Student activities
We want to ensure that your placement with us is as informative as it can be. In this type of setting there may be times that are quiet. We want to ensure that your time is not wasted and that you leave Montrose with a clear vision of midwife-led care.
For this reason we are developing a pack for you to work through on days that you have time. This pack will involve reading, discussing, researching and listening to women's stories. We think that from this you will gain valuable insight into the midwife's role and the woman's journey.
From the range of books available please pick one that appeals to you and which discusses some aspect of normal birth. Use this book as the basis of discussion with your mentor. Think of areas which you have not yet been part of in your training and explore your mentor's views.
If you are researching for an essay in your theoretical work remember to use your mentor and the team for discussion. We will appreciate you sharing information with us too. Bring in your work so that if you have time you can get on with it.
When you are on placement the women we care for have the privilege of another helper. Please spend time during all aspects of their care. This will benefit them and also will benefit you. It takes a while to become experienced in even basic postnatal care so use this time as an opportunity to perfect your knowledge and expertise. There is always a midwife to liase with.
Take the opportunity to discuss breastfeeding help and education with our health care assistant as well as the midwives. She works very closely with postnatal women in the ward area and attends regular workshops. She can guide you through using the breast pumps / sterilising equipment and encouraging new mums. Everyone has a slightly different approach and there is a wealth of knowledge to be gained.
Watch the follow me mum video and try to attend one of our breast-feeding workshops. There are videos also on positioning and attachment. It may be appropriate for you to offer the opportunity for a woman / women in the ward to watch too.
Waterbirth is a huge part of our work here in Montrose. This placement provides a wonderful opportunity to learn about the practicalities of supporting women during water labour and birth. Please read literature throughout your placement. We have books covering the subject but there are also journal articles we can direct you to. Discuss the care with your mentor and study notes together so that you can reflect. You may be fortunate to witness a waterbirth but this is not guaranteed. This does not mean that you cannot gain a full understanding of the principles of care. All the midwives in Montrose are experienced in and passionate about waterbirth so feed from that knowledge and passion.
Everyone comes to us with different backgrounds to their education. Share your knowledge with us and let us know what you want to learn from us. We are a team who reflect deeply on the work we do. We believe this to be central to good care and hope that you leave us with a reflective mind and brave enough to question yourself and others. That is the only way to learn. That is the only way to be an adequate midwife.
We know that you have a packed schedule from the university so we do not expect you to follow this pack in your own time, just use it as a guide for quiet times here.
Activity 1
Discuss any book you are reading or have read which concerns normal birth. Is there an area which you found particularly interesting or unusual? Has your experience of midwifery care in your training so far mirrored the theory? What do you think the purpose of the book was (eg. to educate midwives or women)
Activity 2
If there is a postnatal woman in the ward area, provide her care for the day. Discuss with her and your mentor your need to learn and find out what she would like to gain from the day. She may wish extra input regarding breastfeeding. She may be uncomfortable. She may wish to go over the birth of her baby. Spend time going over her postnatal examination in detail. Guide her through your care and teach her the signs and symptoms of deviations from normal. Remember to discuss her feelings and concerns also. In the presence of mum do a full baby examination. Again discuss with mum all that you are doing and teach her what she may look out for. Spend time to explore both these examinations and afterwards read the theory again. There is no benefit to you or her rushing through this important aspect of care. Discuss with your mentor how you feel the session went and what you might do differently next time (if anything). Use this as an exercise in communication and empathy as well as clinical skill.
Activity 3
Watch the breastfeeding videos. Go over hand expressing with your mentor or our health care assistant. We have a model breast for you to use. Discuss storage of breast milk. Read the breastfeeding pack if you feel you need a refresher session first. When you feel confident spend time with a breastfeeding mother in the ward prior to her discharge. Go over all the aspects covered in the video and by the staff. Try to attend the breastfeeding workshop in our parent education programme. This may not be possible and if not go over what the session entails with your mentor. Attend the breastfeeding support group whenever possible. Discuss with these mothers how they found the first few days of feeding, what helped and what they need from midwives.
Activity 4
Choose a set of notes from someone who has given birth in the unit. Read the story of their labour and reflect on the care. Discuss with your mentor whether the care fitted into your understanding of low risk care. How did it differ from obstetric led care? Discuss the place of protocols and what the protocols have been in other units.
Choose a set of notes from someone who has transferred in labour unexpectedly. What factors do you feel may have contributed to this transfer. Can you see any lessons that could be learned? How did the labour progress after transfer?
Activity 5
Take a birth plan form. Imagine this as your plan. Try to write every detail of what you feel to be important for you. Try to visualise a perfect birth scenario for yourself. Concentrate on aspects of what you may need to feel in control. There is no right or wrong answer, just explore your feelings openly. If there is another student on this placement do this exercise and then compare birth plans. Now look up some of the birth plans in postnatal notes. Are they as detailed as yours? Did the labour and birth follow the hopes of that woman?
