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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Experiences of student midwife

221 replies

partyskirt · 18/09/2014 14:29

My midwife asked if I would be happy to have a student midwife on board for the pregnancy and also at the labour. I said no, but now feel bad. Has anyone agreed to this and had a positive experience?

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Pobblewhohasnotoes · 18/09/2014 14:37

I had a student who was with the mw at all my appointments. She was lovely and even took my blood better than the mw did.

Original poster

partyskirt · 18/09/2014 14:38

Would you have wanted her in the delivery room?

To be honest a dog in a tutu would have been more useful than the MWs in my first labour, perhaps I should give this a whirl.

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IWantToMakePeppaBacon · 18/09/2014 14:41

I had a brand new student MW at the labour/birth with DC1 - the first birth she had observed! She was fab.

DP didn't want to cut the cord so she asked if I'd mind if she did - was over the moon when I said yes

Benefit of a student (in my case) was that they stay with you for the entire labour (barring shift changes). The qualified MWs tend to examine you then leave again to let you get on with it.

biscuitsandbandages · 18/09/2014 14:44

I always let the students in. I was a student once (not midwife but hcp) and was very grateful to those patients who did. They are heavily supervised and ive never had a bad experience. If you dont feel comfortable then dont feel bad either.

Ihateparties · 18/09/2014 14:44

I had a student at dd2's home birth, it was the first ever birth she had seen and she was absolutely brilliant. Very positive experience. I also did some sessions with groups of medical students via the GPS surgery. That was also great, they were really interested, slightly clueless and none of them had ever done the whole trying to feel the baby from the outside thing. They were so gentle I had to tell them they needed to press harder if they were going to feel anything at all!

So all my student experiences were good but it's completely okay so say no imo and you shouldn't need to justify it.

PeterParkerSays · 18/09/2014 14:47

I agreed to have one in appointments but not for the birth. However, I work at the university where the student was on placement from, and had good reason not to want her at the birth and then facing me on campus a year later.

She was very nervous in appoints (it was her first placement and me saying where I worked threw her a bit). I remember saying she could take a blood sample at about 7 months and she was stunned, "are you sure?", so I presume others had declined to let her. I just told her she wasn't going to learn if she didn't get the chance to try and let her get on with it.

etienne1 · 18/09/2014 14:47

IMO they are brilliant, these days they get a degree and it's hard to get onto the courses as there are so many applicants, so you end up with the truly motivated getting through. Mine was enthusiastic, and couldn't do enough for us. I even commented to her mentor how fantastic she was. It's the older ones who've seen it all, and lack compassion, that I struggled with.

berberana · 18/09/2014 14:50

I had 2 teams of midwives. (1 senior, 1 student on each) attend me during labour. The first student was a right pain - she monitored for the heartbeat when I arrived (already a bit shell shocked as waters had gone with a bang at 36 weeks ) - went on at some length about how she couldn't find heartbeat, and usually she's really good at finding it first time etc etc... Turned out she didn't have the damned machine plugged together!! After that she was with me in the early hours of labour and I just found her quite annoying and doubted her competence a bit. She just asked lots of questions, filled in forms and insisted on me being attached to the monitor at all times. I'd done natal hypnotherapy so wanted to be left alone and she had a rather intrusive bedside manner. But that could be a matter if personality rather than qualification!

At the shift change, the student in the team who actually delivered my baby was lovely lovely - calm, down to earth and even made the demonstration of stitching me up a non-horrific experience!! I would be delighted to have her attend my 2nd delivery in April as a fully qualified! Not so the first student!!

But I would not dismiss the presence of a student at all - they need to learn and in my experience are fully supervised at all times. And you get 2 people rather than 1 in with you which can't be a bad thing.

Longtalljosie · 18/09/2014 14:51

A student midwife delivered my DD2 (hands on hands). It was all good. If anything even slightly dodgy happens they'll take a back seat.

Original poster

partyskirt · 18/09/2014 14:51

Ok yes you're right - it was the old hoary ones who were meanest.

I've texted midwife and said student can come to appointments but I'm not sure yet about the actual birth.

Thanks all. I want to support the NHS and it is important.

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Longtalljosie · 18/09/2014 14:52

Oh and the student was able to check in on me more than the midwife so I had a lot more attention

Original poster

partyskirt · 18/09/2014 14:53

Thanks all for sharing your experiences.

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berberana · 18/09/2014 14:55

I should add that all the questioning and form filling was part of the students job and would have had to be done by whoever... She just has a poor manner and got on my nerves... Perhaps through lack of experience but perhaps just her personality!

And I echo what others have said about the student midwife being with you throughout. It's reassuring even if you wish they'd shut up sometimes!!

Original poster

partyskirt · 18/09/2014 14:56

I know what you mean berberana. In labour I actually shouted 'would you stop filling out those f---ing forms for a minute and come and help me!'

I think they all do it. Hopefully I won't get your midwife no.1 on a degree retake!

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berberana · 18/09/2014 14:58

Partyskirt ha ha! I'm considering a home birth to make sure I avoid her!!

ChuckNovice · 18/09/2014 15:01

I had a student midwife who came with me to all my appointments and she was there at the birth. She was great as my midwife seemed a bit disinterested.

Original poster

partyskirt · 18/09/2014 15:01

Yes, well luckily my DH is pretty assertive too --

Anyway, I think it becomes more annoying the longer you are in labour. The first midwife I had was like a really mean barmaid from a Quentin Tarantino film, but one of the later ones was worse -- a real torturer! Anyone with a modicum of humility would be a plus. But of course this time I will be in labour for approx 70 hours less than last time [fingers crossed, and for a calm and easy birth for you all too]

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MultipleMama · 18/09/2014 15:02

I declined. The asked me, "is it alright if a student was present during labour and birth as they've yet to experience a twin pregnancy." What was I, an attraction at a zoo? My labour and birth is a private and intimate experience for me, I wanted the minimum amount of people involved. I didn't regret/feel bad for saying no.

Original poster

partyskirt · 18/09/2014 15:03

Ok well MW has replied saying it's all or nothing, so I guess I'm going to be a no after all. However, it has been fun to debate!

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Kendodd · 18/09/2014 15:05

I had a student with me though the birth. She was brilliant. Also she had loads more time just to spend by my side than the qualified MW. She was so good I even wrote to the trust afterwards about how great she was. If I had the chance again I would have grabbed it.

I wish I could remember her name now, it was so long ago. I just hope she might be reading this and if she is THANK YOU! YOU WERE BRILLIANT!

Original poster

partyskirt · 18/09/2014 15:13

Did you agree to her in advance Kendodd?
Also it's a shame I can't meet her once and check her out before deciding.

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AGnu · 18/09/2014 15:26

A student midwife delivered DS1 at my home birth. She'd been around at several appointments before so I'd met her. Tbh, I thought she was a bit wet but I'm keen on supporting people's education. She was utterly fantastic. The qualified midwife shouted at me & upset me to the point that I had to request not to see her at all during my next pregnancy but I'd have happily paid to have the student again! Wished I had when DS2 was on his way & the 'midwife' was trying to find his heartbeat near my belly button while I was wanting to push!

DinoSnores · 18/09/2014 15:27

I had a student midwife attend my home birth with DS. It was the first home birth she'd seen. I'd never met her before. She just sat quietly with the other midwives on the living room floor and was no bother at all. Afterwards, she was ever so grateful for being allowed to attend.

When I was induced after the intra-uterine death of my DD1, it was the two most senior midwives on who looked after me. Students weren't ever mentioned.

With DD2, I had 2 student midwives with their mentor midwives as I went over a shift change. There was a bit of concern about DD at the end, so the Registrar was there, but it was a student midwife who delivered her and did most of my care.

I have always said that I am happy for medical and midwifery students. I am so grateful to the mothers who, when I was a medical student, allowed me to be at their and then as I got slightly more experienced more involved in their deliveries. I can still remember the babies' names and some of the special first moments, knowing what a privilege it was to have been there at such a special, intimate moment and to be one of the first people in the world to have met this new baby.

Jenny1231990 · 18/09/2014 15:27

I got to the hospital at 7pm and had my baby at 7.10pm. A student midwife helped deliver my little girl and she was lovely along with the other midwife. They all have to start somewhere and I have never heard a bad word from any mums who have let them be present.
I'd let her do it again or another.
Very calm, kind and helpful.

Kendodd · 18/09/2014 15:29

She was in the hospital when I was. When the MW came in she just asked me if I would let a student shadow her, something like that, I can't really remember, I know I would have been asked though.

My baby was delivered in theatre and was very, very nearly a section, I was all prepared ready for one. She came in with us (it was great for her training) I had my husband on one side (panicking!) and her on the other holding my hand, explaining what was happening and telling me what to do. Because she'd spent so much time with me during the labour, just chatting, we had got the chance to build up a bit of a relationship and that helped I think.

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