Preparing to attend

To get the most out of your time on Bithing Suite, it helps to integrate with the team. A simple way to build rapport is to bring snacks to share with the staff.

Because 5th‑year students have priority for births, you can only participate in labours and births during shifts without a rostered 5th‑year such as Nights, Weekends, or between 5th‑year cycles.

It would be good to watch the Video ‘Progress of Fetal Head through the pelvis’ on CANVAS as a refresher.

As a 6th‑year rostered to Birthing Suite, you can follow the Obstetric Registrar On‑Call and the Obs Assessment. You will be involved in acute assessments, so make sure you have refreshed ‘How to Examine the Pregnant Abdomen’ on Canvas.

When you arrive

If you are hoping for births, you should go straight to birthing suite at 7:30am and work with the midwives. Introduce yourself to the charge midwife, who will be sitting at the computer in the hub by the whiteboard. Tell them you are the med student and would like to be involved in labours and births but are happy to help out in any other way. It is better to hang around, so you don’t miss out, as they may not have time to call you.

If you are going to be with the registrar, go to morning handover in the Maternity seminar room at 8am.

What you might be able to do from the logbook

• Midwifery Assessment of a Labour and Birth Experience

• Examination of a Pregnant Abdomen

• Assist in a Caesarean Section

• Examination of a placenta (See Page 4-6)

Other opportunities to look out for

• Learn how to consent for surgical procedures

• Insertion of a Urinary Cathetar

• Examination of a Newborn

• Management of Third Stage / PPH

• Assessment of a Perineum / 3rd Degree Tear