How to Share Your Birth with a Student

Every pregnant woman has her own unique experience of pregnancy, labour, birth and parenting. Sharing this time with a student midwife provides a valuable opportunity for the student to appreciate the individuality of each woman and her family/whanau.

Within the Bachelor of Midwifery programme we need to provide a variety of learning opportunities for students so there are plenty of ways you can be involved if you wish.

You can come along to talk to first or second year students as part of a maternity consumer group.
You can help us teach students certain practice skills before they go out into the midwifery practice environment. For example we often ask women to volunteer to come to the school so students can practice their palpation skills on ‘real’ pregnant women.
You can help us with student assessments where we mock up a practice scenario – these are always better with ‘real’ pregnant women and your feedback to students is important.
You can volunteer to allow a first year midwifery student to ‘follow through’ your pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal care. You would meet her first and if you felt comfortable with her she would become a support person for you, accompanying you to antenatal appointments, being on call for your labour and being present at the birth and then visiting you afterwards for a period of time. That way she can find out about the maternity service through your eyes and she can begin to learn about the very important role that support people play and the ways that midwives can support women as well.
You can agree to let a midwifery student ‘practise’ certain skills when she is accompanying your midwife or working in an antenatal clinic or maternity unit. Perhaps she can take your blood pressure or test your urine or palpate your abdomen. The more chances that students get to practise their skills the more confident and proficient they become.
You can volunteer to allow a second year midwifery student to ‘follow through’ your care. She would be working under the direct supervision of a midwife and in second year we really hope that students can get more ‘hands on’ experience so they can learn and practice the midwifery skills while at the same time understanding the whole childbirth continuum. You are always in control so if you decide you are happy for a student to help out during your labour but maybe not catch your baby then that is fine too.
You can agree to let a third year midwifery student provide most of your care, under the supervision of your midwife of course. In the third year of the programme our students are placed with LMC midwives for long periods of time so they can fully experience the role. Your midwife will have told you she will have a student working with her. Every opportunity these final year students can get for ‘hands on’ practice will be of huge benefit to them and the third year is really the one in which they become midwives.

Consent

We advertise in the newspaper and on the radio for women willing to volunteer to have a first year student ‘follow through’ with them as a support person. Once we receive your name and contact details a midwifery lecturer will be in touch to make sure you understand what is involved and to gain your written consent. A student will be allocated to you and a midwifery lecturer will keep in touch to get your feedback on the student’s performance. You can contact us at any time if you have questions or concerns.

In year two and three it is usually the midwife who will ask you if you are willing to have a student involved in your care. You will not be allocated a student unless you have given verbal or written consent and at any time you can cease the student’s involvement with no impact on your midwifery care. It is entirely in your hands. You can decide what level of involvement the student can have and you might want to feel your way with this. Get to know her first and then decide if you want her to be present during your labour or if she can have any ‘hands on’ involvement. All experiences are learning opportunities so the most important thing is that you are comfortable with the student and that you set the limits to what she may do. If you change your mind about having a student involved, this will not affect your care.

In years two and three we will also seek your feedback about the student. This may be via your midwife or a midwifery staff member may contact you directly.

How does having a student share this time work for you?

- Your student can provide further support

- She can be someone to talk to about the joys, challenges and realities of this special time

- You help educate and influence the midwives of the future

What do women say?

"She was a great support. I could have a good chat about anything."

"Fantastic - I wouldn't want to do it any other way."

"At the birth she was non-intrusive and helpful."

"Awesome!"

What do students say?

"Very exciting!"

"I saw how strong a woman could be."

"It was a privileged place to be, being invited into a woman's process."

"It was empowering, not just for the woman but for me too."

Interested in Learning More?

To learn more, ask questions, or invite a student to share your experience feel free to utilize one of the options listed below.

Print and Mail

Download the relevant pamphlet, fill in the slip and send it to us by free post.

Click Here for Otago Polytechnic

Click Here for Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology

Telephone

Otago Polytechnic - Dunedin

First Year Students - Morag MacAulay - 0800 762 786

Second Year Students - Kerry Adams - 0800 762 786

Otago Polytechnic - Invercargill and Southland

Carolyn McIntosh - 0800 762 786

Otago Polytechnic - Central Otago

Emma Bilous - 0800 762 786

Otago Polytechnic - Wellington

Christine Griffiths - 0800 762 786

Otago Polytechnic - Palmerston North

Jade Wratten - 0800 762 786

Otago Polytechnic - Whanganui

Debbie Beatson - 0800 762 786

Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology

Julie Richards - 03 940 8298