Birthing plans and student midwives!!! ??

I'm 30 weeks pregnant and I really would like a water birth...but the midwife that I see at the healthcentre hasn't asked me about labour and what I would like to happen....do I mention it to her when I go next weds (i'll b 31 weeks pregnant) or wait for her to ask? I really want to talk 2 her about it but she doesn't seem as informative and wanting to talk like midwives are described in books lol....plus there's always a student there wanting to do my blood pressure and have a prod at my tummy...last time the student did my blood pressure she had the strap on that tight and for that long I nearly passed out..I know I should say 'no' to a student but feel a bit mean lol not having any students present during the birth tho!!!! any advice..thanks x

Birthing plans and student midwives!!! ??
Mention it to your midwife by all means. She will be able to let you know how many pools there are, how busy they get it. If you also write it in your birth plan then when you are in labour, you will be asked if you still want to use the pool and they will let you know if it is free.





As for the students - be less polite! Tell her it hurts if it hurts. Come labour, you will probably either not care who is there, or not care at all about being 'mean' and just tell them to get lost, so I wouldn't worry too much about that!!
Reply:When I had my son 9 years ago, I had seen a midwife and a student all the way through. The student was the one who actually delivered my son (closely watched by the trained midwife) and he was the 1st baby she had delivered un-aided. It kinda made it a special moment for us both, because she had really taken care of me during the whole thing and to be right there at the "grand finale" was nice for me and her as well.


That said, while you are pregnant and in labour, you are allowed to be selfish about who prods you about, don't be scared to say NO to someone. If you don't say you aren't happy, the midwife won't know! And sure, ask her about your birth plan! It's what she is there for, for advice and help when you need it. If you want a water birth you need to know your options sooner rather than later ... some hospitals have pools, some need you to take your own (hire or buy one??) and if you want a home birth with your pool you need to be sure that your floor can take the weight of a full pool ... how long it takes to fill ... lots of things like that. I don't know where you are, but I have seen a website called "birth-pool in a box" which was helpful :-) Good luck!!
Reply:You can mention it to your midwife. Maybe she thought you haven't gone that far yet....... Anyway, I quicker you mention, the better the planned....
Reply:I had a student present at my birth, she was helpful, often listening to me when others wouldnt, she was supportive to me and my partner, taking time to include him in what was going on when the midwifes where too busy to answer questions.





She was with me during my emergency c-section and talked me through what was happening. She came and visited me on the ward the following day also.





So Id say, yes, have a student in with you, my students name was kelly and I remember her even three years on. She made a horrible experience better than any midwife could as they're just too busy to see you as anything other than another woman on the ward, the students see you as important and a learning oportunity.





Take my advice.
Reply:ask.. she may not think you want to know yet. Students have to learn unfortunately. My sister-in-law is a student midwife and has tried to practice all of the techniques on us so that she doesnt hurt people. She is 35 so isnt just a kid with no idea, but they all need to train and they all have a mentor who will make sure they dont do anything to jeopardise your health,.
Reply:ok you need to tell your doctor you see about what you want in your labour and how do you want it. iam only 27 weeks pregnant and ive already told my doctor i want a eppie. dont wait for your doctor to ask you because it might never happen. i always wanted a water birth, i think it would be cool to do and a really good experience. but im not doing it this round lol maybe the next. this is my first baby. just speak to them about it, and also tell the student that she needs to not do it up so tight, you do need to tell them sometimes how to do there job, i know its sad and you might feel bad, but thats how they learn. good luck and congrats.
Reply:Read this please honey!





when i was in hospital on both occasions having both babies there was always student doctors everwhere - i even had a student gynacologist doing my stitches the second time, and they were done perfectly. the first time i had stitches the qualified doctor took no time over them and it was like a butcher job - so i say thumbs up the the students!!!





Student midwives and health visitors can be young - mine were and didnt have kids - but thats okay, give them a break they all do a fantastic job,


Sophia
Reply:HI. WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH MY DAUGHTER AND WAS SEEING MY MIDWIFE I WAS ASKED MY PERMISSION IF IT WAS OK IF A STUDENT MIDWIFE CAME TO ASSIST. OF COURSE I LET HER AS I BELIEVE THAT THEY NEED TO LEARN AND HOW WILL THEY LEARN IF NO-ONE LETS THEM. ALSO AGREED FOR STUDENTS TO BE AT THE BIRTH. TO BE HONEST NEVER EVEN REALISED THEY WERE THERE. TELL YOUR MIDWIFE ABOUT YOUR BIRTH PLANS OR WRITE ONE AND SHOW HER.
Reply:I work with pregnant mum's and think that you are able to think about your birth plan from the minute you realise you're pregnant. It's your body, your baby and your plan and the earlier you express your wishes the better. Talk to your midwife now and tell her that you would really like a water birth. She's the first one who can tell you whether or not that's possible - sometimes pregnancy complications make it difficult (sometimes impossible) to go with all your choices, whether it be water birth, natural birth, caesarean etc. But you'll only know the answer if you ask the question.





As for the students, good on you for considering them, and allowing them the opportunity. Again however, its your body, your baby and your space and you do have the right to refuse them being there. Just speak up!!!





Be confident but the general rule is flexibility!!!!


Ask for what you want!!!! Only then will you know the answer!!!





Good Luck and I wish you well


T
Reply:Its up to you to bring up anything you want to discuss. Don't wait for them to, especially if its to do with a water birth. You would need to either get a birthing pool at home, or check on the facilities at your hospital. However, there is no guarantee that the pool will be free when you need it, or if there will b sufficient time to prepare it for you, depending on how fast the baby comes.





As for students - you should be required to give at least verbal consent to her presence in the room, never mind allowing her to take blood pressure or touch you. They don't mind if you "would prefer not to have the student this time thanks". The midwife has to ask you for permission, try and say "no" if that's how you really feel.





You don't have to have anyone there that you would rather not. Don't feel "mean" its just your right. I have never had such a problem with incompetent junior or trainee medics, but that's because I remember my mother having a breast-check for cysts with a consultants' entourage of interns in the room - in the days when they didn't have to ask permission. The memory of them barging in to the tiny room and her subsequent embarrassment and acquiesance has helped me deal with medics at any level, so I never had "white coat hypertension". They seem to take you more seriously if you stand your ground, nicely.





I know that students have to learn, but it doesn't all have to be on you, there are plenty of other opportunities. Say no thanks next time you go just to see how much you are really in control of the appointment. It'll be fine.





If you don't get a water birth, take the epidural they offer, you'll be so pleased you did! Good luck.
Reply:I dont think there is anything wrong in having a student midwife to examine you if your midwife thought she wasnt doing it right then she would guide her, Plus these students have to learn and whats better that pratical experience.





When I was pregnant I had student midwives quite a few times and I also had one when I was in labour and she was great!!





About your birth plan, she will want to know when your nearer the time you still have 10 weeks to go, so relax, if like me I was given a tour around the maternity and birthing unit before i gave birth and was given the opportunity to have a water birth I was abouth 35 or 37 weeks then, if she still has not mentioned it to you by then you can either tell her yourself or on the day you give birth, if you think about it its not something you can book in advance in the hospital as you dont know for sure when you will go into labour. Good luck
Reply:If you are in the UK it is not the midwife that you see at the doctors who will be able to tell you if you can have a water birth but the midwives at the birth unit in the hospital you will be giving birth at. Ring the delivery suite and ask about a tour of the unit, I found this really reasurring and you are able to ask about their facilities, many units only have 1 or 2 pools and its just luck as to wheteher it is free, hope this helps
Reply:Usually midwives start talking about birthing plans at about 36 weeks.


It never hurts to mention it though.
Reply:if you want to make plans for the birth then you call the shots...mention it to her at your next visit!...as for students...yep...they all have to learn but we had a weird experience last time too with my wife's 20 wk scan....when the qualified midwife left the room to run an errand of sorts...the student decided to talk to us...(my wife had 2 previous mc)...told us if things didn't work out with this one not to worry and to try again (not exactly something you want to hear at the 20 week scan)...I felt like telling her to take a class in tact...but what's the point..we just nodded along and said nothing...but afterwards my wife was amazed by the way she was talking to us...of course all talk like that stopped the second the midwife returned into the office.....students...ah well..
Reply:Just ask her, she's prop waiting for you to ask..!! Thats what some midwifes do.. And as for the student, say no, u have your rights just say no sorry not today..!!





You think you have it bad my poor friend had to be induced 3 times because her daughter just didn't want to come out.. And was in hospital for 3 days before she was born.. And she had 2 midwifes, 2 students and another lady that just came in and said " oh ive never seen a birth before, can i sit in" by that point she didn't care.. But i think its terribe.. but at the end of the day its your choice you can say no..!! x
Reply:I think you should say no to student midwife if you are not comfortable. I said no all through my first pregnancy, it's entirely up to you!





This pregnancy (my second) I have let student midwives 'practice' on me as I feel it is a duty, they do need to learn. If a student midwife wants to witness the birth then I'm fine with that also. I would not let them deliver the baby as I am high risk labour (previous PPH). Maybe next time I might consider it.





I think midwives should be more considerate and ask the pregnant lady if she is comfortable with a student midwife in the room first. Most people would be.





As for going through birth plan, I'm not sure when they discuss it. In Scotland it was about 32 weeks but nobody has discussed it with me yet and I will be 33 on Tuesday 18th. I was going to ask the same question!
Reply:Okay... I am a nursing student. Students have to learn sometime... would you rather a brand new nurse who had NO experience at all take care of you??? Nurses need to have lots of experience as a student. And yes... I do think its rude to say no to a student. As far as your midwife goes, you should talk to her. If she hasn't asked... you need to let her know!
Reply:I haven't looked at my birthing plan with my midwife yet either. My next appointment is next week when i'll be 34 weeks so i guess i'll ask about it then. My last midwife hardly said a word to me, didn't even ask if i was feeling ok or wanted to talk to her about anything, i kinda assumed it was because she was covering my usual midwife who had only just gone on maternity leave and she was still finding her feet!





I was a student OT in the NHS (although i always hated the word student!) my mentor watched me closely even in the final year it was almost like having two professionals rather then one. If they weren't with me at the time they were never far away and always asked what i was going to do and why before i did it, its the only way to learn, but if you are not comfortable with a student you have to right to say so and they are supposed to ask at the start of the appointment if you are happy for the student to be there or treat you. It's not mean to say no its your body and your choice and you won't be the first person to have said it, especially if this is your first pregnancy, don't worry there is always someting else for them to do :)
Reply:Just tell her. She may not know that you want something other than the standard traditional birth. As for students I had my son at a teaching hospital. When I needed to have a vacuum extraction, about 30 people marched in the room. I had no choice about who was there, and if your in teaching hospital you probably wont either. They don't do much but watch anyhow. You wont even notice them. Next time she or someone else puts the cuff on to tight tell her. How will she learn if you don't tell her? Good luck and congrats on the baby.