Had my last shift on Delivery suite. - Page 2

Shoshana · #11 (**permalink**) 05-May-2008, 10:39

My student observed 6 deliveries. (It should have been 5, but the last one was a bit unusual. - I called in the Dr. 'cos I was concerned about the FH for a 36 weeker and the head not advancing well. Dr arrived, legs in lethotomy, ready for Kiwi Ventouse delivery. Dr did an Epis and the baby came, without the need for the Kiwi. Dr was really pleased to have a "normal" delivery, for once!)

After this my student had her first "hands-on" birth, with my hands directly over hers.

TBH I don't know if you are ever fully prepared to have "hands-on", until you get there. You could witness 20 births and your first "hands-on" would still be a scary/nervy/exciting experience!

midwifemissy · #12 (**permalink**) 05-May-2008, 10:50

That must have been a lovely birth to see Shoshana, I love it when things turn out well like that, makes them more special in a way I think.

I agree with that, whilst I am really excited to think i will be able to actually take part in a delivery at last, I am scared, nervous and a whole host of other emotions too lol.

Originally Posted by Shoshana

My student observed 6 deliveries. (It should have been 5, but the last one was a bit unusual. - I called in the Dr. 'cos I was concerned about the FH for a 36 weeker and the head not advancing well. Dr arrived, legs in lethotomy, ready for Kiwi Ventouse delivery. Dr did an Epis and the baby came, without the need for the Kiwi. Dr was really pleased to have a "normal" delivery, for once!)

After this my student had her first "hands-on" birth, with my hands directly over hers.

TBH I don't know if you are ever fully prepared to have "hands-on", until you get there. You could witness 20 births and your first "hands-on" would still be a scary/nervy/exciting experience!

smwife · #13 (**permalink**) 05-May-2008, 11:00

Originally Posted by Shoshana

My student observed 6 deliveries. (It should have been 5, but the last one was a bit unusual. - I called in the Dr. 'cos I was concerned about the FH for a 36 weeker and the head not advancing well. Dr arrived, legs in lethotomy, ready for Kiwi Ventouse delivery. Dr did an Epis and the baby came, without the need for the Kiwi. Dr was really pleased to have a "normal" delivery, for once!)

After this my student had her first "hands-on" birth, with my hands directly over hers.

TBH I don't know if you are ever fully prepared to have "hands-on", until you get there. You could witness 20 births and your first "hands-on" would still be a scary/nervy/exciting experience!

How true! I felt I could've had twenty! Tbh I am terrified, I had a terrible experience with my old mentor and this really stays with me now (even though I have relfected on this and discussed it with the doc involved and loads of midwives and fellow students.

I also am a jinx, so when we do have normal SVD's I find it hard to remember what to do! (I spend alot of time in theatre, so at least have become quite adept at scrubbing up and taking the baby, I guess!)

It does get me down though, as I really want to advocate for normality in the future and don't often get to see it!

Shoshana · #14 (**permalink**) 05-May-2008, 11:17

Originally Posted by smwife

I also am a jinx, so when we do have normal SVD's I find it hard to remember what to do! (I spend alot of time in theatre, so at least have become quite adept at scrubbing up and taking the baby, I guess!)

It does get me down though, as I really want to advocate for normality in the future and don't often get to see it!

smwife, I am absolutely sure that it is not you that is the jinx!

It is strange how some people seem to have far more than their share of complications. But, as the student I am sure this has nothing to do with you.

I do wonder, however, if some midwives convey their anxieties to the woman, causing the woman to produce high levels of adrenaline, which can slow down the process of labour, lead to interventions .... etc. If this is the case, I would suggest that it could be the mentor you are working with, who is somehow conveying her anxieties. - It's just one of my theories. Nothing proven!

I believe the most effective midwives are those that are quietly confident in their conduct. They are happy to be with the woman, without being obtrusive. They don't engage in deep, meaningful conversations with the woman, whilst she is in advanced labour. They are in tune with her and respond to her needs, as and when they arise. - Sadly you don't often get the chance to do this in busy consultant units.

smwife · #15 (**permalink**) 05-May-2008, 12:50

Originally Posted by Shoshana

smwife, I am absolutely sure that it is not you that is the jinx! It is strange how some people seem to have far more than their share of complications. But, as the student I am sure this has nothing to do with you.

I do wonder, however, if some midwives convey their anxieties to the woman, causing the woman to produce high levels of adrenaline, which can slow down the process of labour, lead to interventions .... etc. If this is the case, I would suggest that it could be the mentor you are working with, who is somehow conveying her anxieties. - It's just one of my theories. Nothing proven!

I believe the most effective midwives are those that are quietly confident in their conduct. They are happy to be with the woman, without being obtrusive. They don't engage in deep, meaningful conversations with the woman, whilst she is in advanced labour. They are in tune with her and respond to her needs, as and when they arise. - Sadly you don't often get the chance to do this in busy consultant units.

Thanks Shoshana, That makes me feel better and at least I am getting high-risk experience for my portfolio! You may well be right. But isn't this fear quite regular now? Alot of midwives I work with practice defensively, I can imagine I may be affected by this too? Dory and yourself sound fantastic, confident midwives, I do not see this all that often. Those who are lucky enough to have the best student/mentor relationship are often with highly experienced midwives.

Oh, I don't know! Does that make sense?

It's a pity there are not enough quietly confident midwives about, there certainly isn't enough to mentor all of us. I would like to choose, but obv we can't!

Shoshana · #16 (**permalink**) 05-May-2008, 12:53

Are you given an opportunity to state who would like to work with, if possible? - For future placements.

smwife · #17 (**permalink**) 05-May-2008, 13:09

Originally Posted by Shoshana

Are you given an opportunity to state who would like to work with, if possible? - For future placements.

No, we can ask to change if we wish, but we have no say in who we're with. My mentor is fab though and wouldn't swap her for anything. I wish I'd been with her from the start.

I think I'll pm you brb

Shoshana · #18 (**permalink**) 05-May-2008, 13:11

Freefall · #19 (**permalink**) 05-May-2008, 18:28

I could kick myself then. I have had 6 hands on deliveries ie, mentors hands over mine and 2 of them I delivered the placenta also, so I really could have counted these 2 as my deliveries, the midiwfe I was with did say I could put them as assisted but there is no part in my documents for assisted, so I didn't count them. DUH! I thought you counted them when you did them completely on your own.

midwifemissy · #20 (**permalink**) 05-May-2008, 18:30

You aren't alone in thinking that Freefall, I thought exactly the same too.

Do you still have the details of the births, can you not have them added now?

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Had my last shift on Delivery suite.

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