Not long now until my second stint out in community! I can't wait! I love it and i'm with a fab team.

My main mentor went off sick the last week of my placement with stress and she's still off now!!! Talk about making me feel paranoid! Was it something i said!!!! lol She didn't seem stressed out at all to me! Nevermind!

So my questions are.......how did you get over your nerves the first time you took blood or done your first VE? I've just had my theory and so can be let loose on pregnant women in my trust . Any tips would be very gratefully received!!!

Thanks! x

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Cami
~x~

You just do it i guess, I still get apprehnesive now, but less so. Follow your mentors lead and never admit to it being your first! (until afterwards!)

I think we become good actors on this course as we have to appear fine when inside we are very far from it!

you'll do great hun, I know it!

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aww Camilan, as a third year I still cannot sleep before a new placement, and I have been lucky enough to have had some fabulous mentors. The only advice I can give you is to try everything, it is so easy to say no, then beat yourself up about it later. Make the decision to try everything that terrifies you, and each success will build your confidence. Bear in mind that even qualifed midwives sometimes 'miss' when taking blood, repetition is the key to learning :-) I wish you well in your placement, the fact that you are seeking advice means that you are already a dedicated stoodent!!!!!!! ;-)
XxX

good luck camilan
am sure you will love your community placement again, and get loads of opportunities for taking blood. Your mentor will know it is your first time so i'm sure she will be hovering close by. I still get that nervy feeling everytime i do it but it makes me concentrate more so i see it as a good thing!
I think it took me to the end of the 5 weeks to feel comfortable with the skill - confidence came with each succesful attempt - but just remember you will probably have a fair few misses along the way, and tha'ts nothing to feel stupid about.....you are still learning
good luck
x

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Site Administrator, Student Mentor Scheme Manager

STMW 2nd year - no, really!

Back out on placement tomorrow woohooooooooooooooooooo!!!

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Cami
~x~

Hope you enjoy your placement, as far as taking bloods goes, once youe done it a few times you'll be like an old pro with it..
XXXXXXXXXXX

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Have you just been offered a place? If so and you want a mentor please post in post this forum (also post here if you would like a mentee)

Good luck with taking blood ad yes as others have said even qualified people especially those who have been trained to do just that (phlebotomists) still get it wrong. Hope you enjoy your time at placement.

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Still haven't taken any blood yet but did my first VE last night!! I went on a night shift on delivery suite with my community midwife, lady came in at 21.45 my mentor examined her and then asked if it would be ok for me to, which she agreed to. It took me totally by surprise so much so it took me 15 minutes to get my gloves on as my hands were sweating so much!!!! Mum saw the funny side of it luckily!!!! . But i did feel what i was supposed to have! Felt the bulging membranes during a contraction and the cervix but God only knows how i'm gonna get the hang of judging the dilation in cm's!

Mum was lovely and within an hour was fully with a slight anterior lip. Mentor then realised that baby was OP and didn't want to be pushed out. Unfortunately it resulted in a forceps delivery and oh my that was an experience, luckily i was warned by another student who is 6 mths in front of me what it would be like. Thank God she did, as there is no way i would've been prepared for what was coming.

Mum was a petite lady and baby weighed in at a very healthy 8lb 12oz! Mum and baby were both fine and baby was extremely chilled out!

So my first night on delivery suite has definitely a huge learining curve and it has prepared me for my first 5 week block in semester 2.

Right better get on with my assignment!

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Cami
~x~

Warned you? Is a forceps delivery horrific? I know obviously its not pleasant, but is it really that shocking?

Glad you're enjoying your placement x

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A forceps can be difficult to watch for the first time if it is an emergency because the baby is in distress but done well by an experienced practitioner with good pain relief it can be calm and gentle and a positive experience for the woman. The student/midwife's role is so important during this type of delivery as you can support and encourage and turn a scary, disempowering experience into a joyful, satisfying and fulfilling experience for both partners.

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