Two midwives present?

[firsttimemama]

Should there be two midwives present when you deliver in hospital? I mean when the baby is crowing and actually coming out?

Brandy - In answer to your question I had an "okay" birth with my second baby but there was only 1 midwife present. The reason it was more crucial a question for me is because it was actually the midwifes first shift back after she'd had six months off due to ill health. My ds was a good size 9 lb 12oz and my midwife did
panic a bit after he came out and rang the call bell. When I first arrived it was explained that my midwife would be shadowed by the senior midwife during my labour (and delivery) but when it came to it the senior midwife was nowhere to be seen. Overall the delivery suite was very very understaffed and I'm very thankful that I did not have complications. I had my first baby at a different hospital and feel I witnessed very different levels of organization. I don't think the differences in care received where completely down to staffing levels either I think it was more to do with poor time management.

Ds2 was born with only one midwife. Was homebirtj and the second midwife arrived 10 minutes after he did.

I think the idea of 2 is that if need be one cares for child and one looks after mother in the event that both have complications post birth. In a hospital there is support at end of the red button. At home there isn't. In my case was simply that went from mild contractions to pushing within the space of about 40 mins. The first midwife arrived and immediately rang for the second while she set up her equipment and I panted! The second arrived within 15 minutes, but ds2 was born within 5 or so minutes of the first arriving!

I had two at my homebirth. Actually at one point during labour I had five, which was a bit of a squeeze in my tiny flat!

Standard in my area is one for homebirth checkups during labour, two for delivery. If there isnt a second midwife available to help deliver they will either persuade you to transfer in to hospital or call paramedics for backup. The home birth service will not allow a MW to deliver alone (unless baby arrives unexpectedly fast like pooka's obviously!)