I'm a Midwife AMA

[MidwifeAMA]

Experienced midwife, hoping to spread good quality info :)
AMA

Yes we are open to tweaks as long as they are realistic. For example we try to do optimum cord clamping as standard, music, skin to skin and feeding asap etc. But we've had requests for very low lighting and that's not feasible when you are performing surgery, it's a high risk procedure and needs to be done well, which needs a bit of light!

Exposing child to vaginal fluids is something we leave parents to manage themselves as we can't 'seed' babies due to potential infection risk.

Is it normal procedure to be put on antibiotics for 10 days after waters break and no labour?

Day 10 tomorrow & going for an induction. I was put on antibiotics and refused induction 10 days ago as they said it's safer to wait as I'm only 36weeks

Why is it less common to have a quick birth with third than second? Intruigued.

Do you think more women are being induced? Anecdotally it seems to me that lots of my friends and family are being induced or being advised to have an induction

My baby had sepsis at birth and was on iv antibiotics for a week. Luckily he was well enough to stay with me on the ward and didn't need intensive care, he just got taken there a few times for certain tests etc. But I was too exhausted through the whole process to properly ask why it could have happened and I'd like to know if there's anything I could do to prevent the same outcome with a second baby? I've seen pp about group b strep and it now makes sense that all the doctors were shocked when it came back negative for that. Any idea what else may have caused it?

Lots of HCP refer to IVF babies as 'precious'- do you say this? And do you really think it or is it just the done thing to make anxious IVF mums feel looked after?

What's your view on gender disappointment? Have you ever had anyone really disappointed when baby arrives? What did you think of that?

Do you remember many of the women you've helped /babies you've delivered, or do they all blur into one?

This is exactly what happened to me too!! Super quick labour, baby flew out in one go and third degree tear to remember it by! It didn't hurt at the time in the slightest. Mine took 12 weeks to be completely pain free and I still have a funny little stitch on my perineum that's being looked at in August.

Also, yes, there is a bit of gape but it is improving! First time I looked up there at 6 weeks I cried 😂 Pelvic floor exercises help, but my gynae did say it may never look quite the same as it did.

It seems like inductions are being suggested more at the moment and not always with 'typical' medical need. Is there a reason for this?

Hi, I had a very quick vaginal birth, no pain relief but had to have a epiostomy. This was 14 months ago. I still have no bladder or bowel control. What can I do?

Sorry but are you sure you’re a midwife? It’s been all over the news. How have you managed to be naive to this?

question asker: yes there are LOADS of us resisting this and we have groups where we discuss this and are active in resisting the deletion of women in obstetric, midwifery and Gynae language. We are lobbying MPs, lobbying journal owners and editors and generally putting our careers on the line.

I promise you there are plenty of us all over this but we need the public to also resist and complain when they see this nonsense.

This may be asking how long is a piece of string but how many women does a midwife typically look after?

I have ptsd from my first birth and I’m anxious about my second. What can I say to the midwives to get support for this and not just be met with eye rolls and them acting like I was being a precious ftm(the attitude of the midwives at my first birth that meant my son and I almost died and I ended up with ptsd.)

I’m considering an elective c section to have a greater sense of control, but even then I will still be at their mercy on the post natal ward. How can I get help and kindness? How can I tell if there is a good culture or a bad culture in the team? Especially when the midwife is randomly assigned. What kind of phrases should I use if anxious or scared of their behaviour? Thank you

Sorry OP.

I’m just bored to death of useless colleagues, hopelessly confused students & also colleagues claiming they know nothing about the nonsense that is currently endemic in any women centred environment.

No questions, but just a huge thanks to midwives like you who have supported my births. A few complications in the process, but attended to so quickly and efficiently- leaving no lasting damage or impairment to me or my children.
A Huge thanks OP. XX You are amazing!

Just wanted to say thank you for what you do. I had my daughter at a midwife led unit and while her birth was… interesting (very fast which didn’t give me much time to process and I panicked… ooops), all my midwife’s were heros.

My question is, if you suffer a tear (mine was second degree - almost third) are your chances of tearing again in a second labour more or less likely?

Have you ever given birth? Did it change the way you viewed labour, delivery and the women you care for?

I'm a teacher and having my own children has made me view parenting in a very different light, renewed respect for many parents and even more disdain for some.

Good question.

The midwife who delivered my first baby was so no-nonsense and honestly I felt let down having seen TV programmes featuring these lovely nurturing kind midwives supporting women ... My second was much much better and as a result that's the delivery I look back on as a genuinely amazing experience so calm and natural and I felt so supported. Midwives have the power to have such a huge influence at such an important time!

Hi, anxious mother here with a bad experience of birth. I'm wondering if I hemorrhaged in my first birth, is it likely I will in a second birth? What causes it and how could I prevent it? It was an emergency c section, would a planned c section make it less likely?

Also, what causes someone to need the anti clotting injections for 6 weeks. I needed them but I dont know why!! Is there an alternative to them because I absolutely couldn't go through that again.

Desperate for another baby but not sure if I can go through what I went through again and would love some reassurance.

Does anyone monitor the attitude of midwives towards women or pull them up on unkind behaviour? Do you think more could be done in terms of midwifery standards to protect women at their most vulnerable from bullying behaviour? It doesn't quite seem enough to say that you feel lucky you don't witness it.

I'm 36 weeks pregnant, at my last scan baby's abdomen was measuring 39 weeks but fetal medicine didn't seem concerned and thought it was good. There is a jump on my chart around 50th centile to 90th, should I be concerned about this? I am worried about gestational diabetes as I read this could be a sign but I haven't been tested. I see my consultant on Tues and am due to be induced at end of month. Just a bit worried.

I never wanted to do the whole be pregnant and give birth bit but here i am as it was the only option. I’m getting more and more anxious about it as the weeks go in. What should I be telling my midwife so she realises as I hide anxiety extremely well until I’m in full blown panic mode. Also I have a history of csa which I haven’t mentioned yet. Will it only be Labour that I need internal exams and the like or do these start sooner?

It varies from hospital to hospital. The goal is to get baby's lungs mature and ready for outside life whilst balancing the slight increase in infection risk. Absolutely give your unit a call for more info if you don't feel like their recommendations have been explained enough to you though, you should feel that you know the ins and outs and are happy with the plan.