Student midwife wants to follow me during pregnancy- what to do?

This is honestly good practice for setting healthy boundaries with people pleasing. You are going to be half naked and in the most vulnerable state you will ever be on a monumental day in your life, and you're still worried about how upset a medical professional who has access to plenty of other learning opportunities will feel about you saying you aren't comfortable with her being there afterall. I promise she won't mind! Yes, she may have been happy to have another learning experience, but several women give birth every single day. She will be okay. Do not give yourself any unnecessary stress or something to possibly regret when you think back to that amazing day. It's okay to change your mind if you no longer want to!

Of course! Good luck, and take some deep breaths!

You might not ever see her 😂 I agreed to have one follow me and never saw her again!

Same as another comment I also agreed and she was at another birth instead of mine. My logic is I want future midwives to learn, she isn't doing any medical procedure shes just witnessing and maybe holding your leg.

If you really arent comfortable then just let your lead midwife know. But I think when you're in the moment...you probably wont care about her being there!

I had a few different students during my appointments along my pregnancy.

Then I had one during while I was being assessed on the birth unit before needing to be moved to the labour ward.

I'll be honest. All in all I think I saw about 8 or 9 people just during the birth itself. None of them students. By that point I didn't care who was in. I cared about one thing. When the baby was going to actually come out.

Of you're really not comfortable just let them know but honestly, in the grand scheme of things. The odd student that made an appearance has completely faded into non-existence and they got the learning and the experience while I can't even remember their names or even their hair colour at this point and my baby isn't even 2 yet.

The student midwife that attended some of my appointments did nothing but stand by the OB! And I had a strict rules about who I wanted in the room when I delivered and it was completely ignored, I said no men and there was a male nurse literally at the foot of my bed behind the midwife staring at my cooch. But it’s true what they say! After all the appointments for swabs and cervical checks, and then being half naked during hours of labor, when you’re pushing and after delivery you really just stop giving af. I was sooo terrified my whole pregnancy about nudity and it was not even something I really thought about while in the hospital

You can just text/call/get a message to your main midwife saying “hiya, I’ve had a think about it and I’ve changed my mind about having a student involved in my care”

I personally love having students around in all department I’ve needed treatment in - they have the most up to date fresh knowledge, the qualified midwife can delegate jobs to the student which frees her up more, and I find they’re usually the kindest. Not trying to change your mind, just wanted to share in case you do end up having her these x

i'm a young ftm mum the student midwives were actually my age when i was giving birth🤣🤣 I thought if i was in their position I'd want to see and learn not just read textbooks and listen to stories so I said yeah no problem, I had seen many student midwives during my labour, and during my postpartum care not necessarily antenatal care as I was high risk but yeah I didnt have a problem during labour you dont really care whos there and who isnt

plus the student midwives actually made me feel much better than the older ones did, the older ones actually made me cry postpartum multiple times and had no sympathy whatsoever!

Hi everyone thanks for all your comments. I did message to say I would no longer like to move forward she was fine about it. It was a on the spot decision first time round without actually thinking about what it entails. It’s actually not a problem for me to have a student at the birth I’ve had them at two of my home births and they were amazing it was just the keeping in touch and up to date with appointments which I don’t think I’m reliable with as I barely remember them myself. I just felt it may feel like an extra person to worry about and keep up with.