Student midwife during labour & childbirth?

[Poppins2016]

One of the prompts on the birth plan template provided by my midwife is:

"Can a student (usually a midwifery student) work with their mentor to provide you care?"

I have really conflicting feelings about whether I want to give permission or not.

1. My overwhelming instinct is that I'd like be to left alone during labour to get on with it by myself. If the rational side of me thought it would be safe, I'd happily have a home birth/unassisted birth. But my sensible side rules and I'm planning to have a water birth in my local midwifery led unit (plan b is standard delivery unit). I'm planning to use hypnobirthing techniques and I'm very much on board with the philosophy of a 'calm, gentle birth' (as it fits with my natural instinct). It was emphasised by the midwife who ran our course that we should tell the MLU midwives that we'd be using hypnobirthing techniques and we should emphasise that we'd like to aim for a calm, quiet environment with a minimum of conversation. Allowing a student midwife to be present seems to go against my natural instincts... It would (surely?) involve double the conversation, checking, observation and examinations.

However...

2. I strongly believe that students need to be allowed to gain experience. In the past I have always allowed student doctors, nurses, gynaecologists and midwives to give me care. How is anyone going to learn if people like me say 'no'? My instinct is to want an experienced midwife who will be as hands off as possible... But how does anyone learn how to do that without practice?

So:

Has anyone said yes to a student midwife being present? Was it ok? Did you regret it or was it a positive experience? Any pros/cons you wish had been mentioned?

I'm going to speak to my community midwife about what I should expect (if I say yes) when I next see her, but thought I'd ask for your experiences in the meantime.

I actually had a student paramedic at mine - she didn’t deliver the baby, but closely shadowed the midwife. To be honest it was a pleasant distraction as she was really chatty, and it was interesting to hear the midwife talking through all that was happening. The student even came to visit me on the maternity ward the next day to say thanks (and get in a baby cuddle!)

Yes I did and it was fine in terms of I didn't feel like there were too many people/I was being pestered twice iyswim?

My only negative is that they said I needed "2 small stitches" as DS had his hand on his face and his fingernail "grazed" me coming out apparently.

I'm convinced this was a bit over dramatic (I never felt a thing and by that point I was on no pain relief) and I think it was just an opportunity for the student to practise - I wish I'd said no and asked if they'd leave it to see if it stopped on its own as I now have a scar and find it uncomfortable to wear tampons

I had student midwives at both my labours and they are great! They are super enthusiastic, really into it and very attentive and their supervising midwife always double checks everything so it won't impact you quality of care.

I had a student present for mine. I don't remember a lot of it as I was in agonising pain! She also came in the ambulance with the qualified midwife when they shipped me off to the hospital when things started going wrong.

I guess it must have been a good birth to be present for and she probably learned a lot which can only be a good thing.

I think there was a student midwife there when I gave birth, but tbh I was so focused on the act of labour itself I wasn't really listening when she was introduced, and to this day I'm not quite sure.

All she did was observe, which I had no problem with. They have to learn somehow.

We had a student midwife present at our DS's birth. She was amazing!

I had a student midwife for ds2. She was brilliant, more like how I imagine a doula would be. She made the experience so much better than my first.

I had a student midwife. She was great, no interference, she mostly just watched and listened. I didn't have conversations twice nor did I notice any obs being done over.

I also had a med student in the room at the same time. I was his first ever patient. I barely noticed him at first, but just before DS was born I did see he had turned as white as a sheet I'm not sure he'll want to be in Obs/G when he qualifies.

I'm a student nurse at the same (small) university as the student MW, so I'll likely see her when I return to my studies

OP my son’s birth could be described as “calm and gentle”. Don’t get me wrong, it’s called labour for a reason, but he was born in the birthing pool into a quiet room with the lights switched off (it was dawn) and he didn’t cry until he was weighed a couple of hours after he was born. This was pure luck rather than anything I did especially (though I did use hypnobirthing techniques which helped in early labour), but it does happen for some people :)

I had a lovely student midwife last time but I’m still not sure this time.

It’s one more person in the room and I know I felt overwhelmed with 5 people in there last time.

I had a student midwife at the birth of my DD. She was really lovely and put me at ease. All she did was just changing the sheets, take my temperature, check dilation (which was then checked by her supervisor). It was no problem at all, and they do need to learn somewhere.

Had a student midwife and she was amazing, I still remember her name but not the more senior midwives who were there for the birth. She was calm, kind and made the birth a really positive experience.

I wouldn't hesitate to have a student again.

I had a student under supervision both times. One was near the beginning of her training so was supervised all the time, and the other one was just about to finish so had more autonomy.
as a professional that needed to train in real-life scenarios I was happy to allow this and felt I had great care both times.
Students have to learn.

I'm a doctor and was very grateful to all the women who allowed me to watch their deliveries while I was training - labour ward was one of my favourite experiences as a medical student! I ended up not going into O&G but it was valuable experience nonetheless. Felt like it was only fair to pass the favour on. I had a medical student in mine, would have been quite happy with a midwifery student too but my midwife didn't have one that day. The med student basically was just an extra cheerleader, though I did show her how to disconnect my drip from my cannula which she'd never actually done before.

I think that as long as the student was aware of what you wanted with the hypnobirthing and was respectful of that, it would actually be a useful learning experience for them.

At my first birth I had a midwife and one student. Afterwards I needed stitches and the student held my hand while DH held dd.

Second birth I had midwife, student and two student doctors. All four were very hands off and I enjoyed having them there. It was the first birth the doctors had seen so I felt quite relieved because they wanted to see a straightforward birth. Again, one held my hand for the stitches. I still remember all their names.

I had student midwife at my son's birth in February. She was lovely both my midwives we're. I did have to have examinations twice. Student did it then told senior midwife her findings then the senior midwife did it to confirm if she was right. I was fine with it as other than exams and monitoring the baby they left us alone. I did have an epidural though so I was quite chilled out.

Hi OP
I had a student midwife for my second labour and she barely left my side, the MW in charge and consultant were obvs in charge, but she was there throughout and I found her enormously supportive. Again for my 3rd which was a c-section I had a student, who booked me in settled me, and stayed on extra after her shift to see me through surgery. IME they have more time and empathy.

My student midwife was amazing. She held my hands while they were trying to get the spinal block in and talked quietly to me to keep me calm - then told the anaesthetist that no, I couldn't sit still as I was having a bloody contraction and that he needed to wait til she said go. I could have kissed her.

And the midwife who looked after me the morning after I had DS2 was the student who had attended my home visits with DS1.

Sorry, haven’t rtft (I know how annoying it is when people do that - sorry!)

I had a student. She was not properly monitored or supported. She almost killed my DC during their birth. I also felt like cattle being examined by two - then three people as they rushed a DR in for an emergency delivery. After two days. Then she lambasted me for not breast feeding because that was what she had been told I should do. I was numb from the neck down. I cried because I was scared my baby would fall off. The supervising midwife was no where to be seen.

I too believed that I should help if I could. I would never, ever, let a student near me or my family again.

If you want to do it, trust your instincts. If it’s put to you not as an open question (ie you feel bad saying no) then say NO. If it feels uncomfortable, say NO. I am tortured by what happened to us. Don’t let that happen to you.

As a midwife I would say that most people who have student midwives feel that it is a really positive aspect of their labour. If a woman says that she doesn't want a student it is a real shame and can sometimes mean that the student ends up cleaning and doing paperwork instead of gaining valuable experience. These women are the midwives of tomorrow. They may look after you or your friends or family without supervision once they are qualified. If you are not sure please have a student, you can always change your mind if you feel that it is not working out for you.

I'm so sorry to hear of your experience MisstoMrs, it does sound awful. Have you considered feeding back to the hospital involved? It might help to ensure that students are properly supervised in the future.

Thanks @gigglywiggle

I did feedback to the hospital who, to be honest, weren’t particularly interested. After all, luckily, we didn’t have any adverse outcomes, my mental health aside. The university who supplied the midwife, on the others and, have been amazing. My DC’s birth is now a lecture for all midwives. I am glad we have been able to turn it into a positive. But the cost to our family, personally, will always impact on my view of having trainees involved in my family’s care. I absolutely understand about the need for trainees to get experience, but it shouldn’t be at the cost of people’s health, mental or otherwise.

I also want to second my calm and gentle labour. My dd2 9lbs 9oz was born at home, drug free and I had a very happy, relaxed and calm birth. I used hypnobirth throughout and it was textbook. Yes it was very hard labour, but I was calm and relaxed and confident. Highly recommend doing a hypnobirth course with a qualified practitioner!

I'm not sure if I've already answered this. But I had a lovely student present the whole time. I basically told the equally lovely qualified midwife the student could do whatever she needed or wanted to her to do. I had the student perform the same checks as the qualified midwife, so she could get used to it. I was so relaxed and comfortable with them both it didn't bother me at all having it all done twice.
I sincerely hope the student done very well and is now enjoying a very rewarding midwifery career. She deserves every success.

I had a student at my second home birth it was only her second birth! This means I ended up with 3 midwives as I got 2 full trained ones for a home birth. I loved it I felt really special.

She was really happy that her first vaginal delivery was a home birth and I was happy knowing she'd never forget that experience, she'll always remember me and my baby. Quite special actually!!

I think it did help that the midwife she was with was amazing!!!! That woman stitched me up lying on her front on my living room floor!! We definitely gave that student an education!

I went private so had every appt with my consultant, no students! I had an elf’s so again that was performed by my consultant. I was supported my very experienced midwives.

Had this not been the case then there is no way I would allow a student, and I certainly wouldn’t allow them to perform any function if they were in the room. I have no qualms about asking medical personal about the level of their experience in any situation where I am a Patient. I have been known to tell the phlebotomist they get one shot and if they do t think they can achieve this to go and get someone who can. Far too many distaste stories about cocks up by students for my liking. They can learn in somebody else!