Experiences of student midwife

[partyskirt]

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?

I had a student midwife at my home birth, despite there being a qualified midwife and the student my baby ended up almost dying in my living room when neither of them caught him and he fell in the birthing pool. So in my opinion no use whatsoever.

I had two home births and a student midwife came for the second with her mentor. I thought the student was different because she was married and the midwife for DC1 was not and nor was the midwife for DC2. We had a general chat and I learned that she had two children. I remember thinking, "Oh, good. She knows what it's like then."

Both midwives were very good, patient and I saw just them throughout the whole pregnancies.

I had a student deliver my first DC under sepervision she had been to several of my antenatal appointments and she was fantastic. I've had students at two of my other births too and it was always lovely.

I had 8 people in the room when I delivered DC3. I recall there being:

• a student midwife
• a student nurse
• a student doctor

I don't mind at all. They have to learn!

I had DS2 on Monday. He was delivered by a student midwife and she stitched me up afterwards - she was excellent.

littlebairn - it sounds like your difficulty is more with the hospital than students. Can you change hospitals and give birth elsewhere? You seem to have lost all confidence in them: changing could help you feel more positive.

i had a student midwife and it was really helpful, because there was also an experienced midwife there and (with my permission) she talked the student through each bit as i was doing it.
i found it really reassuring to hear what was going on, and also felt like i was given more care in a way, because the older midwife was teaching the younger one so must have been doing everything "by the book". i think i was given more attention as a result too, as, although the older midwife popped in and out, the student stayed with me longer because (i presume) she couldnt see all of the other patients.
i would recommend it, but only if you feel comfortable.

I gave birth to DD2 just over two weeks ago and I had a student midwife with me. We actually found out after we'd agreed to it that she was already a fully qualified nurse but I didn't know that when I agreed. Although I was also a bit out of it when I did agree to it so probably would have agreed to anything at that point! However, I definitely would do it again, she was lovely and agree with what other posters have said - she was keen and interested rather than jaded and mean like one of the older ones was!! And also she was with us the whole time which was really nice - in fact, OP I'm quite jealous that you will get her for your appointments too - I never saw the same MW twice in my pre-natal care let alone during labour!

I had a student MW at one of my appointments and she was also there when I started off in the MW led birthing centre. I'd already stated in my birth plan that I was happy for a student MW. She was lovely, fab and really really kind. When I wound up on the labour ward after the birthing centre didn't quite work out, there was another student MW, who was amazing.

I wasn't prepared to have medical or nursing students. I didn't want a large audience for the birth and really wanted as few people there as possible, and was prepared to make an exception so a MW student could attend, but not for anyone else.

If you are not comfortable with it, it's fine to say no!

I had a student visit me twice at home after my baby was born and she was amazing. The second time I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and she spent ages talking to me and reassuring me. My step mum who is a retired nurse was there at the time and she was impressed with her too.
If we don't let students practise on us there will be no midwives in the future! Same applies for doctors, teachers, builders, mechanics, hairdressers etc.

I had one first time round (for the first part at least) and she was lovely, she didn't really have to do very much as there wasn't that much happening at that stage, but was just very nice and calm, and it also meant there was an extra pair of hands so I was well looked after, cups of tea and so on! She missed the action later on though, DS was kind of stuck so didn't actually emerge till the next day and then only by EMCS....

I agreed to a student midwife (was more of a 'she is going to be here - that's ok isn't it' kind of situation). I really wish I hadn't - she was very inexperienced and kept trying to tell me to get really angry to help with the pushing. I really didn't find that helpful at all and finally had to tell her to stop. Against all stereotypes, the (female) consultant who was called during the difficult labour was the real star - best communicator and helped me to avoid an emergency C section.

I had an uncontrolled delivery by a sudent MW that did a lot of damage.

I said it was okay for her to be in for the labour but not to delivery the baby. Unfortunately I was too out of it at the crutial moment to ask why she was attempting to control the head not step aside for the trained staff.

I didn't want it then and wouldn't want it every again in the future.

I had a student at the birth of my first child. I was her 40th birth so she was qualified once the birth had occurred. I needed an emcs under GA and it was all very dramatic. She was so kind and reassuring. I woke from the anaesthetic and was able to feed my son before falling back to sleep (it was the middle of the night) and I remember opening a groggy eye, seeing her cuddling my son and reading the paper and thinking what a lovely lady.

I had student midwives from the uni where I'm also a student present at DD's birth. I think they were final year students so a year older than me, and a couple of the ones I saw were actually house sharing with some of my friends from the year above on my course

I didn't mind. They have to train to become fully qualified midwives, and part of that involves assisting with a certain number of births. I was quite happy to help (plus by the time all and sundry were looking at my bits, I was in the grip of a 3 day induction, on the drip with minimal pain relief, the Queen could've walked in and felt the baby's head if she felt that way inclined for all I cared).

In my experience the student midwives were fantastic, I saw several throughout the pregnancy and birth and they were all very supportive and professional. From a personal view as a younger mum, it was nice to have one midwife who had years of experience, and another who was fairly close in age and could speak to you on a level iyswim.

i had a student midwife at a few appointments i had she was lovely i would have happily had 1 at my birth

My midwife had a student working with her, she sat and asked how I felt about the student being present for my delivery once we realised my daughter had died. I agreed and said I was fine with it as long as the student was ok. Personally I actually found it quite nice as she was taking a lot of photos for us. She was lovely and sat with us for a long time.
However my choice was probably hugely affected by the fact that I'm a nurse and know how valuable it is to experience things as a student, rather than having to do it for the first time when you are qualified.
If that student provides the kind of care I got to another mother in the same situation then something good came out of the experience.

I would be happy having one student MW or dr but no more. I don't want a circus! Also happy for them to observe but not deliver.

Dino I know this was ages ago but I really feel your point about hospitals having signs up doesn't do enought to satisfy informed consent and patient dignity and privacy.

-some patients are blind or have poor eyesight and can't see signs
-some don't read English
-some are functionally illiterate
-some will be very nervous and not take in a written sign
-hospital waiting rooms are plastered with gubbins about blood pressure, prostate checks, vaccines etc and it's very easy to miss a sign
-many clinics now don't have receptionists full time, just checking in machines (my hospital and my GP surgery do this) so there is not always someone to ask

I feel strongly that people should be asked. I would almost always say yes, but I think it's very rude and unfeeling to just expect a patient to talk about private matters in front of a roomful of strangers without being asked.

I've had student midwives visit me postnatally (along with the qualified midwife), all was fine & I didnt have an issue, but like others have said, they sort of turned up on the doorstep so I couldn't really have turned them away!

Slightly different but I did have a trainee sonographer for a 32wk scan with DC3.... oh my goodness, it was awful! Boiling hot weather so I was already feeling flaky, had to lie on my back for ages whilst she scanned me and pressed really hard on my poor bump.

In the end, I fainted on the sonographer table and a qualified took over

I had a student midwife at dc1s birth, she was great and it meant I was never left alone. I'd rather have her at dc3s birth than the useless idiot of a qualified midwife I had for dc2s birth!!
Also had a student mw do a sweep for dc2 and that was fine too
They have to learn somehow and seem to be normally paired with experienced mws

I had a student MW attending at both my water births, didn't really notice them to be honest. Student helped with the sweep though second time, which was fine. We all have to learn somehow in our various jobs/roles in life.

I had two student midwifes due to a shift change. The first one was awful! No ability to empathise, sat in front of me staring at me whilst I was labouring in the birthing bath and completely f'd up an internal. The second was amazing; young but I liked the enthusiasm. She was coupled with a modern, strong midwife who could stand up to consultants. When I was supported by them two labour was exactly how I needed it to be, all the way to stitches at the end and a wheel chair to the ward.

Point - I agree with the learning process and I feel student midwifes should be involved in labour at every opportunity BUT. If you really really really don't like the one you get, tell them to leave.

Yep, I had a student midwife throughout care on both children, and on the first delivery she was pretty much the one in charge

Everyone has to learn sometime, they are observed etc so how cab it hurt

I had a student midwife at the births of Ds1 and Ds2 - they were both absolutely brilliant. Student midwife 2 was an expert on taking blood and I barely noticed her doing it from my already bruised arms (tons of blood tests before Ds2 was born). Student midwife 1 was also terrific, stayed the entire labour despite it crossing at least one shift change (least that's how I remember it, I seem to recall having a vast amount of different midwives/doctors/registrars/consultants looking at my nethers during the time and she was the only constant person there besides Dh) She was also on the maternity ward as a fully trained midwife over the weekend that Ds2 was born, and got to meet Ds1 as a toddling two year old when he came to visit with Dh!

I have had students at 4 (out of 5) of my labour and deliveries. They were, without exception, lovely, gentle, careful and conscientious. I was asked my permission for their presence and for any procedures they were involved in. Yes, as others have experienced, they were often better than the jaded midwives on duty.
One came to see me on the ward later, to give me and Dd a hug and thank us for the wonderful experience!