognise that it is okay to feel this way, you shouldn’t feel guilty. Pregnancy is beautiful but it can also bring negative feelings and emotions, the two can absolutely be true and both be present. 

The Experience Every Woman Deserves

I hope that when working with Solare Maternity, women feel genuinely supported, informed and empowered regarding their pregnancy. I want them to know they have someone thinking of them and rooting for them in their corner at all times. I want our sessions to feel warm and welcoming and to make women feel genuinely seen and listened to. That is what Solare Maternity means to me. Not just a name, but a feeling. The same feeling I hope every woman carries with her long after our sessions, that warmth, that brightness, that sense that someone was genuinely, wholeheartedly there for her.

Find out more about Solare Maternity, and book your complimentary discovery call to discuss how Laura might best support you during your pregnancy and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pregnancy Abroad

What support does a midwife provide during pregnancy abroad?

A midwife supporting families abroad can provide personalised antenatal education, birth planning guidance, postnatal care, feeding support, and emotional wellbeing support tailored to the country you are living in. They can also help you understand unfamiliar healthcare systems, explain local maternity protocols, assist with translated birth plans, and provide continuity of care throughout pregnancy and early parenthood.

Is it safe to give birth in a different country?

Yes, giving birth in another country can absolutely be safe. However, maternity systems, medical practices, and cultural approaches to pregnancy and birth can vary significantly from country to country. Many women find that understanding the local healthcare system, preparing in advance, and having trusted support helps them feel more confident, informed, and empowered throughout the experience.

Can a UK-trained midwife support me internationally?

Yes. A UK-trained midwife can provide virtual maternity support to families living anywhere in the world. This may include evidence-based antenatal education, birth preparation, postnatal guidance, feeding support, and help navigating local maternity care systems. Virtual support allows families abroad to access familiar, professional guidance regardless of location.

What are the challenges of pregnancy abroad?

Some of the most common challenges include language barriers, unfamiliar medical systems, insurance and visa paperwork, cultural differences around maternity care, and being far away from family and support networks. Many women also experience isolation or homesickness during pregnancy abroad. At the same time, many families describe the experience as both challenging and deeply rewarding.

Do I need antenatal classes if I’m living abroad?

Antenatal classes can be especially valuable when living abroad. They help parents understand pregnancy, labour, birth, feeding, newborn care, and the postnatal period while also building confidence and reducing anxiety. For international families, classes tailored to the local maternity system can make navigating pregnancy and birth in another country feel far less overwhelming.

About Laura Smith, UK-Trained Midwife and Founder of Solare Maternity

Laura Smith is a Scottish, UK-trained midwife and the founder of Solare Maternity, supporting families navigating pregnancy and early parenthood abroad. With clinical experience in one of the UK’s largest maternity units, she combines medical expertise with a deeply personal, compassionate approach to care. Inspired by her own family’s experience of giving birth overseas, Laura is passionate about helping women feel informed, confident, and supported—wherever they are in the world—through tailored guidance, continuity of care, and a focus on both emotional and practical wellbeing.

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