I'm a student midwife - AMA

[greenluna]

I'm also a single mum and ex drug addict. Ask away!

@heidbuttsupper

How do you feel about taking care to the patient? How much will this effect your role?

I'm really sorry, I don't understand your question

@SwordPlay

What's your honest opinion on induced labour?

I realise this is somewhat political. I know the doctors and midwives always want what's best for the mother and the baby but... "Nearly one in three pregnant women in England is having labour induced - an increase from one in five 10 years ago" (this is from BBC article). This is very high, surely anyone would agree..?

I've got 2 DS and with both of them I was under a lot of pressure to induce, I declined both times. Both births were successful and uncomplicated but my decision wasn't easy and I don't know if I was just lucky. Would love to know a medical professional's honest opinion. xx

I agree that women are induced too often, which isn't right, but I do believe that more often than not induction is the best option for those women. Too many times, babies are left inside and the outcome is poor.

Women that decline induction should always be offered frequent monitoring and I also feel like it's important women are aware they can decline in the first place.

Doctors like to air on the side of caution, so may tend to overbook inductions to avoid harm. It's hard to strike balance here when there are lives at stake.

asking for the pain to go away is very normal and a sign things are going well

This is so much of what is wrong about the way we treat childbirth in society. Not having a pop at you OP, but the process/institution.

@myfuckingfreezer

asking for the pain to go away is very normal and a sign things are going well

This is so much of what is wrong about the way we treat childbirth in society. Not having a pop at you OP, but the process/institution.

I disagree, these women are offered our undivided attention and support and further pain relief if they need it. We can adjust the lights, play music, run them a bath, talk to them, scream with them, hold their hand, rub their back etc. etc.

Feelings of not being able to do it, wanting to give up and asking for it all to go away are extremely common symptoms of transition. It is normal and tells us that the labour is progressing.

Well done op for turning your life around.

I bet it's an amazing job.

You should be very proud.

Being a part of something so amazing for every women you look after.

I wasn't lucky enough to have one midwife. I had a few but the lady who delivered my baby was amazing.

@namcybotwinbloom

Well done op for turning your life around.

I bet it's an amazing job.

You should be very proud.

Being a part of something so amazing for every women you look after.

I wasn't lucky enough to have one midwife. I had a few but the lady who delivered my baby was amazing.

Thank you so much, yes I love it. I'm glad you had a positive birthing experience! It makes such a difference.

I absolutely loved my student midwife she was brilliant. She was very capable and seemed a lot less jaded than some of the more senior ones. You sound like a great midwife, I hope you have a long and happy midwifery career ahead of you.

Is it weird having to put your hand inside someone’s ‘noo naa to measure dilation the first few times you do it?

Do sweeps actually do anything very often? They didn’t for me!

@Paripale

Is it weird having to put your hand inside someone’s ‘noo naa to measure dilation the first few times you do it?

Do sweeps actually do anything very often? They didn’t for me!

It is super weird, the first few times it feels nothing like you expect and I had no idea what I was even feeling. Just loads of warm bulges everywhere.

In my experience, sweeps work a lot! We often have women who go into Labour a few hours after their sweep.

'Saying "I can't do it" or asking for the pain to go away is very normal and a sign things are going well, which is how we have to look at it.'

This scares me. People asking for the pain to go away should be taken seriously. How can this be a sign that things are going well? In any other situation this would be a sign that things were very bad.

😡

Are all midwives trained to deliver stillborn babies (when the baby has passed before labour) or are there specialist bereavement midwives? If not, can a midwife refuse? I had a stillborn baby and remember feeling so bad for the midwife on duty.

Thank you for replying. I should have added, all the midwives I've come across have been exceptionally caring and helpful and I will always be grateful to them for helping to bring my babies into the world safely.

Midwives are true heroes in my opinion. Hope all goes well for you xx

"Fortunately, most women aren't in agonising pain for too long. It can be difficult but you quickly get used to it. I know that it is temporary and make sure I remind them of that too."

Remember ladies, you will quickly get used to your agonising pain - it's only temporary you know. You will be reminded of this - so stop making a fuss!

We all have shit days, what do you do when your having a bad day and are on shift?
It must be hard to try and come out of it to encourage and look after women/babies!

What are you taught about post-operative care for women who have had a Caesarean section? All too often on here, we hear stories of women who have had a c-section being told they aren’t ill, they’ve just given birth, so there is no help available, and they just have to try to look after themselves and their babies unaided - but surely a c-section is major abdominal surgery, and the women who have one need the proper nursing care that would be given to any post operative patient who has had abdominal surgery?

I used to be a nurse, and in my day everyone did the basic nurse training, so we all worked on surgical wards, and learned how to give post op care - knowledge that clearly transfers over to the post natal ward. Once we got our registration, we could then specialise - I was a Theatre nurse, and did a one year post basic qualification. Midwifery was an 18 month post basic course. If I have understood things correctly, it is now possible to go straight into midwifery, with no basic nursing background.

What kind of care goes into a ‘high risk pregnancy’ birth compared to a normal or is it the same? I have loads of medical conditions and i’m currently working on getting myself fit enough to have a baby but no idea if I’d get anymore support or not! grin]

@FrameyMcFrame

'Saying "I can't do it" or asking for the pain to go away is very normal and a sign things are going well, which is how we have to look at it.'

This scares me. People asking for the pain to go away should be taken seriously. How can this be a sign that things are going well? In any other situation this would be a sign that things were very bad.

😡

As I explained before, these women are completely taken seriously and are given whatever they need to make them as comfortable as we possibly can, whether that be pain relief, aromatherapy or a whole other host of things.

Women saying this is common and not a need for worry for their physical health, it is almost always a sign that they are transitioning.

@crimsonclover

Are all midwives trained to deliver stillborn babies (when the baby has passed before labour) or are there specialist bereavement midwives? If not, can a midwife refuse? I had a stillborn baby and remember feeling so bad for the midwife on duty.

I am so sorry for your loss. All midwives are trained in delivering stillborn babies. You can refuse, but people don't tend to. It's part of the job and we go into it knowing that this is something we will have to do at some point.

@SwordPlay

Thank you for replying. I should have added, all the midwives I've come across have been exceptionally caring and helpful and I will always be grateful to them for helping to bring my babies into the world safely.

Midwives are true heroes in my opinion. Hope all goes well for you xx

I agree they are a group of pretty incredible people! Thanks so much

What’s your view on homebirths?

Has a labouring person ever annoyed you? For example refusing monitoring/assistance when their baby is clearly in distress?

Or a labouring partner ever annoyed you with their attitude etc? Xx

@PanamaPattie

"Fortunately, most women aren't in agonising pain for too long. It can be difficult but you quickly get used to it. I know that it is temporary and make sure I remind them of that too."

Remember ladies, you will quickly get used to your agonising pain - it's only temporary you know. You will be reminded of this - so stop making a fuss!

That's really not what I said, is it?

Women often find it useful to be reminded that this too, will pass. It doesn't mean get on with it, it means you're doing amazing and every contraction means you are closer to meeting your baby. Pain is taken seriously and we do everything we can to make women as comfortable as is possible.

Women can often lose themselves and need grounding. The reminder that the feeling won't last forever can bring a lot of comfort.

Ohh great thread OP!

Similar to the question above, what do you do if you have an 'off' day? Does the adreneline just carry you through?

And do you remember some babies/parents more than others? I think about the midwife that delivered my baby all the time. She was incredible and I often wonder if she remembers us, but she obviously delivers so many babies every week and we may just be a distant memory to her!

Hats off to you. It's an amazing job to do and seems so fulfilling.

@Moonshine11

We all have shit days, what do you do when your having a bad day and are on shift? It must be hard to try and come out of it to encourage and look after women/babies!

It can be hard, but I kind of switch off from everything when I'm with patients, especially when I'm the hospital.

Community is much more slow paced, so having a bad day there can drag. I tell myself it's not their fault I've had a bad day, they deserve the same care I'd provide any other day. It can be gruelling but it really is one of those "just get on with it" moments!

We can adjust the lights, play music, run them a bath, talk to them, scream with them, hold their hand, rub their back etc. etc.

Absolutely none of that helps and it's common delaying tactics to avoid giving women decent painkillers.

My questions:
If a woman asks for an epidural what is your response?

Do you think coercive language is appropriate if a woman isn't following your advice?