My Last Delivery as a Student Midwife

I delivered my last baby as a student midwife a short while back. I was fortunate enough to also look after mum and baby on the postnatal ward and chat to her about her birth.

She was a second time mum and had had a speedy delivery with her first baby. We were hoping for the same. She was being induced for being overdue. I attempted to break her waters, but was unable to do so. The midwife failed, too, so the Sister came in and did it.

Contractions started slowly after her waters had been broken, and two hours later, she was re-examined with no change, so we started the hormone drip (syntocinon). After a short while, the contractions were really getting started, coming more regularly, more frequently and much stronger. She was soon begging for an epidural and pleading for the drip to be switched off.

The anaesthetist was contacted and asked to see her. By the time he arrived, about 10 minutes later, it felt that she was starting to show signs of second stage (being ready to push). Upon examination, she was fully dilated, so we explained to the mum that she was too late to have her epidural. She really wanted it, though.

Fortunately, the baby soon arrived. I delivered the placenta. There was minimal bleeding, and mum and baby were settled in for their first cuddles and for mum to start breastfeeding.

I found it a beautiful delivery. It was intense for mum, with being so quick, but she wasn't labouring for hours. She and baby were both safe and well, and there were no concerns with the delivery. Mum didn't think so; she felt it had taken a long time and that she didn't receive the pain relief she needed in labour. We chatted about the actual timescale, and went through the birth summary, which showed how long each stage of labour lasted. It was quick indeed, and she could see that afterwards.

Her delivery really taught me the importance of debriefing the woman and how the perception of different people in the room can be very different, and that is something I will carry in to my practise as a qualified midwife.