Coping on Placement

[smw]

Hi, you already know me under a different name but using a different account for this post as it reveals some personal info.

I am a student midwife and relatively soon going on placements in hospital wards where women undergo ....challenging... procedures. I am really worried as to how i will cope with seeing terminations and removal of "products of conception". I was talking to anther student in the year above me the other day and she was telling me about these kinds of things. I wasn't aware that a students we would be so closely involved in these things. As in, as closely involved to actually be holding these things in our hands.

I'm not sure it i can cope, i have no idea how i will react. I think I am fairly stable at the mo mentally and i definitely want to continue my studies. I guess I am just seeking some kind of support with this.

Thanks.

[Margo]

I think only time will tell. I would imagine that for anyone seeing a termination or a heavy med proceedure could be distressing. I would hope there would be some kind of support to copewith this. I am sure there will be as its not exactly day-to-day bread and butter stuff. Perhaps talk to some of the other students who are older and ask if support is available?

I think a reaction is normal and i can understand your fears. I bet the others are worried too. Perhaps for different reasons , but still worried.

You may learn the hard way but i am sure you WILL learn and you will learn to deal with it. You will see things differently. I think it will strengthen you too!

You are dead brave and i wish you all the best. Im sure you will be great!

[smw]

I will see if i can find out about support available. I guess I am worried because i tend to internalise things. Also i am worried about my reactions, say, at the actual time of seeing or supporting a termination - what if i start crying or have a look of obvious disgust on my face, or if i faint?? And i know midwifery includes handling tragedy and sad things, however, stillbirth etc is an entirely different thing to a terminated fetus.

[Laura2.0]

Just go and see how things go, you can't know what will happen before you are in a situation like that.

You can always excuse yourself and leave the room.
You can't control fainting and I'm sure no1 would blame you for it.

[swirlyblue]

it's only going to be natural that you anxious, it's not going to be an enjoyable experience that's for sure.
i guess it's a sort of trial by fire, if you can cope with this you won't be fazed by anything.
good luck, i'm sure you'll be ok!