Student mid-wife caseloading...

[Rockprincess]

This is my first pregnacy (11 weeks) and I had my booking in appointment in last week where we were approached by a student mid-wife asking if we were interested in having her shadowing us through our pre-natal appointments, labour and post-natal care. I am thinking seriously about this and have discussed with my husband who has no objections. To be fair I was thinking about getting a Doula anyway as I think he'll faint at the first signs of trouble and generally be completely useless through the birth and thought this could be a great alternative. Has anyone else used a student mid-wife? What are your experiences, good or bad?

I didn't have a student midwife during my antenatal appointments except for one appt but I did have a student doctor shadow throughout my whole labour and then come and visit me and baby on my first health visitor appt, plus we had a few students midwives come in on some shifts during my labour (the hospital is a teaching hospital).

If you are in the UK I doubt she'd be there to give a doula-like experience - after all she is still learning herself. However given that all midwives are there to support the mother when she gives birth, having an extra, albeit student, midwife on hand can only be to your benefit.

Personally I think it is very important to give students, be they midwives, medics or nurses, a chance to get real hands-on experience.

I have had a student midwife at all my Antenatal appts, as well as a trainee being examined on my 20 weeks scan, and have also said Student MWs welcome during my labour (even though I am exceptionally prudish!)

It has been brilliant. Things have been explained in such depth, and real time taken over things in order for Student and then MW to check things. I've learnt a lot of stuff that may not have been covered if the MW and student weren't discussing them, and the 20 wk scan was very thorough and a lot was explained between the Student and the Examiner.

IMO it is very beneficial, and more to the point, I allow it as it is essential that student MWs get first hand experience, not just book learning.

I imagine during the actual labour, your Student will not act like a Doula, but will be at the business end, learning and possibly working to help get the baby out safely.

I had a student doctor at my son's 6 week check - so we got a full and detailed explanation of exactly what the doctor was doing with each test, rather than her just saying each thing was OK. Extra care and extra information has to be good!