OBJECTIVE: Various student groups participate in clinical intrapartum care, but limited data are available on parents' perceptions of student presence during labour and childbirth. This study explored parents' experiences of having a student present during labour and childbirth.

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Qualitative study based on an analysis of 362 parents' responses to one open-ended question from a cross-sectional survey.

RESULTS: When they experienced students as interactive and supportive, parents reacted positively to student participation. Parents displayed clear willingness to contribute to students' learning. Some parents, however, reported unexpected, uncomfortable, or inappropriate experiences that they attributed to insufficient autonomy or undergoing many vaginal examinations.

KEY CONCLUSIONS: Parents, clinical supervisors, and students can benefit from clinical learning situations, but women's needs must be prioritised and student involvement balanced with women's right to choose who is with them during labour and childbirth.