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Original poster

Do doctors have to be present at a birth

42 replies

User26161 · 21/11/2020 16:21

While in training?

OP posts:
ChikiTIKI · 21/11/2020 17:49

I was asked if I wanted a medical student to observe the birth and I said no. I received no support from the medical staff in my labour and they ended up doing what you might call a "surprise" instrumental delivery, against my wishes and without my consent. When ptsd started really setting in after I got home from the hopital, I spent a lot of time wondering if the student specifically wanted to see an instrumental delivery, that they all (apart from us) probably knew was going to happen.

Best not to think about it too much I suppose.

Zzz1234 · 21/11/2020 18:08

I removed the student midwife at my sons homebirth- she held my hand while he has being resuscitated- she looked terrifed- I hope she's ok and didn't drop out after the experience (d's in now 14)

Nubbin · 21/11/2020 18:20

I did - an anaesthetist training, many medical students and then they all followed into a forceps delivery. I think that was the only point I wasn't v happy as there was a lot of 'teaching' going on i.e. "if we did this what would happen" - "the forceps would close on the eye" which wasn't very reassuring to a very tired fairly stressed labouring woman. I said yes though to my second as well which was a c section. I figure as a lawyer - people had to have confidence when I was training and junior and as I have no medical issues or anxiety which would make it complicated - might as well let them try it out on me (I also think that seniors supervise a lot more closely where they are letting juniors try something new so you get 2 for the price of 1).

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mintich · 21/11/2020 18:33

@pythonesque well she was introduced as a student so I thought that was her title. She must have been fairly new as after a few trys, her supervisor took over

SockQueen · 21/11/2020 18:52

@mintich student or trainee? World of difference.

knackersknockersknickers · 21/11/2020 18:53

I got asked if I minded the student dr be there, she was absolutely lovely.

Talcott2007 · 21/11/2020 18:53

DD2 was delivered by a student midwife as in the end as the pushing part happened very quickly and her supervisor midwife happened to be out the room on a bathroom break and i had her before anyone other that the student was back in the room including the neonatal consultants who were supposed to be there to immediately assess DD2 as she has a CHD so we knew ahead of time she would need to spend a bit of time in NICU for monitoring. DH is sure it was exactly 7minutes between me saying to the student "oh this is embarrassing but i really need to have a poo - can I get off the bed?" And her shooting out like a rocket!

Groovee · 21/11/2020 18:56

I had a student doctor help deliver dd. He'd been using me a case study with my pre-eclampsia and when it came to the birth he happened to be on duty and helped deliver her.

Often wonder what he's doing how's

TotalBitch · 21/11/2020 18:59

I had a student doctor at the birth of both my dcs. I was fine with it, but also think you can refuse if you don't want them. It was just one student in both cases, not a big row of them.

mintich · 21/11/2020 19:02

@sockqueen introduced as a student! Obviously a slip of the tongue by the anaesthetist in charge!

wonkylegs · 21/11/2020 19:22

There was a student present at dS2s planned section - frankly I didn't care as there were so many people in the room I hardly noticed the extra.
I also had student midwives for some of my pre natal care (I had a lot of prenatal care, tricky pregnancies) - mainly just repeating what the midwife had already done.
Very conscious they have to learn sometime (DH is a dr and I've been with him since he was at uni) and I was fairly relaxed about it, may not have agreed if I was anxious at all.
DH delivered a baby when he was a student and was so relaxed until we had our own kids at which point he looked terrified.

happymummy12345 · 21/11/2020 19:23

At a prenatal appointment there was a student midwife, we were discussing feeding and I made it 100% clear from the start that I would not even be trying breastfeeding or expressing as I simply did not want to. She tried to lie in my notes and put that I would be happy to try. I had to threaten to complain to get the qualified midwife to change it. Both were awful anyway.

In the birth centre when I gave birth I was asked if I minded a student midwife being present. I said no. She was wonderful. The qualified midwife asked if I consented to the student performing examinations and things so she could learn. The qualified midwife obviously performed the actual checks, but the student also done the same thing so she was able to experience it physically so to speak. Basically every check was pretty much done twice. Even just before the midwife broke my waters the student was involved and felt to know what it was like. I agreed to it all. I just said that the student could do anything the midwife would like her to do, even though it meant two checks most times they were needed. The midwife actually said she couldn't believe how much i was happy to allow the student to do. For me it made sense and I was happy to help her learn. I'm sure by now she's a fantastic qualified midwife.

I also had to have a minor operation due to a complication after giving birth. I was asked if I minded students being present the whole time. I said no. How else will they learn if they don't get chance to be there and practice on real people? Same as the midwife.

saraclara · 21/11/2020 19:35

I had a student midwife present at one birth and a student doctor at the other. I liked it. If anything they interacted more with me, and were more enthusiastic about the whole business than the experienced ones, especially when my babies appeared!

I really don't understand why people object. We're all being cared for by experienced professionals because other women gave them permission to be at their births years before us.

HalfBrick · 21/11/2020 19:59

I put that I didn't mind students on my birth plan. From what I remember they brought a student in right at the end of my labour to watch at the end of the bed, it was her first birth, she looked absolutely in awe, quite sweet.

mindutopia · 21/11/2020 20:36

Doctors in training have to assist in a certain number of births as part of their training (in the UK), but no they don't have to be present at every birth and you can frankly decline anyone you don't want in the room. Never had a doctor at any of my births (barely had a midwife, as I had 2 home births and they only turned up just at the end), and in fact, have never even seen a doctor for any reason during any of my pregnancies.

sauvignonbonk · 21/11/2020 20:40

Yes but legally you have to give your clear consent and permission for students to be present.

It should be up to you whether you allow or not.

sauvignonbonk · 21/11/2020 20:45

@saraclara

I had a student midwife present at one birth and a student doctor at the other. I liked it. If anything they interacted more with me, and were more enthusiastic about the whole business than the experienced ones, especially when my babies appeared!

I really don't understand why people object. We're all being cared for by experienced professionals because other women gave them permission to be at their births years before us.

Everybody has different boundaries though. I was happy to have a student midwife and understand students getting trained is obviously vital to having future professionals, BUT I understand that many women aren’t comfortable for a variety of reasons. Particularly in an area like childbirth that can feel very overwhelming and vulnerable, I think a lot of women just to maximise privacy as much as they can or may have troubled histories so, whatever makes them most comfortable is valid, even if it includes only having essential staff.
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