Med Students delivering you?

princessvespa1 · August 2013

How comfortable are you with letting a med student (or midwifery student) take the lead during your labour and delivery?

During labour with son, I had a midwifery student in there the entire time and I really enjoyed it, but I told my OB that when it came down to delivering LO, I wanted the OB doing it. I have always felt kind of bad for that because as a teacher, I know the student needs a chance to learn at some point. And the OB was right there the whole time, so really, why couldn't the student have just delivered him? This time, my OB has just gone on maternity leave so I have switched to an alternate OB who has a med student. The med student did all the work up today (past history check through since I'm new to them, BP, GBS test, doppler, etc.) The actual OB I saw for literally 5 seconds. I'm not sure how I felt about that. I feel like if the OB was in the room while the student was doing the work, then fine. Because that way if the OB hears/sees something that concerns her, she will hopefully do something about it right away - but would the med student have enough knowledge to know to do something? I know how H will want the delivery to go - he will say the OB needs to do it. But I feel like if the OB is right there, the med student should get a chance to "learn". KWIM? What do you think? Am I nuts?

OpheliaChem · August 2013

Until having DD, I would have wanted a "real" OB attending. But then I had DD and I had a real OB and she sucked and I tore terribly and I had an awful group of nurses. So now I'm using a MW and there are two fellows in the practice. I trust all of them. They are amazing! So I guess my answer would be: I would decide when I met/saw the person. I know that sounds crazy but honestly, some med students might care more about YOU as a person compared to a BTDT OB. And if a situation arises, there should be OBs nearby to help.

mmdd20 · August 2013

I had a nursing student remove my staples post c-section. Totally not the same thing as having one delivery my baby, but I agree that they need a chance to learn and have no issues if someone is with them the entire time. However, in the midst of labor, I might be singing a different tune and I also understand why someone may ask for their OB/Midwife/Nurse instead.

They asked my permission before hand and I agreed. The nurse came back and thanked me and said I was the only one who consented that morning.

ajbook · August 2013

I'm with you. As long as the OB is right there, I say let the med student deliver. If something goes wrong you have the help right there.

revlaurawittman · August 2013

I honestly don't care. My OB was in the room for maybe the last 5 minutes of my labor. She barely got there in time. As long as I have a nurse who knows what's going on and is aware of how I'm progressing, I'm fine.

lillyq1982 · August 2013

If there are no complications and everything is going smoothly I would have no problem with it. The OB will still be there.

Curls218 · August 2013

I am putting in my birth plan that I do not want the students doing any of the work on me. I actually got the recommendation to do this from friends of ours (a couple) who are both doctors. During their schooling they said that they were thrown into situations where they were trusted to do things that they had no idea of what to do (though the doctors walked them through it all) and with delivering in September it would most likely be newer students, not ones who have been there and helping for months.

The wife also said that if you do put no students, make sure it includes all things, like stitching up any tearing. She said she had nightmares after doing that the first time and never really "got the hang of it". Thankfully she went into a different medical field

lbethke99 · August 2013

I would be ok with a med student delivery my baby with my midwife there. If anything were to go wrong I know my midwife would step in.

VitaLuna · August 2013

I would be fine with it if the OB/CNM was right there, too. I would not want them doing any suturing.

mrs.mickulz · August 2013

I ended up with a Resident delivering my first because the doctor on call (whom I did not like at all) was with a delivery in the other room. Other than being a pretty fast labor (4 hours- start of contractions to delivery), it was uneventful and truthfully, I was was happy she was there instead of the other doctor. He returned to deliver the placenta and stitch me up.

slindsey7 · August 2013

As long as the OB is in the room observing then I would no no problem personally letting a med student do the delivery. As PP said, the student may care more than the actual OB does in some cases

staceymack · August 2013

I would be fine with a student/resident doing the delivery as long as the attending is present which I would think they'd have to be.

wlux · August 2013

There is a difference between med students and residents. Med students have not graduated from med school and residency is specialty training after med school.

I know I'm a broken record by now.... My husband is a resident and they are not allowed to do anything they aren't competent at...

I'm perfectly happy to have a resident work with me.

stephl3055 · August 2013

I actually thought about this earlier. Do all hospitals have students, or are there only students at teaching hospitals?

amu110902 · August 2013

VitaLuna said:

I would be fine with it if the OB/CNM was right there, too. I would not want them doing any suturing.

I know this is a terrible story to share, but after this comment, I have to. My mom had a student do her stitches after having me. Needless to say, it didn't go well. He slipped a stitch through her anus and she ended up with an awful infection, having to get her stitches fixed later, etc.

If the OB was there, I'd be comfortable with them taking the lead, but I will not have a student doing any stitches either.

achadwick19 · August 2013

Ehh this is a good question. A few months ago I would have said NO WAY to having one even in the room. Now I would probably be comfortable with them observing, but I wouldn't be comfortable with them giving me stitches or an IV or epidural. That makes me too nervous and I will definitely tell my midwife that. I'm not sure if they ever have students though. No colleges nearby.

wlux · August 2013

@curlingrocks I'd be happy to explain it further for anyone. I understand the fear that goes along with it.

barnwife · August 2013

Well, we plan homebirths. When pregnant with J., my midwife's assistant was at the end of her midwifery training. (Basically, she was waiting for the paperwork to come back so she could prove she was a midwife.) I would have been totally fine if it had just been her here.

Now my midwife has a different assistant, also studying to be a midwife. I am totally comfortable with her as well. She will not be attending alone (if my midwife is unavailable, her backup midwife would come). The assistant does pretty much everything at my appointments, while my midwife observes.

When LO3 is born, I figure that the assistant will do most/all of it. As long as there is a certified person there, I am okay with that.

Heck, I will be happy if someone manages to get here before LO is born. (Labor with A. was 2 hours from first serious contraction to holding her.)

Skalbrecht · August 2013

If you like them and feel comfortable, go for it.

I personally have asked and written into my birth plan for no students.

Curls218 · August 2013

whitneylux said:

There is a difference between med students and residents. Med students have not graduated from med school and residency is specialty training after med school. I know I'm a broken record by now.... My husband is a resident and they are not allowed to do anything they aren't competent at... I'm perfectly happy to have a resident work with me.

I'm more on board with a resident working with me than a med student.

Though I should add to my previous post that I'm ok with med students being in the room for my prenatal appts. Like one learned how to take fundal height measurements on me yesterday. That was fine.

curlyq625 · August 2013

I made the mistake of saying it was ok with the delivery of my son. I was induced and a med student put in my cirvidil, she placed it in the wrong place so I laid there for hours waiting for something to happen that couldn't happen. Then they had a student try putting in a foley balloon 4x before she accidentally broke my water, I ended up with an infection.
I always give my friends the advice to speak up if you are not comfortable, I was embarrassed to say no because they asked if I minded in front of the student. I will say no this time and tell my dr before hand.

A37licia · August 2013

I feel similarly, and my midwife has a new student (first year). She does all the hands on, but my midwife is right there in the room as well, so I am totally fine with that. I don't think she'll have her being hands on for the birth at this point though, but definitely wants the student's attention on the birth and be right there. I'd imagine she might walk her through the newborn exam and also do some of it herself.

csspencer · August 2013

As long as its a resident, and not an actual student who is still in school, I'm totally fine with them delivering. I'm going to ask that the OB be present, but at that point as long as there are no complications I don't think I'll care who actually delivers LO.

Skalbrecht · August 2013

My best friends husband is going through his residency, and is nearly done. He didn't really care for that rotation personally and after talking to him, he said its fine to request no students and residents. I'm not doing it to be mean, but I prefer to have someone whose full time interest is delivery if babies doing the job for me.

msronzio · August 2013

I'm a FTM so in the moment I may change my mind, but at this point I'd let students do pretty much anything up to a C/S if an OB or ER doc is overseeing it. They've obviously already learned, now they have to practice.

satcher08 · August 2013

This isn't completely related but my brother will actually be doing a clinical rotation in L&D around the time that I'm due. His worst fear is being assigned to my room when I'm in labor haha. That being said I wouldn't mind a student as long as it wasn't my brother and the OB was there.

CDMay2006 · August 2013

If you would have asked me at the beginning, i would have said no way, but the mw student has been at all but 1 of my appts and i'm confident in her. My mw will be there, too, but the student mw will be taking the lead (assuming i still feel comfortable with it when the time comes).

olga1311 · August 2013

No way. I am putting it in my birth plan that I am not OK with students / residents doing anything that is related to my pregnancy and I am also not OK with them even being in the room. I am a very private person and I don't want my vagina to be stared at by a group of students. I am just completely not comfortable with the idea of anyone that is not OB or a nurse to even be there. Unfortunately this is a teaching hospital so I hope they can't force me to have students observing. My husband will raise hell on my behalf if I am out of it to do everything he can to get students out of my room.

magdalina.h · August 2013

My hospital is a teaching hospital. I'd be fine with it

SweetPeaK26 · August 2013

I'd be ok with it if the OB was in there too. They are watching extra carefully, as they are teaching and their ass is on the line even more. PLUS, the student is working hard to impress the OB and not do anything wrong. And I know that if there were a problem, not only would my OB take over and do his best, but now the student knows what to do in the same situation should it ever arise for them, and they will be able to save another woman's baby because I let them in to my situation.

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AngelMommy11211 · August 2013

I had both nursing students and an OB student with my 2nd. The only thing I didn't like was they both (regular and student nurse) had to check for dilation each time to learn and compare notes. It was painful even one time. But I did notice they are more attentive because of the student, so they do things right. Unlike my first when the nurses were gossiping about the latest movie instead of paying attention to me. The student dr was great too. My OB was right over her shoulder the entire time and everything went great. It was exciting to see her so thrilled about it. It was her first big baby delivery, he was 10lbs 2oz and she was truly amazed. Lol

LiveNLove44 · August 2013

I've thought about this a lot. I'm a teacher, too, and I definitely recognize the importance of what they do. Hospitals wouldn't let the student be so involved if it was at the risk of the patient, IMO, and with an OB right by her/his side, I can imagine a med student will be much more attentive than many OBs I've heard about who "do it everyday." WIth that said, I've decided with my first that I'd prefer to have my OB than any med students, but I am not opposed to any med students being present during the process. After I experience labor and delivery once, I'll have a better idea of how I feel in the future. I hope you talk with your H about all of the things you're considering and I hope he understands where you're coming from! Best of luck and stay well!

Lovehavinggirls · August 2013

I'm havin a c section so my dr will be doing it. With my dd1 I had an emergency csection and was in the hospital a few nights before because of pre e. I had the head resident and med students checking on me which was fine. When the baby went into distress they immediately had the dr on call come in and he took over. Being high risk I'm fine with the med students and residents being involved but I only want the dr delivering.

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