Students allowed at birth ?

So I am giving birth at a teaching hospital which I know isn't quite the same thing but it is my understanding they would allow for any student/resident to attend so everyone has an equal opportunity to learn from the experience. I've been told that I will be so focused on labor that you won't really notice who is in the room or care (which I hope is true). I would hope though if someone is making you uncomfortable you would have the right to ask them to leave or give you space. Idk if I helped at all, but I do wish you a happy and relaxed laboring process no matter who is there ❤️

U are allowed to decline students. Its your right. Just let your midwife know.
I was uncomfortable with the idea at first too. But there aren't a lot of home births nowadays and I wanted to allow someone to learn so I decided to go with it.
I had a student at my birth and she was an amazing person and a big blessing.

I had a student midwife deliver my son (he was the second baby she had delivered), however we were in a hospital setting. Xx

I had a second year student midwife deliver our baby girl (wasn’t a home birth birthed in a hospital due to medical issues) but she was PHENOMENAL! The best support I could ever have asked for , so encouraging , supportive and just comforting! She’s a huge part in why I had such a beautiful intimate labour with minimal pain and baby was out in 3 pushes ! I would request for her to deliver my baby in future all over again! I find students to have such up to date knowledge aboht patient care !!❤️❤️

I will definitely have a student midwife at my home birth. 1st time around the older very experienced midwifes unfortunately were rushing a lot, had 0 empathy and were short tempered. Once student midwife arrived when they had handover she was like an angel. So kind and gentle and paying a lot of attention to everything I was saying.

I had a student midwife deliver my daughter, I was her first and she was great! It was a hospital, not a home birth but honestly, my eyes were closed from the second I started pushing, I opened them once, saw like 10 people and closed them again.

Afterwards I was told who was in there but honestly I didn't even care or notice 😂

My student midwife was soo much better than the qualified midwives, unsure if the information was just more fresh in her mind or the older ones were bitter 😂

My student midwife was much better then the actual midwife, she actually cared and was really sweet and supportive

I have said yes to student but if I feel uncomfortable at the time i can kick them out

I will be allowing a student at my birth, I feel it’s a great opportunity for them to learn. They’d be supervised the entire time and I’m sure the doctors and midwives would stop them and guide them if they were about to do anything wrong. But the one student I’ve met so far was super lovely, she was at my first midwife appointment and I’ve just found out she’s been offered a job at that hospital next year.

I had a student midwife deliver my little girl in hospital in June and she was amazing 🤩
Her bedside manner and personality was a million times better than the fully qualified midwife who stitched me up.
But if you aren’t comfortable with it you’re well within your rights to voice that to your midwife. Birth is about you and your baby. Good luck!

I second the students being much more lovely and caring, I think they are less jaded 😃

I asked for as few people as possible so we only had one midwife who was absolutely brilliant. It's your birth and you will only do it once so it's your choice. I usually welcome students to medical appointments etc for them to learn but I felt like this was very different x

I allowed students I’m a nurse and was once a student myself they have to learn. I was sad for my student cause I ended up having a C-section so she couldn’t deliver my son they have to deliver a certain amount before they can qualify. But my student was phenomenal looking after me afterwards and helping me breastfed it’s her I remember more than the qualified midwife.
Ultimately it’s your birth and your choice you can choose to have a student there to start with and if you find it uncomfortable at any point politely ask to them to leave. They won’t take it personally xx

I had a student for my birth and she was incredible. So lovely and attentive!

I’m not having home birth, but I don’t mind students at doctors appointments and scans ect, but when it comes to my actual labour I have it in my birth plan as a no. I can get pretty snappy and irritated quickly when in pain and I wouldn’t want to put someone off or want them touching me incase anything went wrong. Experienced midwives ect know how to deal with people who get like me someone new may not and they could get really offended or upset then decide to go a different career

The hospital where I gave birth was a teaching hospital and I said I was happy for students to be in the room, but I didn’t want them touching me. I was happy for them to observe. During my labour one midwife told a student to come and check my cervix after they’d done a cervical check and when I said absolutely fucking not, they told me it was a teaching hospital and it was normal. Cue me kicking off saying ‘I don’t give a fuck, I don’t give them permission to do that to my body!’ Safe to say, I lost my shit. And then when I was rushed off for my emergency c-section I made it clear students could watch, but under no circumstances were they allowed to touch me.

But all the stidents were so respectful of my choices and asked before they did anything.

I had student midwife same room me as me while I was giving birth. It was her first birth experience. Later on she came in to thanks me for letting her in xx

I had an emergency c-section and the hospital wasn’t good at saying who was a student at first. I actually asked if there were any students. I had one she was lovely. I allowed her in the room but she was a student of anesthesiology… I didn’t let her do my epidural. That scared me a little too much. But she was extremely helpful in the room. She made sure I understood everything happening step by step. I was just a little too on edge to have a student give the epidural.

hi lovely. Not quite the same as I had a hospital birth as had few complications BUT I couldn’t have even told you who was in the room when I was in labour. I laboured almost the entire way with my eyes shut because of the contractions after they artificially broke my waters (Apparently this makes them more intense). I only know I had 3 midwives, an obstetric doctor & consultant (and ward manager in and out) because my mum has told me. I remember different voices but couldn’t have told you how many people or their titles as I was so focused on breathing through the contractions and then pushing. You really do get tunnel vision during labour and all your focus goes onto baby so I don’t think you’ll even notice who is in there or care!! All I cared about was my son & holding onto my mums hand 🤣xx

I had a student midwife with a trained member of staff. My daughter was born in her sac which is unusual so probably a good thing to witness how to proceed.

I put in my birth plan that I don’t want any students or trainees during my delivery (it’s my first pregnancy). Maybe for next pregnancies I’ll change my mind.

I wouldn't have let the student do my epidural either 😅 scary!

@Allison yeah I agree. This is how I am starting to feel. They always ask you about students whilst students are already in the room. And I have had students present in all my midwife check ups and scans so the likelihood seems quite high there would be students coming to the birth. I think I am going to have to tell them no at my next appointment. Thanks alot!

Everyone is totally different and will be effected by external stimulus in different ways. If you are happy to have a student midwife attend your home birth then you can go with it. But you are well within your right to ask them to stay in another room whilst you labour if they don’t gel with you. If you really don’t like them, then it is your house & your birth and you can ask them to leave! A lot of woman who homebirth ask for as hands off experience as possible. So a lot of the time it is general observations they will be doing :)

I had a student midwife in my labour and she was incredible 💕 her and the experienced midwife worked amazingly well together, I wish I could have them in Labour again if I have future children 🥹. It’s your choice though, if it makes you feel uncomfortable just say no thank you ☺️

I had a newly qualified midwife. She was amazing. So much more empathy and kindness shown to me than the more senior midwives that came in and out.

I declined students for my first home birth for a similar reason to you. It’s my birth and my experience and I wanted staff around me who we’re comfortable and confident. Now it’s my second I feel happier allowing a student into my home xx

Hey girl homebirth mama here… it’s your home / your birth / your body
Your rules! you have the right to kick anyone out or not let them in. I’m sure there are other births they can attend ❤️

They asked me with my first when I was just fixing to push by that time I didn't care, I had a whole room of people 😆😆