Does your mw bring an assistant?

[homemademom]

I'm just curious. With my first hb, I had a mw, her assistant (another mw) and a student mw. The second hb was a mw and a student mw, and the third hb was just my mw. I never thought to ask my mws if they came alone or not, but personally, I feel most comfortable when there is another set of hands at delivery time. Not that I want them all hanging around staring at me, but just to be available.

What have your experiences been?

[etsdtm99]

my midwife brings an assistant .. that way there is someone there for mom and for baby after birth..

[elus0814]

My midwife brings an assistant who is certified in infant resesutation (sp?) and is also a doula. Although, it's more that the patient is required to hire the assistant in order to have the midwife at their birth.

[mbhf]

My first midwife did not bring anyone. My second midwife had an apprentice. My midwife this time my midwife will bring another midwife and possibly a midwifery student if I am comfortable with it.

[MommaLura]

My midwife will have an assistant with her. She is coming to "meet" us probably this next visit, but I already know her from LLL. Anyway, I was glad to know there was an extra set of hands as needed My first birth I also had a birth assistant there and next to my doula she was my favorite person at the birth, lol.

[NorthernPixie]

In Ontario where MWs are regulated, there must be a 2nd -- she shows up later than the first and becomes the baby's caregiver after the birth. If for some reason there wasn't a 2nd (like if every homebirther was giving birth at the same time) we'd have to go to the hospital per their regs. I don't think this ever happens though, thankfully, as their practice is large enough to provide full coverage. My husband didn't realize this until the other night (um, due in 3 weeks honey!) and all of a sudden felt much more comfortable knowing there would be two knowledgeable capable women helping us!

[lunarlady]

Yes, mine brings one. She is also an apprentice, so qualified to help in an emergency.

[AmaraMonillas]

My midwives work in a practice of 3. Each woman has a primary and secondary who alternate prenatals. The primary comes earlier in labor and then the second comes for baby's arrival.

[momasana]

My first birth was with 2 MW and an apprentice. This birth my MW has an apprentice and if the aprrentice is not available to attend she will bring her back-up MW as an assitant. She said no matter what there will be two people there.

[karen1968]

I have a pair of midwives, and they each have an apprentice working with them. So we could possibly have FOUR care providers at the birth. We chose not to hire a doula or "kid doula" because of this

[Peony]

Let's see, one MW had an apprentice but I requested she not come because I do not like extra sets of hands. The other two did not have assistants, one had one that she used for some births but not always.

[stellercrys]

I'm in BC, Canada and midwives are regulated here as well and are required to have a "second" with them. My midwife has 3 others that could come with her. Two of which I'm comfortable with (I've met with them all), so I'm hoping its one of those two that come with my MW

[billikengirl]

Yes my midwife attends with art least one assistant--and at my birth when both the mw and assistant were really busy (bit of an emergency right at the end) my picture taking friend was recruited to chart while they worked

[MariposaMami]

My midwife brings an apprentice. She first lets us meet the apprentice and then decide if we would still like to have them come. For me the most important thing is that the apprentice be equally as respectful and considerate as our midwife. There was one pregnancy where I was uncomfortable by the apprentice because of a few things, but this time around with the new apprentice it seems just fine. I love my midwife and am glad she seems to have a found a great new apprentice!

[Sihaya]

My midwife brings a backup midwife who is not an assistant or apprentice, but a midwife with her own practice. She also currently has several apprentices and who is actually present at your birth depends on how it unfolds and who you want there.

For DS's birth, she didn't have any apprentices at the time and we absolutely needed the midwife and her backup as all four of their hands were required to turn my guy around and help him out. I would be very uncomfortable with only one attendant.

[homebirthing]

There are so many different way of doing this. With my midwife, the apprentice is there for every prenatal, the birth and all of the postpartums. Basically the second midwife.

But there are also midwives here that have an assistant come to the homevisit and the birth. The couple doesn't really develope a relationship with her at all. She is just there to help the midwife.

I have done both of these as an apprentice.

[Twinklefae]

Originally Posted by NorthernPixie

In Ontario where MWs are regulated, there must be a 2nd -- she shows up later than the first and becomes the baby's caregiver after the birth. If for some reason there wasn't a 2nd (like if every homebirther was giving birth at the same time) we'd have to go to the hospital per their regs. I don't think this ever happens though, thankfully, as their practice is large enough to provide full coverage. My husband didn't realize this until the other night (um, due in 3 weeks honey!) and all of a sudden felt much more comfortable knowing there would be two knowledgeable capable women helping us!

: Same here, except I'm in NS, where we only have 3 midwives. So it does happen here. I'm thinking of asking my family doctor (who is almost as excited about my home birth as I am) if she'd come along if the other midwife wasn't available.

[cocoanib]

Yes. My MW always works with an assistant. The one at my birth was an apprentice.

[laughymama]

Originally Posted by homebirthing

There are so many different way of doing this. With my midwife, the apprentice is there for every prenatal, the birth and all of the postpartums. Basically the second midwife.

This is how my midwife does things.

[AnneCordelia]

I'm also in Ontario. I get my primary midwife for my labour and then my secondary arrives for the birth. My midwives are a new practice and will be a teaching practice eventually, but at the moment they are still getting that set up. There won't be any students at this birth, just two midwives.

But at my first birth I had two students and two midwives. At my second birth I had two midwives and 1 student who arrived too late for my fast labour. At my third birth I had two midwives and 1 student who did most of the practical care during my labour and birth.