‘Mutual newness’: mothers' experiences of student midwives

Abstract

Women describe establishing a trusting relationship with the midwives caring for them as a key feature of effective care. In most maternity settings, women will frequently receive this care from student midwives, yet their contribution has not been explored from the women's perspective, or its value discussed. This is part 2 of an article exploring the application of phenomenology in midwifery research. This article critically discusses the key findings from a small study that explored the experiences of 7 women, both primigravid and multigravid, who received care from student midwives during labour and birth. The meaning, or essence, of the encounter between woman and student midwife was sought and described. Women rated their care from the student midwives very highly and found them to be consistently kind, supportive and helpful. In particular, women valued the uniqueness of their relationship with the students. The essence of the experience has been conceptualized as ‘mutual newness’; both women and learners are on separate journeys to motherhood and professional status, yet encounter similar losses and gains along their respective paths.