did you have any students at your birth?

[ranirani]

I am at watford general. 37 weeks PG this Friday.
Do not think I want to have any students poking down there, definitely not. maybe to be present, and one only, not the whole group of them staring at my bits.
did you have any experience with students?
i know they need to learn but do not feel all that glamorous somehow with all this extraweight etc... having my Dh there would be enough embarassment for me
and NO photographing either!!!!!!!

DS2 was actually delivered by a first year student midwife who was brilliant and, of course, fully supervised.

As a nurse whose DH is a doctor, I probably give a biased view but I do know that it's vital for their education.

Having said that, you don't have to have them there, just make it clear on your admission.

Oops

About 20 hours into my labour a group of about 6 students trooped in. I told them in no uncertain terms to bugger orf.

They did.

I do believe in teaching hospitals, really I do.

It depends on the kind of birther that you are, I think. The student MW was in tears because we didn't want her in to see DD2's birth. The unit was really busy and we were the last couple to refuse her. But I am a very quiet and private labourer, and DH was very concerned that the more people that were in the room, the higher the chances that I would be distracted and the birth wouldn't go well. As it was, even with superhuman effort from me, we came really close to needing intervention. So it was the right decision.

I had the student for the first stage - she would come in and out to check the heartbeat and my blood pressure. She was lovely, so it wasn't about her, it was about me, as the saying goes.

i had a student MW at DS2's birth. it was the last one she had to observe before being allowed to be hands on. i was at the end of her shift and she had seen loads of interventions and c-sections that day so she kept thanking me afterwards for allowing her to be a part of a lovely natural birth.

I was in a private hospital for DS1 and was asked if I minded a student doctor being present - they said it might be the only opportunity she would have to see a long labour left to run its course without intervention, so I said yes and was very pleased to have some extra company. She did come to see DS1 and me the next day to say thank you.

I was delivered by a student midwife - last delivery she needed for her training. Also had 2 midwives, paediatrician and at least 1 or 2 medical students. They all stood in a semi-circle at the foot of the bed and stepped back in unison when I pushed as my membranes hadn't ruptured.

DC1 was delivered by a student doctor (her first - she was practically as delighted as we were!). It was a lovely birth. I've had students present for 3 of my 4 births. The only difficulty I ever had with a student came in a scan. She was trying to make polite conversation when the radiographer had disappeared for my notes, and asked whether it was my first baby. She was horrified when I had to gently explain that I was being scanned following a miscarriage. Other than that I've quite enjoyed being the centre of attention.

I had a student midwife at my recent homebirth. It was her first 'birth' and she was thrilled (she got to cut the cord as my dh and I are far too squeamish to want to do that!). We got a photo of her with ds a couple of days later & gave her a copy. She was great. Because it was a hb I had 2 midwives + this student, but despite not being an extrovert it didn't bother me in the least floating around naked in a birthing pool with several other people watching .

However, I was asked if it was ok for her to be there & I think if you do not feel comfortable at the time, then don't be afraid to ask them to leave, its your body and your birth experience after all....

I had a student midwife to deliver dd2. She was just back from maternity leave.

I had a student midwife at the birth of our DS and she was lovely...she delivered him with no problems at all. I found that she was more considerate (down there!) and more cautious...unlike the long-term MW's who plough on in without thought that you actually have feeling down there!!!!