If all is going well, do you have one midwife, or two present for a birth? Or do you call in a HCA or MSW?

Where I work it is normal for the midwife who is caring for the woman to conduct the delivery on her own, giving syntometrine once the baby is in the mother's arms.

Personally, I like it this way. I believe it maintains a calm and intimate atmosphere in the room. The mother only has to focus on the words of one health professional. I don't say a great deal during advanced labour and the second stage (see this thread). I really don't want any cheer leaders in the room with me! I know that I can call for help if I need it, but if all is well, then I am confident to be in the room on my own. - Just me, the mum, her partner and the new baby.

I'm interested to know what is the norm in your hospital?

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It does vary between midwives, but always there is only myself and my mentor present (unless things go wrong as happens with me alot!)

One of my mentors always said that if I wasn't there they would have a second midwife. But generally the midwife is present alone.

I think you're right, even though there are two of us the atmosphere does change when someone else enters the room, and I would definately prefer to be there on my own once qualified

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Lead administrator
Head of student services


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)

I'm quite surprised by the poll response so far. I thought that we were unusual at our unit, for not calling in a second midwife. But maybe that is now the norm across the country?

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Im at a birthing centre atm and we call a second midw. There is only one midw int he unit at night and the one call midw comes down to the unit when the in midw thinks baby will be born within the hour although obv things can change.

I have been told because we are a birthing centre and we dont have acute site facilities we have two midws at a birth because what if you have a flat baby and a PPH who would you see too first??

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Yes, I can see in that situation it is good to prepared, just in case. But surely the second midwife could wait outside the room and only enter the room if needed?

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Just me and my mentor and a buzzer or bell if we need anyone else, bell for emergencies, buzzer for 2nd RM

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Josie
StudentMidwife.NET Co-founder & Director

Oh yes, I always make sure the buzzer is handy, just in case....!

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I've always been intrigued to know how many cases of simultaneous PPH and baby needing resus there have been? We hear about this scenario often but I've not come across anyone I know who have experienced it - I'm sure there are exceptions to the rule though.

I've always theorized that when a baby is needing resuscitation, signal is being sent to the placenta that it needs to continue pumping oxygenated blood, hence the mother will not be receiving the oxytocins required to initiate placental separation and that she will be full of adrenaline anyway. So, I am thinking that maybe when labour has been physiological and there hasn't been hasty clamping of the cord, then maybe the likelihood of a simultaneous PPH and a baby needing resus is less?

Just a theory.

I like it. It's a good theory. -

It is dependant on the midwife not "jumping in" and cutting the cord straight away.

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So, what is the norm in your unit LE?

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