Midwifery degree

[Platypusfattypus]

I've been a midwife for 6 years. When I did my training I had a 5 year old and a 3 year old. If it hadn't been for the fact my in laws were able to provide round the clock childcare I'd have struggled to get to my placements. I had to work nights, weekends, week days, holidays etc. I'd done degrees before but found this degree the hardest by miles. Any time off I had (for bereavement) had to be made up, they are very strict about you completing your hours. It also took me away from my children. I missed sports days, plays etc. I'd have to complete 35 hrs of placement, wrote my essays, and still try and parent and run a home. If I had my time again I'd want to wait for my children to be a bit older.


I echo the poster above about the books to read. Midwifery is very much a roller-coaster job and I do at times regret training as one. I'd never encourage my children to get into midwifery. It takes a lot out of me emotionally and the responsibility can be overwhelming. Physically. I ache after my shifts as Im bent over a pool, or sat on the floor supporting a woman. But everytime I get to the point of "I don't want to do this" I have an amazing experience and I'm hooked again. Not every birth is positive, not every story is happy. I've worked with and cared for women who's babies have died, who's babies are to be taken off them, who have backgrounds in sex trafficking, refugees, etc. Some incredibly sad and tough stories. I'm currently on a low risk unit so I have more autonomy with my role but that comes with a lot of extra responsibility and sleepless nights worrying about the women. But I love seeing women become empowered and believe in themselves, and for me that's why I do the job I do.

 

[Madbadsad]

I’ve been a midwife for 15 years. I have 3 young kids. Did
training before I had kids.

Not to be negative but in all honesty I would think long and hard before starting training, especially if you have kids.

The books ‘Overdue’ by Amity Reed and also ‘Hard Pushed’ by Leah Hazard are well worth reading. Both written by midwives. They will give you a very good, honest account of what it’s like to work as an NHS midwife. So you know what you’re getting yourself into! They’re also worth a follow on Instagram.

Think what it is about midwifery that appeals to you. It may be there is another role where you can support women? Could you use your clinical psychology - supporting women with birth trauma say?

 

[Cookies Monster]

I guess it all boils down to will you regret it if you don't try? If you try and it doesn't work out then at least you know it wasn't meant to be. But if you don't try will the what if be a big thing?

But also midwifery isn't going anywhere. You can do it at any point in your life. Perhaps the alternative is waiting until your kids are grown and have flown the nest. I've know of several women who came to midwifery in their 50's when the family pressures were off.

 

[Cookies Monster]

I was a midwife, now medically retired and because of that I say go for it. I'm so pleased that I got to do my dream job before my health deteriorated and wouldn't change anything, I'd be properly kicking myself if I hadn't changed career when I did and missed out.

I didn't study with kids but saw many do it and they managed it, mainly by doing a lot of their placement work at weekends/nights. Also you'll be showing your kids that working hard for what you want pays off and at the ages they are now they'll not remember the times that you're on placement as much as they would as say in 5-10 years time.

What i will say is that it's really competitive to get in. In non covid times I would say go to some antenatal classes, breastfeeding support etc to build experience and knowledge. Something else to consider is becoming a healthcare assistant in maternity, or anywhere really. Even just going on the bank (after initial training) and picking up some bank shifts to see how it works with childcare etc.

It's the best job in the world and worth every bit of hard work and tough times to get there x

 

[lalalanded]

Hi there - I trained in 2009 when there was a bursary and before the cuts. Anything is possible and if it is a burning desire of yours then do it. I have to honestly say though that I would not recommend it. The burnout is real and the stress of the job takes it toll. There are so many reasons why I got out and I've heard lots from my old cohort and I'm glad I stepped away.

 

[Bumblebee]

I was a midwife. I trained when I had one child and felt that I never saw him. He was either at my mums or at a childminders. I have a husband but he works full time and the shifts when on placement were really hard.
On our placements we were placed with a mentor and we worked their shift pattern so you couldn’t swap to evenings/weekends to fit around childcare you had to work the same shifts. They are the ones that sign off your placement and comment and mark on your work and progress so you do need continuity.
I qualified and then had two more children. I quit when my daughter was 22 months old. She had been ill. Not serious just a cold and sore throat but she was crying for nanny as that’s who she was used to. Due to being kicked in the stomach on delivery suite at 6 months pregnant I went on maternity leave earlier and so had to return earlier and at 22 months felt I didn’t know my child and that I had missed a lot of my middle child.
I asked to go part time and it was refused so I quit.
I don’t regret training and I don’t regret quitting.
Just remember the shifts are hard even after qualifying and jobs are competitive.

 

[Sailorontheseasea]

Some great experience so far but definitely add in more woman/mother centered experience as that will be the majority of your job. Make sure you don't say things like I want to work with children/babies etc, it doesn't go down well as it's about pregnant women and the babies are the cute little bonus. As well as breastfeeding look at smoking cessation, perinatal mental health, things like pregnancy classes, pilates, yoga, birth prep etc. If any local ones have moved to zoom perhaps approach them to see if you could observe. Good luck!! Xxx

Ah thank you so much for your help, that’s great!! I will look into anything and everything I can get. Hahaha definitely will not be saying I want to work with babies, have enough of my own and have worked with enough of other peoples thank you again xxx

My auntie was a midwife and she said she never met anyone who regretted doing the job.

I follow someone on insta called Rosie (@rosie.chappel) and she recently started a midwifery degree I think she is in the 2nd year. She has 2 young children and recently divorced so is balancing a lot! Maybe give her a follow.

Ah yes I love Rosie!! I follow her journey so closely as she often gives good insights into the degree itself and especially with 2 young kiddos. Thank you for your response!! Xxx

 

[Sailorontheseasea]

Hi there - I trained in 2009 when there was a bursary and before the cuts. Anything is possible and if it is a burning desire of yours then do it. I have to honestly say though that I would not recommend it. The burnout is real and the stress of the job takes it toll. There are so many reasons why I got out and I've heard lots from my old cohort and I'm glad I stepped away.

Yes I hear lots of reasons from my current boss as to why they want to get out as soon as they can and a lot isn’t to do with the nhs/burnout so it definitely gives me food for thought. Thank you for your response, I really am taking it all onboard xx

Why don’t you go into perinatal mental health? As an assistant psychologist?

I have absolutely looked into this on more than one occasion. I know this is part of the job of a midwife (and this is purely just my experience) but in all honesty I’ve fallen out of love with the academic side of psychology and working in mental health, even though it is something I am passionate about especially perinatal and postnatal mental health - the higher up academics that I’ve come across can be incredibly discouraging (as in - “oh? You only have 10 years of experience? You need 30 more before you’re even considered” type thing ) and getting a job as an assistant psychologist is beyond impossible without the proper experience that I just don’t have to despite having a degree and postgraduate diploma (didn’t quite finish my masters) that came with placements. The snobbery is unreal. The process is totally gruelling and I just don’t have the energy it needs to compete with these people tooth and nail for 20 odd years to become a doctor. Thank you for taking the time to respond though

You often have to work Christmas as well as nights, weekends, Missing out on family life.

The hours are back breaking. Physically and emotionally. I feel broken sometimes as @Platypusfattypus says. And I work part time!

Like her I would really discourage my children from doing this job.

The responsibility is so enormous. Many midwives end up in legal cases. Something you did 10 years ago could be looked at.

Covid has had a huge strain on the NHS and it is a hard time to train.

It sounds like you’re giving it some serious thought. I wish you lots of luck with whatever you do.

Thank you very much for elaborating. Yes I definitely have carefully considered the family aspect side of things, in fact it’s one of the things that is and has held me back when considering applying in the past and it is making me think twice about if it’s what I want to do. My partner already works unsociable hours Christmas/late days etc and is really into his career so I’m hesitant to do the same as there may come years where neither of us are able to be with our kids on Christmas Day and that’s just not a nice thought for me.

Thank you again for your response, it’s all being taken onboard. Everyone has been so so helpful honestly, it’s all well and good reading blogs/books/watching videos etc about the glorification of midwifery degrees and the job but hearing peoples real experiences is beyond helpful so thanks all xx

 

[OhMyGaad]

Not a midwife but a nurse so similar in terms of study/placements. I studied pre - kids. If you have good family support, financially stable (will be hard to keep on PT job when on placement) and prepared to be placed away from home then its perfectly doable. Good luck x

 

[Sailorontheseasea]

Thank you all so much for your helpful responses!!

I was a midwife, now medically retired and because of that I say go for it. I'm so pleased that I got to do my dream job before my health deteriorated and wouldn't change anything, I'd be properly kicking myself if I hadn't changed career when I did and missed out.

I didn't study with kids but saw many do it and they managed it, mainly by doing a lot of their placement work at weekends/nights. Also you'll be showing your kids that working hard for what you want pays off and at the ages they are now they'll not remember the times that you're on placement as much as they would as say in 5-10 years time.

What i will say is that it's really competitive to get in. In non covid times I would say go to some antenatal classes, breastfeeding support etc to build experience and knowledge. Something else to consider is becoming a healthcare assistant in maternity, or anywhere really. Even just going on the bank (after initial training) and picking up some bank shifts to see how it works with childcare etc.

It's the best job in the world and worth every bit of hard work and tough times to get there x

So sorry to hear you had to retire due to medical reasons, it sounds like you absolutely loved it. I am similar in that I don’t want to train for years to be a doctor of psychology (the original goal) and kick myself because I’m sick to the back teeth of the academic side of things - which there is much of! I’m extremely hands on in my job and would like to continue that way if I can.

Unfortunately, whatever I go into from now is extremely competitive. Getting a place on a clinical psychology doctorate is like gold dust so I think I’m up against it in all aspects. I just hope I can pull together a personal statement that gets someone’s attention with my experience as a night nanny/nanny and in care and obviously the experience I have gained with my previous degree and in having my own children. Will definitely look into breastfeeding support groups etc when things are a bit less crazy re: Covid. Thank you for your response again, really helpful and appreciated

Not a midwife but a nurse so similar in terms of study/placements. I studied pre - kids. If you have good family support, financially stable (will be hard to keep on PT job when on placement) and prepared to be placed away from home then its perfectly doable. Good luck x

Thank you!! I am lucky enough to have all of those things and definitely under no illusion I can continue in my current job. Hoping the financial side of things doesn’t hold me back. Great to know people aren’t finding it impossible though. Thank you again

I’ve been a midwife for 15 years. I have 3 young kids. Did
training before I had kids.

Not to be negative but in all honesty I would think long and hard before starting training, especially if you have kids.

The books ‘Overdue’ by Amity Reed and also ‘Hard Pushed’ by Leah Hazard are well worth reading. Both written by midwives. They will give you a very good, honest account of what it’s like to work as an NHS midwife. So you know what you’re getting yourself into! They’re also worth a follow on Instagram.

Think what it is about midwifery that appeals to you. It may be there is another role where you can support women? Could you use your clinical psychology - supporting women with birth trauma say?

Please don’t worry about being negative I’m absolutely all ears for responses like yours. If you would like to, could you elaborate a bit re: the kids side of things?

I read both of those books last summer and appreciated the brutal honesty in both - it definitely is a complete reality check. My current boss is a midwife and he said it’s everything you think it is and everything you think it won’t be and he has put me under no illusion it’s all fairies and butterflies (far....far from it), especially in the NHS

I have looked into becoming a doula as it combines my skills as a nanny and allows me to advocate and look after women throughout their pregnancy and beyond and this is definitely something I will look into again if I am unsuccessful in applying/have a change of heart due to reasons I have said above. Thank you for your response again, it really is so helpful.

 

[Platypusfattypus]

Wow that first bit about your kids, I feel like it’s easy to think of things quite methodically ie. having a lot of pressure in terms of uni/placement and running a home but missing events at my kids school etc really tugs at my heart strings so thank you for your response. It is all well and good to say do it while they’re young as they won’t really get it and will forget but I guess you don’t forget do you. Out of interest, when you were newly qualified how did you find your hours then? My kids will be exactly the same age so this is very insightful, thank you! Xxx

I started on full time hours but then went part time as I missed my children too much. For example one week I had four nights on a row and didn't really see them for four days. I have a good balance now, and still get a good wage for working part time hours.

 

[Madbadsad]

You often have to work Christmas as well as nights, weekends, Missing out on family life.

The hours are back breaking. Physically and emotionally. I feel broken sometimes as @Platypusfattypus says. And I work part time!

Like her I would really discourage my children from doing this job.

The responsibility is so enormous. Many midwives end up in legal cases. Something you did 10 years ago could be looked at.

Covid has had a huge strain on the NHS and it is a hard time to train.

It sounds like you’re giving it some serious thought. I wish you lots of luck with whatever you do.

 

[OhMyGaad]

Just to make note of the unsocial side of things. My husband is also a nurse and we have 2 wee ones. We thankfully work for the same trust and I am now part time but when I was full time it was so, so difficult to spend time as a family.

 

[slugella]

My auntie was a midwife and she said she never met anyone who regretted doing the job.

I follow someone on insta called Rosie (@rosie.chappel) and she recently started a midwifery degree I think she is in the 2nd year. She has 2 young children and recently divorced so is balancing a lot! Maybe give her a follow.

 

[Isa Drennan]

Why don’t you go into perinatal mental health? As an assistant psychologist?

 

[Sailorontheseasea]

I've been a midwife for 6 years. When I did my training I had a 5 year old and a 3 year old. If it hadn't been for the fact my in laws were able to provide round the clock childcare I'd have struggled to get to my placements. I had to work nights, weekends, week days, holidays etc. I'd done degrees before but found this degree the hardest by miles. Any time off I had (for bereavement) had to be made up, they are very strict about you completing your hours. It also took me away from my children. I missed sports days, plays etc. I'd have to complete 35 hrs of placement, wrote my essays, and still try and parent and run a home. If I had my time again I'd want to wait for my children to be a bit older.


I echo the poster above about the books to read. Midwifery is very much a roller-coaster job and I do at times regret training as one. I'd never encourage my children to get into midwifery. It takes a lot out of me emotionally and the responsibility can be overwhelming. Physically. I ache after my shifts as Im bent over a pool, or sat on the floor supporting a woman. But everytime I get to the point of "I don't want to do this" I have an amazing experience and I'm hooked again. Not every birth is positive, not every story is happy. I've worked with and cared for women who's babies have died, who's babies are to be taken off them, who have backgrounds in sex trafficking, refugees, etc. Some incredibly sad and tough stories. I'm currently on a low risk unit so I have more autonomy with my role but that comes with a lot of extra responsibility and sleepless nights worrying about the women. But I love seeing women become empowered and believe in themselves, and for me that's why I do the job I do.

Wow that first bit about your kids, I feel like it’s easy to think of things quite methodically ie. having a lot of pressure in terms of uni/placement and running a home but missing events at my kids school etc really tugs at my heart strings so thank you for your response. It is all well and good to say do it while they’re young as they won’t really get it and will forget but I guess you don’t forget do you. Out of interest, when you were newly qualified how did you find your hours then? My kids will be exactly the same age so this is very insightful, thank you! Xxx

 

[Cookies Monster]

Thank you all so much for your helpful responses!!

So sorry to hear you had to retire due to medical reasons, it sounds like you absolutely loved it. I am similar in that I don’t want to train for years to be a doctor of psychology (the original goal) and kick myself because I’m sick to the back teeth of the academic side of things - which there is much of! I’m extremely hands on in my job and would like to continue that way if I can.

Unfortunately, whatever I go into from now is extremely competitive. Getting a place on a clinical psychology doctorate is like gold dust so I think I’m up against it in all aspects. I just hope I can pull together a personal statement that gets someone’s attention with my experience as a night nanny/nanny and in care and obviously the experience I have gained with my previous degree and in having my own children. Will definitely look into breastfeeding support groups etc when things are a bit less crazy re: Covid. Thank you for your response again, really helpful and appreciated

Some great experience so far but definitely add in more woman/mother centered experience as that will be the majority of your job. Make sure you don't say things like I want to work with children/babies etc, it doesn't go down well as it's about pregnant women and the babies are the cute little bonus. As well as breastfeeding look at smoking cessation, perinatal mental health, things like pregnancy classes, pilates, yoga, birth prep etc. If any local ones have moved to zoom perhaps approach them to see if you could observe. Good luck!! Xxx

 

[Sailorontheseasea]

Calling anyone who is currently doing a midwife degree / is a midwife and anyone doing it with kids too.

A bit of background...Midwifery has always been my absolute passion since I was very young but for some reason when it came to applying for uni I was 17 and stupid and applied to do clinical psychology instead (possibly because I really loved it at A-level and wanted to continue with something I loved at the time, also because I just didn’t want to move away from home at the time and the Midwifery degree near me was not regarded very highly at the time) so I currently have a degree in clinical psychology and pretty much fell pregnant just after I graduated (kids are now nearly 3 and 1) so have been continuing my current part time job while having my babies.

Flash forward 8 or so years, I was hoping to do a Masters in a clinical psychology related area just to keep my career progression rolling but a huge huge nag in my head is saying stop wasting money and just apply to do what you want, Midwifery, instead as it’s really what I want to be doing. Now, I would absolutely jump at the chance being a lot older and more mature and obviously after having my own children it fully cemented it is what I’d absolutely love to be doing for the rest of my life BUT I know that Midwifery degrees are FULL time and full on, more so than a standard degree obviously with 30+ hours placement on top per week and I’m just trying to weigh up the pros and cons of applying for September 2022 intake or waiting and finding a job related to my degree/doing a masters related and then chasing my true passion when my kids are a little older and I have a lot less guilt about the thought of lots of nursery hours/not being there to pick them up for a few years etc etc. In 2022 my youngest will be in nursery a fair few hours a week anyway and my son will be at school so that’s something to consider. I am totally aware I have been extremely lucky to be at home 4 whole days of the week while my two have been young and I think it’s just the thought of having to not do that is eating me up a bit. I am also no stranger to long shifts/being on my feet all day/working nights and extreme pressure so that really doesn’t bother me.

Anyway, anyone who has lots of experience just talk to me, tell me what you love, what you don’t like, if you’d train with kids or wish you’d waited or just anything or just about your training/life newly qualified. Would love to know everyone’s stories and opinions