Well, I have have this week and next week left on labour ward Gutted. I have been really lucky to have 2 lovely mentors who have looked after me yet questioned me no end

I have seen some wonderful births, like the one last week. Primip, 11lb 8oz baby, pethidine had worn off, no gas and air while pushing and she did beautifully. I was sat waiting for the perineum to tear as the babies head was huge (38.5 cm)and just kept coming, but all she had a tiny graze!!! Amazing Less than an hour later bay is laid suckling having his first breastfeed.


I have seen some awful births. we had one woman come in, gravida 3, pushing like a trooper. On examination she was 7cm dilated. She askes for pethidine so midwife given her some. !5 mins later she wants to push, but is just so out of it!!! She can't push properly, que midwife shouting at her (no my mentor, may I add. I'd never worked with her befre). I'm trying to calm the woman as she was in agony and midwife tells me to 'shout up'? Why? She isn't deaf!!!!
Next thing we know, fetal heart has decelerations that are slow to recover. Midwife then shouts 'if you don't push properly, the doctor will come and drag this baby out'!!!!! Poor woman and partner looked terrified.
Baby was born with no intervention, but I really questioned myself because of this midwife!

As I came to the end of my shirt, I couldn't debrief with anyone about what had happened, so off I trot home after a very long nightshift to deal with everything I have just witnessed.

The next night, my mentor asked how I was feeling about the previous nights situation. She said that even accross the corridor, it sounded an awful place to be! We had a good talk about everything and I did feeli better but I still felt (and feel) really sad for the woamn and her partner. The midwives attitude was too OTT!

Anyway, all in all, I have loved my placement. It is hard, but I never expected it to be easy. I'm just glad to be finally doing what I've always wanted to do


Well done to anyone who actually manages to stay awake through my blogs, your stars. Sarah x x x