On top of extensive clinical placement, midwifery students are required to follow 10 women through their pregnancy, birth and postnatal period (and attend at least 6 of those 10 births) in order to graduate and enter the profession of midwifery.
This provides an invaluable experience for the student to learn, and provides the woman additional emotional, physical and educational support (and a familiar face) as they navigate pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.
What’s involved?
What will your student midwife do?
A source of emotional and physical support during and between appointments and labour and birth (if you want them there)
Provide you with additional resources on key topics arising during pregnancy, birth and postpartum (students are at the coalface of current research, drawing on it in their studies every day)
Be a familiar face
Advocate for your wishes or birth preferences
What does the evidence say about student midwives?
Physical outcomes
A Queensland study by
Tickle et al. (2022) looked at the outcomes for women birthing with midwifery student and found:
lower rates of induction of labour
lower rates of caesarean section
higher rates of spontaneous vaginal birth
reduction in rates of smoking post 20w of pregnancy
lower rates of episiotomy for women giving birth vaginally for first time
lower pharmacological pain relief use in labour + birth
higher rates of Vaginal Birth After Caesarean
reduction in 3rd+4th degree tears for women without a known midwife
Experiences
Women who received support from midwifery students:
reported feelings of
support,
presence,
empowerment,
relationship and
partnership
described the student as providing advocacy and assistance in navigating the maternity system, as a “bridge” between them and the maternity system
would recommend a midwifery student to family and friends (97.6%)