Both because they were very understanding and positive. They knew what not to tell me and what to tell me to keep my spirits up. They both let me be in control of my labours and only guided be through them rather than forcing me through them IYKWIM.
Apparently in about 7 months I will be a qualified midwife - yikes!
1,248
Soul,
With my first I went through 3 shift changes at the hospital and don;t recall being really well supporte by any of them.
My 2nd although an induction was brilliant and she was with me from the beginning of the induction through to him being delivered, just as she had promised me she would even though he was born 30 mins after her clock off time.
I can still to this day remember her eyes and only her as I was pushing with my OB in the back ground, but she was the one getting the messages through to me iykwim.
The 3rd one I don't even remember her name as I was only there for 15 mins before he was born and I was more peeved that she didn't ring my OB when she first did an internal and I was already 8 cm dilated in 60 mins, but left it a few more contractions to ring him by which time he missed the birth.
I do know the precise moment my doula arrived though, even though I was in the middle of pushing and not a word was said I just "knew" she had arrived and all was well!
Did you like Your Midwife when you were in Labor?
I had two.. First midwife, Angie, was very nice and told me the usual stuff (oh wow well your 4cm, youre doing well, blah blah) which mde me feel good, but I did feel that she rushed me which made me feel uncomfortable... she was rushing me out of the examination room into the delivery room telling me "come on, hurry up, someone else needs this room now". Hello woman!! Its 2am, I havent slept and I am in labour and getting contractions, its kindof hard to pick up all my stuff and casually stroll across the hallway in the middle of a contraction. Second midwife, Sue, I didnt feel as comfortable with. She was more abrupt and jabbed me with the *whatsitcalled to help deliver the placenta* without even telling/warning/asking me, which I thought was rather rude.
Do you feel you were supported well by her/him?
Yes and No. The shift changed and I got a new midwife at a crucial moment (just before I was fully dilated and wanted to push) and the handover was really ordinary. She just came in with her bag packed and tells me "i'm going now, my shift is over. Sue will be in soon" and then takes off. Sue, the next midwife then comes in and very quickly introduced herself. The whole thing just made me feel uncomfortable and then thats when things went pear shaped.
If not why not and how do you think she/he could have made it better for you? I relly dont know.. I wanted the first midwife to stay!!! but I dont think they can do that.
I had 2 great midwifes. 1 was a student and my god she will be one damn fine middy when she is finished. Not once did she leave my side, wen ever things got rough id look at her and she would always be looking at me and giving me a reassuring look and encouragment. She said the right things, done teh right things...u name it she was perfect.
The other one was a senior and again..no faults wat so ever. I wish i could have them both this time round cos they made it so easy and relaxing. Never forced drugs, never let me down.
My first labour, no. I felt like a lab rat to be honest. i don't even remember their names or what they even look like now. It was just a horrible experience.
My second labour i had 2 midwives and i loved them both. Paula, my main carer, stayed with me for a very long time. My labour was quite long, about 37hrs(from first contraction to birth) and she was there for most of it. She did have to leave though for a bit because she was so tired i dont think she could even think straight. So then came in vivian. she was so warm and lovely. I had quite a few fears from my previous birth and she helped me through them. She gave me strength to do this. Viv was the one who delivered DS but Paula was there beside me because she didn't want to miss his birth.
My first labour I remember being really annoyed cause my midwife kept saying "push Cristina, push" which I may have found more supportive if my name was Cristina!!! (its Christine, small difference I know but it annoyed me)
I had an awesome midwife & for that am very grateful, as DH wasn't as good as I had expected. He was so very overwhelmed by the entire experience too & was trying his best. But it was the midwife that kept me on track & knew all the little tricks to keep me as comfortable as possible. As I was induced it was full on from the beginning. She also had an awesome personality & as it was a small country hosp, I got her undivided attention. I cant speak highly enough of her & the hospital, not to mention my Doc! She even came to see me the next day.
In my first birth i had the most wonderful midwife. She supported our active birth, advised me on some positions to try, encouraged me and fought for my birth plan. I sent her a card to thank her after our hospital stay! However I was induced at 36wks, I was 21 and it was my first baby and hubby didn't get there until I was just about ready to push
Our midwife with our second was very young and I wonder how many birth she had attended, it was also very obvious by her comments and attitude that she had never laboured or birthed before. But I was happy to labour with my husband and we were coping very well. I didn't really feel I needed her to support me in my labour so perhaps she was responding to that.
I had a fantastic midwife. Really supportive and had a good sense of humour, which worked really well for me.
When I first went into the hospital they discussed my birth plan with me - and stuck with it! I had told them I definately did not want an epidural, so they never asked me while in labour, which is good because I might have caved in.
I ended up having a traumatic delivery but the midwife took the time to explain to me what had happened and even had a good chat with DH later about it. He saw things from a completely different angle to me and I think it was great that she took the time out to talk with him.
hmmm don't remember much from my 1st birth to tired and overwhelmed I suppose, I was encouraged to have peth. and gas which wasn't in my game plan but I took anyway because they wanted to increase my contractions (can't remember what the drug was called started with an I ,I think). Felt a bit out of control. One of the midwives that had been there stay after her shift had finished and congratulated me and gave me a couple of chocies I thought that was lovely.
2nd birth whole different story I was allowed to labour away for at least 24hrs with only a midwife popping in to do some obs. when it came time to push I ran the buzzer and she helped to support me, did what she had to do, then left me, DH and bub to get to know each other.
3rd birth midwife seemed a bit stressed, over worked as they were understaffed. She was supportive of me not wanting any drugs and allowed me to labour at my own pace (the doc. wanted to move things at his pace) which I and the midwife felt was unnecessary as there was no risks to bub or me. and my labour was progressing well.
With my first labour my actual midwife was nice. The lady who replaced her while she was on lunch was a real B***H.(hope i am allowed to write that). It was my first labour i was 3cm dialated from 8 in the morning having really great contractions everyone was saying i was going really well until they checked me at about 5pm i was still 3cm dialated. I was so dissapointed and so i asked for an epidural and the relief midwife said no you need to wait till the other lady comes back in about 20 min( not a long time but when in labour it feels like forever).
So i waited. I also had a trainee in helping her she was so rough. I had to have the drip in my hand as i have bad veins and she would be pressing on it trying to take my pulse.
With my second DS i also had a trainee in with me although i was very scared to do so from the bad experience. This time it was great. They were both great and loved both of them. They were very supportive i had no drugs with the second and they encouraged me the entire time.
I loved my midwife (i had a few the one that witnessed the actual birth was so great!) i didn't htink i could push him out as i had been pushing for over 2 hours and the OB really wanted to use intruments to get him out but my super midwife refused to let the Ob come any where near me and convinced me and coached me the whole way. Without her i would have ended up with forceps or vaccuum and i can only imagine how awful i would have felt had that happened. The midwife finnished her shift 15 minutes befroe Archie was born but styed to help me birth him, when she left i was left with this agency nurse, who was very rushed rough and ready and absolutely no help whatsoever. She wasn't nasty but i did feel uncomfortable with her.
I love my midwife! She helped me birth my 9 pound, 2 ounce DS without any pain meds or epidurals. I had to be induced in the end, which I really didn't want as I figured it would lead to further intervention - especially as I was in a private hospital (and all the stories you hear about them being pro-drugs). My waters were artificially ruptured, and as they were discoloured my OB recommended I go on the drip to bring labour on. I was pretty upset as I'd done HEAPS of reading about natural pain control (lots of active stuff - walking, stomping, etc) and here I was pretty much stuck on a bed and thinking that I might have to end up having drugs after all
After my first serious contraction (OW!), my middy asked me what I wanted to do in terms of pain relief. I told her I was hoping to avoid pain meds. She was totally there for me. She said, OK, I'm not going to offer you anything, and I'll make sure no one else does either. She showed me a way of focusing on my breathing, and I proceeded to do just that for the next 4 hours until it was time to push! She also massaged my lower back for me and showed DH how to as well.
She was such a sweetheart and was so proud of me at the end - and made me feel really proud of myself too.
With Olivia my midwife was called Jane. She was older, brusque and a bit "rough round the edges" but she was amazing. My Ob used to request her specifically to attend births with him. She was truly amazing. I am still in touch with her now. (She is in Darwin). She was so humorous, treated DH like a real person, was totally "on my side" and appeared to have a sixth sense about what was going to happen next all the time. She was so calm. I had total faith in her. After Olivia was born (shoulder dystocia, all a bit dramatic apparently) I thanked her, and she had a tear and told me that helping me had been her privilege. We both cried happy tears on each others shoulders. And the next day she came into see me and Olivia on her rostered day off and took us for a coffee in the hospital bistro. It felt like she was my Mum. I am so glad we are still in touch.
With Charlie, her name was Chris. She had red curly hair and the most wicked sense of humour and sparkly eyes. She appeared to have total faith in my from the minute we met: or at least that is the impression she gave me, which filled me with an immense amount of confidence. Again, she treated DH like a real part of the whole birth bizzo, and really utilised DH (I gave birth standing up and she needed him to help). She asked me exactly how I wanted the birth to be, and was really consultative, and put up with me swearing like a trooper. She was lovely.
I actually really hoped to get Chris again when I gave birth to Lexie (small hospital, chances where quite high!) but she was on AL sadly. BUT all for the best, as I had a midwife who I knew through the parents support group called Liz, who was WONDERFUl. Very brisk, inspired total confidence, and again totally respected what i wanted and utilised DH. I walked into the the delivery suite whilst in transition and gave birth only a few minutes later, so she didn't have much time to chat, but seemed to pick up really quickly that Lexie was coming RIGHT NOW, LOL, and just caught her as she came out. (Again, I was standing up.)
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my OB recommended I go on the drip to bring labour on. I was pretty upset as I'd done HEAPS of reading about natural pain control (lots of active stuff - walking, stomping, etc) and here I was pretty much stuck on a bed and thinking that I might have to end up having drugs after all
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