1st birth - pass out?

Aww that must have been a lovely moment missy, bless her.

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misscurious x
JLS to win x

My first witness was a couple of months ago when I had an acquaintence booked for a home water birth in my community placement zone. I just sat quietly in the corner of her front room in the early hours of the morning until the baby started coming down when I stood to watch. I couldn't really see anything - mum hardly made a sound - dad was in the pool and actually delivered the baby whilst big sis played with nan in the conservatory - I love home births!

We had to get her out of the pool straight after because there was so much blood and to cut a long story short, after the midwives left (the proper ones!) she colapsed and had to transfer into hospital - I stayed with her and managed to get a few giggles en route and feel that we turned what could have been a traumatic experience for the family into 'just one of those things' concentrating on the fact that they had indeed had exactly the birth experience they wanted - but with an exciting extra bit on the end - pointing out that baby will love having that kind of story attached to it's birth when they get a bit older!

I feel that we shared something beautiful and as a family they will now always have a special place in my heart!

Number 6 was absolutely brilliant! Was supposed to be my first 'catch' but my mentor went at the end of our shift - I stayed on and it was a newly qualified that came in and kindly let me stay. The lady had been induced and I'd been with her all day. She wasn't progressing well and was still only 2cm 10 hours after induction began - it was baby number 2.

Anyway - another story cut short! The (real) midwife let me get my 'hands on' - which was great and I didn't have a clue what I was doing - babes got stuck - had to call for help - supervisor got babes out with some difficulty and then had to call the paed as babes a bit flat. Then (again not knowing what I was doing) I basically pulled the cord off (didn't actually pull it that hard and gave it time - but it was my first go - so blame myself anyway!)

Anyway - all was well - but it was so amazing sharing the whole experience with them - from start to finish - they were an amazing couple - soooo comfortable and in love with each other. It felt like they were in a bubble but they'd let me in there with them! I'm sure I'll remember them always! Just a shame I had to rush off soon after the birth (I'd been on shift for 19hours at this point - an hours drive home!).

- The babes weighed 4840g!!

Anyway, essay over! If your still reading - well done!

x

Yes it was, one I will remember for sure.

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Midwifemissy x

Student Midwife 2007
Student uni rep
Educational Resources Manager

PAB Support Worker

I remember my first witness so well, my mentor and I were called in while in community as they were short staffed in the hospital. She was very cross about it, I was so excited! (had no home birth winessess or anything)

So we took over this lady's care, I did help with practical things, I remember saying i didn' t need to sit, it was her third baby, she did so well, with only Entonox and was 7 cms when we took over.

Three hours later her baby son ws born, I remember being totally amazed and awestruck by it and was itching to help! I am still amazed and awestruck now, but always worry about it all until it's all over and the placenta is safely out!

I was emotional, but didn't cry or anything, just had the tight throat thing you get

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My first witness was at a birthing centre and it was a lovely waterbirth. The couple were lovely and it was there second child. It was so serene it was magical.

All the lady had was Entonox and she coped beautifully. They had a little girl and as she delivered the mother just lifted the baby up into her arms it was her maternal instinct coming in.

I had a lump in my throat all the way through and when baby delivered i did shed a tear or 2. The midwife that was there said after that it was normal to cry on your first ever delivery or witness.

I still see the couple around and the baby has grown loads and is still beautiful she is walking now.

To me every birth is wonderful and they are all so individual that they are all amazing.

My first witness was a home birth on my second day of placement . It was a great experience but i felt it was ruined by the second midwife's attitude. She was quite stern and muttered about the woman being a wimp...i thought mum had done really well and told her that too. She was a really lovely lady and i think the midwife was extremely unprofessional.

My second one however was absolutely amazing! A home water birth with a real jem of a lady. They were a lovely family, hubby and lady's mum was there too. I was awed by the whole experience and shed a silent tear or 2........ok 3!!! It was great to see a totally hands off experience.

Am back out on community next week and i can't wait!!!!

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Cami
~x~

wow ladies your stories are fab i cant wait to be in that position but can a ask what caiblue asked? with a birth you get excited and must get an andrenilin rush so what happens if you faint or go dizzy as its known for dads to do it!!! would you get told of by your mentor or uni? will they think its a one off or look into it more? i get all tingly and nervous just thinking about it and would hate to faint!!! your supposed to look after the lady not the other way round!!!!!!!!

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2009 will be my year

Good to know you're allowed to cry! i get emotional watching on tv or youtube!! i can't wait to actually witness the real thing!

and i am not prone to fainting but could quite imagine myself doing so (pleeease no) -i have only ever done it in very stressful situations when i have been very hungry and thirsty (not to self, eat and don't stress out then!) although i did almost faint when my husband almost cut the end of his finger off (and i don't mind blood in the slightest!)

oh god, i am worried now!! LOL

aw your stories are all lovely- my first witness was in the hospital on my first shift on labour ward- and i really got to know the woman because we looked after her pretty much all night- she finally gave birth at about 03:40 or something like that. She was having her second baby and had the whole hog, pethidine, Entonox and an epidural- but she was absolutely great and coped brilliantly- it was a very long labour. I remember being totally bewildered by it- i couldn't believe i was actually there, right at that second, watching a birth- i'd only ever seen them on tv before!!

It wasn't until i started delivering that i felt a bit weird- i think this was just nerves though, and it only tends to happen when i'm hungry, it's been busy or the room is very hot. It would have been very easy for me just to say to my mentor 'can i go outside for a minute' i don't think it's unheard of for students to feel a bit wibbly!!!

And when i saw my first suturing that made me feel weird too, but i think you get 'de-sensitised' to it- now i just watch and think 'how on EARTH am i going to do that?!'.

good luck- sure you won't pass out!!!

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"With my hands, i have felt the strength it takes to grow, and release new spirit......."
"All the best births are the ones where you only have time to record times on a paper towel..."- a midwife, somewhere in the middle

I felt really emotional, and forgot to look at what time baby was born!

It was a lovely experience, and I felt truly honoured to be a part of it. In fact, every birth I have been to, normal or not, I always feel privaliged be there. I always thank parents for letting me be there too.

I love it

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If babies needed hands to guide them out,
wouldn't women be born with an extra pair
attached to their inner thighs?