Student Midwives

Midwifery is an art that is best learned through experience and hands on opportunity. It is a tradition passed on from preceptor to apprentice. We honor this tradition through allowing student midwives to participate in our clients care with us, at the appropriate skill level as well as the comfort level of our clients. It is how your midwives were trained and the way future midwives will be trained as well. Your participation in this tradition is greatly valued. Students only perform clinical duties under the supervision of a preceptor who is an experienced licensed midwife and only at the appropriate skill level of the student. Student Midwives have an intensive academic program and rigorous clinical requirements as part of their midwifery training. When you come into care you will be asked your desired comfort level with student involvement. Here is a link to review the blank form provided by TDLR. We’ll help you fill it out with your intake paperwork. You may update this form at any time during your care with us. During your pregnancy you will get to know our students during prenatal visits, so that by the time your birth is drawing near you will have a good feeling about whether you want to update your initial desired student involvement. We usually ask you around 34-36 weeks if you’d like to do this. We have chosen to incorporate students in our practice with the understanding that this is a sacred time for you and your family!

Benefits provided to you:

• Our students have been specifically chosen to be a good fit for our clientele. Most have been experienced doulas prior to starting their midwifery studies. They are required to be in an approved midwifery education program and come to DFW Community Birth & Wellness for their hands-on skills. They will offer love and support to you and your family throughout your care, alongside the leadership of your midwives.

• We only accept students looking for long term placements, so they can be a part of your care from the beginning until end.

• Students are able to provide direction and support to your partner during labor and delivery.

• Our beginning students are tasked with charting during your clinic appointment and birth. This allows the midwife to give you her undivided attention.

• Our advanced students are leading appointments while being under direct supervision by one of your DFW Community Birth & Wellness precepting midwives. This provides you with extra attention and education.

Benefits provided to the midwives:

• Students are valuable help to the midwives during your labor having been trained to anticipate needs and provide anything necessary accordingly. This allows your midwife to focus their attention on you as you labor.

• Equally their presence during labor provides an extra set of hands with knowledge of the birth center supplies and workings that frequently proves valuable.

• When tasked with charting it also allows your midwife to give you her undivided attention during your appointment times.

Preceptor Supervisory Responsibilities:

To become eligible for a midwifery license in Texas, a student must obtain clinical experience by acting as an observer, an assistant under direct supervision, and a primary under direct supervision, for several births, prenatal exams, newborn exams, and postpartum exams.

• All clinical experience activities performed by a student must be under the direct supervision of a preceptor, who is licensed in Texas as a midwife, Nurse Midwife, or physician. Direct supervision is real time, in person observation, and guidance by a preceptor who is physically present and immediately available to provide any necessary assistance and personally respond to any emergency.

• The student must always be directly supervised regardless of whether the activities are being counted toward the student’s education.

• The student must perform only the activities authorized by the preceptor.

• The student must not advertise, or represent to the public in any way, that the student is a midwife.

• The student must not receive compensation from a client for performing supervised activities.

• Before any service involving a student is provided to a client, the client must be informed in writing of these requirements, the identity and license status of the preceptor and the student, and the services that will be provided under direct supervision to the client.

• The client must consent in writing to the services being provided under direct supervision.