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Childbirth

When you gave birth,and was In Labour was the midwife in with you the whole time ?

83 replies

LardLizard · 22/03/2018 23:06

As when I had my dd
Went into hospital at about 4cm dilated

The midwife was looking after several people, and only popped in what felt like for five mins once an hour
That went on for 8-9 hours till I was fully dilated then she stayed with me for the Pushkng part which was probably 20-30 mins I guess
Tbh I was expecting a midwife to be with me more

OP posts:

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Lovelydovey · 23/03/2018 08:27

Pretty much constantly both times. But then with the second, I had the entire labour ward to myself for some reason.

Dancingmonkey87 · 23/03/2018 08:29

I’ve had three dc one was an induction and was left quite abit and she popped back and forth, they can have two mothers when really busy. My 2nd was a natural labour but there was concerns over dd heart rate and they thought she might had indigested some of her poo and my when she went to break my waters they were already broken. They sped my labour up and she never left me for obvious reasons, third baby was was back to back and I ended up with an epidural they again closely monitored me.so she was in with majority of the time.

HeavyLoad · 23/03/2018 08:38

With DD at end of 2015 I had midwifes with me constantly once in active labour in birth centre. First was a bank nurse as it was middle of the night, then a MF and student, then for the.remainder a mw who did not leave me for her whole shift, not even for a break. She actually stayed 2 hours beyond her shift to see through my labour and write up notes as i got to pushing stage at the end of my labour. Because of my care I assumed someine had to be with you at all times but seems this is not the case.

HeavyLoad · 23/03/2018 08:40

*meant to say got to pushing stage at the end of her shift!

ellesbellesxxx · 23/03/2018 08:43

I had a midwife and student midwife at all times from when waters broke (I was induced and was twin birth) apart from their breaks.. felt very looked after!

bluechameleon · 23/03/2018 09:16

Yes. I was induced with the drip and had an epidural so maybe that's why they had to stay?

GreyCloudsToday · 23/03/2018 09:22

I had a MW with me almost constantly (minus loo breaks) at our local MLU. It was really good.

Though you are not allowed into the MLU until in established labour - they send everyone home. So I was sent home at 1cm and then admitted a couple of hours later at 7cm.

laelti · 23/03/2018 11:09

I gave birth in an MLU and midwife was there the whole time (unless she was grabbing something etc). Though I did turn up 8cm dilated, and I think there were only 3 labour rooms anyway.

My midwife did get her colleague to come cover halfway because she was going to have her 20 week scan though! It was quite nice when she came back and we found out what she was having!

EleanorRobinson · 23/03/2018 15:11

1st labour - no - popped her head around the door of the labour room every hour or so.
2nd labour - yes, at home, so midwife sat with me for last 3-4 hours, checking me and baby regularly. That’s why I think it’s as safe or safer to have a baby at home, as any problems would be picked up much sooner. It was a lovely experience and I will be grateful to that woman as long as I live.

Collywobbles1984 · 23/03/2018 15:24

I was also consultant led this time so yes, and she was AMAZING! Totally had my back on every decision and wasn't scared to have a go at the Doctors pushing for things that weren't part of my plan!

peacheachpearplum · 23/03/2018 15:34

Even when I had a home birth the mw wasn't with me the whole time, she was there all night and popped home at about 8 am just to see her kids before school. She also sat downstairs having a cuppa with my mother (probably some toast and a slice of cake as well if I know my mum.)

greenlizard · 23/03/2018 15:49

I didn't want the midwives (had a student too) hanging about - frankly all that faffing about was annoying and distracting - I didn't want to be touched or talked to (including DH). I went into some withdrawn state.

I think the student learned how to manage stroppy madams that day...i did feel for her (afterwards) as she had to out up with me and then right at the last minute the doctor came in and delivered due to complications so she didn't even get to register the birth on her training log!

Nomad86 · 23/03/2018 18:11

I was lucky. First time I had the same midwife and student with me the whole time. Second time I had a midwife, student and two student doctors there who never left me. First baby was in the hospital bit, second was in the birth centre. I didn't see another pregnant woman from the minute I arrived and never felt like they were busy. It must vary hugely between hospitals.

swapsicles · 23/03/2018 18:15

Yes, the whole time.
Well I was 10cm when I arrived and had dd 50 minutes later! There were quite a few others in there too but it was all happening so fast I can't remember (and 16 years ago!)
However I wasn't expecting that just a midwife to check in on me now and then and be there for the last bit. Tbey simply don't have the time to stay one on one with patients.

CountFosco · 23/03/2018 18:19

3DC, at least 1 MW with me the whole time, with DD2 (my most straight forward birth) I had a MW and a student MW with me the whole time. Top notch care in the NE!

Mammyloveswine · 23/03/2018 18:37

Ds1... midwife was there the entire time, catching up on paperwork but there. She was lovely! There was a shift change 5 minutes before i ended up having the baby! Saw same midwife as we were leaving the next day, she gave me a massive hug and said she was gutted when she checked and saw id had him as soon as she left.

Ds2 i re member how young the midwife looked... but she was brilliant! Had a student with her and both stayed with me, they sat on the bed whilst i was in the pool. It was a quick labour tho, 3 hours after getting to hospital ds2 was here!

I had two very positive birth experiences and feel very lucky that my local hospital has such a fabulous birthing centre!

mathanxiety · 23/03/2018 19:56

There were only two times when I was on my own, over five deliveries.

The first time was during induced labour with DS and the nurse left me for God knows what reason. Another nurse came in, saw the contraction monitor, said OMG, adjusted the pitocin downwards, and asked me who had been there before and how long I had been alone.

Second time I was left to sleep if I could while a pessary was supposed to do its work when being induced for DD4. I had a monitor on a belt that made it a bit uncomfortable, but I did sleep.

For the other three deliveries I was never alone. One took 40 minutes from entering the hospital to hearing 'it's a girl!' so maybe discount that.

I delivered in the US, where it seems staffing is adequate.

ShackUp · 23/03/2018 19:58

2 labours. Midwife was only there at pushing stage both times. My 0-10cm stage was quite short and pain wasn't too bad both times, though.

TookyClothespin · 23/03/2018 19:58

DD1 - midwife and student midwife in the room the whole time as I was high risk induction due to pre-eclampsia.
DD2 - no. Only came in when DH went to go find them.

EskSmith · 23/03/2018 20:02

Dd1 yes, senior midwife and student, however I had pre-eclampsia, and don't think they were allowed to leave me even for a second. I was very poorly post birth and didn't leave hospital for over a week.

Dd2 high level of scans leading up to birth (consultant led care etc due to above) constant monitoring machine thing for vbac but still midwife flitting back and forward, dh had to call them at transition.
I can tell you I much preferred birth 2!

Baubletrouble43 · 23/03/2018 20:03

My labour was very like yours. I didn't mind as partner was with me and it was nice to have the alone moments. Never crossed my mind to expect excessive attention unless there were complications. Which there weren't. I think you may be a bit unrealistic. I tore too but no one's fault in my opinion

Liz38 · 23/03/2018 20:05

I haven't a clue... I was out of my tree on drugs and it's all a bit of a blur! At least, that's once i went into the delivery room where I stayed for 12 hours till they took me for surgery. Prior to that I definitely was on my own a lot but that didn't seem unreasonable, i was induced and if I'd not been in hospital already they'd have sent me home at that stage.

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umberellaonesie · 23/03/2018 20:06

NICE guidelines state women in active labour (most trusts recognise this as from 4cm dilated) should have one to one care from a midwife.
Research also shows one to-be care in labour reduces labour length and reduces intervention and creates better outcomes for mum and baby.

Wowzel · 23/03/2018 20:06

I had 1 to 1 care from the moment I had my epidural put in and they started the IV induction

Newmrs22 · 24/03/2018 07:36

I has a midwife with me the whole time. Was on the monitor and then after a few hours had the drip. I wish I didn't to be honest.

I'd gone from low risk to high because of prolonged labour/long time since waters had broken.

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