UK ladies, how many midwives at birth?

[pinkpolkadot]

It's been a while now since LO arrived but lately I've been thinking about the birth (I think because we have been discussing poss ttc again later this year).

The birth itself went well but I had retained placenta and had to go for an op afterwards. The ward was extremely busy that day and it was all a bit quick at the end I do wonder if this was something to do with it. I only had one midwife in the room at the end and I think she was struggling to get everything ready. I was just wondering if this is normal as when I watch one born more help always seems to come in at the end?

 

[Floralaura]

I always thought it was normal to have one during labour and then 2 at delivery but I only had 1 last time?
My first I had 1 then 2 at the end, my second I had 1 during then by then end had 2 MW's, 1 sister, 1 student and 1 consultant (high risk) and my 3rd again was 1 during labour and for delivery..I was puzzled why I only got one last time round though lol but like you said it was very quick for me at the end and I pushed him out in 5mins so not sure if there was time for her to summon another one lol

 

[pinkpolkadot]

Thanks yes I do think it was the case for me too (or that there just wasn't anyone else available)!

I have read on the injection for the placenta they have do do it all very quickly and get it out as it makes the uterus clamp down hard, which is what happened and it got stuck so it just got me wondering if it wasn't done quickly enough.

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

A lot of obem is filmed on labour ward do high risk pregnancies. This is probably why 2.
I had my baby yesterday and only had one. Much better x

 

[MumOfPlenty]

I've only ever had 1 midwife present at all of my births, except for my homebirth, where there have to be 2 midwives present. Think that the thing these days, what with the shortage of midwives and everything, is that if youre not high risk, the midwife is basically just there to oversee things, and 9 times out of 10, unless theres a shift change during, youll see the same one throughout your delivery and post-deivery care.

 

[lozzy21]

Thanks yes I do think it was the case for me too (or that there just wasn't anyone else available)!

I have read on the injection for the placenta they have do do it all very quickly and get it out as it makes the uterus clamp down hard, which is what happened and it got stuck so it just got me wondering if it wasn't done quickly enough.

I dont think it was the fact it was not done fast enough, i did not have the injection untill half an hour after she was born and that was not an issue. Retained placenta is a side affect of the injection regardless when it was given.

 

[LoraLoo]

I have always had 2 x

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I just thought and yes I only had 2 when in labour ward. At midwife led unit had 1 was much more relaxed x

 

[pinkpolkadot]

Oh yes forgot to say I was on labour ward, sounds like it differs then but one is not out of the ordinary.

Re the injection I have read that after having it the palcenta has to be removed quickly as it causes the uterus to clamp down hard thus trapping it if not. As I say it was all a bit of a blur but I do remember a lot of faffing during the process so was wondering if that's what happened

 

[lucy_x]

my daughter only one was in the room, My son i had 1 and a student (who was flipping amazing! - id always have a student in now!)

 

[aliss]

I had 2 plus a student. There should always be at least 2 at the end, one for baby and one for mother.

 

[lozzy21]

Oh yes forgot to say I was on labour ward, sounds like it differs then but one is not out of the ordinary.

Re the injection I have read that after having it the palcenta has to be removed quickly as it causes the uterus to clamp down hard thus trapping it if not. As I say it was all a bit of a blur but I do remember a lot of faffing during the process so was wondering if that's what happened

If the first drug in the injection does not work to remove the placenta before the second part of the drug starting working to clamp down to reduce bleeding then you get a retained placenta. What they dont tell you is that if your not bleeding excessively then you dont need the injection, they just give it because it makes the placenta come quicker so they can move you on to the next part of the conveyor belt.

 

[hollyrose]

i had 2 and a student midwife and at the very end i had a registrar and a consultant too.

 

[x_WelshGirl_x]

I had 1 midwife when we first got to the hospital and had 2 at the end (I remember midwife showing OH which cord to pull when I was ready to push)

 

[Erised]

With my first I had 1 Dr. and 1 midwife, and boy did they make a mess of things
With my 2nd I had a home birth. Had 1 midwife through out all of my pregnancy (Karla), and I was supposed to have 2 midwives at the point of birth but things went a bit faster than expected and I ended up with just 1 (Lauren, poor Karla nearly crashed her car to get here in time, and missed my birth by all of 2 minutes).

 

[missy1]

I only had one midwife all the way to the end. She was amazing and professional, there was just my DH, her and myself and there was no need for anyone else. I tore and then there were another couple of midwives in stitching me up but only one for labour and birth x

 

[pinkpolkadot]

Thanks everyone!

Oh yes forgot to say I was on labour ward, sounds like it differs then but one is not out of the ordinary.

Re the injection I have read that after having it the palcenta has to be removed quickly as it causes the uterus to clamp down hard thus trapping it if not. As I say it was all a bit of a blur but I do remember a lot of faffing during the process so was wondering if that's what happened

If the first drug in the injection does not work to remove the placenta before the second part of the drug starting working to clamp down to reduce bleeding then you get a retained placenta. What they dont tell you is that if your not bleeding excessively then you dont need the injection, they just give it because it makes the placenta come quicker so they can move you on to the next part of the conveyor belt.

Yes I would think about not having it next time, I have ready though that they recommend it if you have had a prev retained placenta. But anyway I am getting a bit ahead of myself

 

[hopeforamirac]

i always had two but most times 1 was a student

 

[tinkerbelle93]

I had a forceps birth in theatre and there seemed to be loads of people.. maybe like 7?? I have no idea why.

But when I have asked other people about how many midwives they had in the room, it always seems to be either 1 or 2.. perhaps it depends on how busy the ward is? xx

 

[Beccaboop]

Just one midwife who stayed with us the whole time during the contractions and pshing but i didnt know i was dilated until 7cm so she stayed from then really!

Then cos baby was back to back and got distressed so i went to theatre and had to have forceps to turn him and an epiduaral cos they did an episiotomy so my midwife was there and an anesthesiologist and a doctor and 2 junior doctors i think and someone who just seemed to be tidying up and other people who were here to look after the baby when he was out i guess but they were just standing about most of the time i dont know who most of the people were but at that point i didnt care i just wanted my baby out safely!