Student Midwife - Cant make my mind up! (Help!)
Hello, this is really just a post to anyone that has had a good OR bad experience with a Student Midwife...when I gave birth to my daughter in 2008 I was kept in hospital overnight and got absolutely no sleep, then was induced in the labour ward (this was due to me having high blood pressure and possible pre eclampsia) I was happy to go with the induction as I was 38 weeks by then and was totally over the pregnancy. The doc brought in a student for the induction who also had a go at putting the hormones on my cervix (but failed) so throughout the day I had to have 4 internals instead of 2. I was told my waters would be broken the following morning and to get some much needed rest beforehand (as I hadn't slept in over 24 hours by then). I ended up going in to labour myself that evening, although nobody actually said that I was in labour, I was left to think I was having a normal reaction to the hormones on my cervix. I was having contractions from about 7pm and could not sleep, I had pethadine at about 3 in the morning as I just needed to sleep. I had an hours sleep and when I woke up my waters broke. Obviously by now I knew I was really in labour and when I was checked I was 6cm. I tried to hold off with anymore pain relief but the contractions were too intense for me and I was not able to get off the bed to try and get any relief due to having constant monitoring. I had an epidural at 10am when I was 9cm dilated, my baby was posterior (which is why everything was so intense) and after over an hour of pushing she hadn't moved at all. A scalp monitor was put in her head without anyone asking me and I was given an episiotomy and forceps to get her out at 12.23pm.
I felt really traumatised after the whole ordeal and cried for weeks after everytime I had a flashback to the birth.
I am now 23 weeks pregnant with my second and I am scared of how this birth will go. Someone recommended I get a doula this time around but part of me feels like I am not so naive now and will be able to speak up for myself. My Mum happened to get chatting to a midwife at her work this week and has given me the contact details for her and a student midwife that I can see through the pregnancy and she will also attend the birth if I request.
I just want to know of anyones experiences with a student midwife and whether you were happy she was there or regretted it? Part of me would like to have someone there that can stick up for me, but part of me only wants to share the birth with the people that need to be there, like my husband and mum.
For my first birth, there was a student midwife in the room (one that was training at the hospital) and she ran out of the room twice to have a vomit whilst I was in labour - so you can imagine why I am a bit unsure of whether I want anyone else in the room with us during the birth.
I guess I am also worried I will feel 'crowded'. I want to have a better birth this time around but I am unsure if having a student midwife/doula there is the right thing for me...