Becoming a midwife

[Charlene1]

I am wondering if it's possible to train part time either uni/college/distance learning to be a midwife, and to then work pt or regular hours. After hearing hundreds of horrific birth stories and going through it myself, I would love to help women to have as "nice a birth as possible" - iykwim. I would also love to do the "cuddle lots of cute babies" bits. Not too sure I'd like the gory bits, but I suppose you'd get hardened to it.
I cannot drive, so would probably have to based at our local hospital/gp surgery if I ever did this, but I would like to be a midwife/doula or similar.
I have an academic degree, but only did science up to gcse, so not sure if I would have to do a full nursing degree etc. Can't make sense of the local uni site - one bit says 3 yrs at main campus 30 miles away, ft, another bit says pt study and placements at local hospital. Don't know if they automatically employ you at end of training either.
Don't want to sound thick if I apply for training, so can anyone advise me on what the options would be if I explored this further?

[alexsCURSEDMUMMY]

i am in pretty much the same situation. educated to degree level, and would like to do something like this. initially thought midwifery but not so sure because of length and intensity of study/training combined with shifts. would love to do something in this field thiugh.

[lulumama]

i would love to do midwifery, but can't commit to 3 year course at the moment..

so have done a training course to become a doula.....it means i can get some expereince of birth and it will help me decide if midwifery is the career path for me..before embarking on a degree....

and it means i can work as much as i want or as little while DD not at school....

[lulumama]

i would love to do midwifery, but can't commit to 3 year course at the moment..

so have done a training course to become a doula.....it means i can get some expereince of birth and it will help me decide if midwifery is the career path for me..before embarking on a degree....

and it means i can work as much as i want or as little while DD not at school....

[mamamaaargh]

lulumama, which course did you do for your Doula training? I looked at them but couldn't decide. Have you started work yet? I've considered this on & off for the past couple of years and would love to know more...

[MarsLady]

I did the paramanadoula course with Michel Odent. Fantastic. Came away feeling jealous that I hadn't had a birth the way he describes birth. Great course. I suppose it depends where you are based.

What courses have you looked at?

[lexiemum]

to be a midwife there is a diploma and degree route. science gcse is minimum entry level. the academic degree may have transferable CAT points (eg if has a psychology or sociology element)

each uni will do things differently but you should be able to request things such as flexibibility with placements plus negotiate part time training.

why not enquire about an open day and go and meet current students.

regards employment - you have to apply as everyone else but usually you end up with a post in your last placement area (as you've probably chosen this based on where you would like to work)

also the unis have to use certain hospitals based on contracts for learning and auditing so your local hospital may not be within the uni area - I'd ask at the hospital which Uni they serve.

[gigglinggoblin]

lulumama, how does childcare work if you become a doula? do you just depend on flexible friends/family? i assume you have to be present for birth if requested and thats unlikely to fall in school hours all the time. have been wondering about doula training myslef but small children seem to make it impossible

[nailpolish]

nursing and midwifery usually requires exam passes in english and one science, ins scotland its a higher in each, sorry dont know english equivalent

then its 3 yrs full time study at uni, with a large percentage of this working shifts in hospitals, this can be 12 hr shifts full time

full time study in between placements

and midwifery jobs, especially in the community, where you would need to be able to drive, are like gold dust

most people when they qualify have to work for a while in the hospitals to gain experience before community work

hth

[MellowMonsta]

I was also thinking of doing this but I would have to do an "access to nursing" - 1 year and then as NP said it would be 3 years.

My friend has just done this and she used her grant to pay for her dd nursery fees. She had to deliver, I think it was 40 babies before she could finish up and start looking for a full-time position.

I think she works 2 12 hour shifts per week now at Edinburgh Royal.

[lulumama]

i did nurturing birth - it was amazing - very intense - i thought i had a fair idea of what a doula does!!! but i didn;t! learnt so so much..makes me want to give birth again as i know i could do i better this time!

mars - Michel Odent !

re childcare - i have an a4 list of people and organisations to help me gigglinggoblin-


child minder 3 doors down
friends
neighbours
my parents
nursery near me does ad hoc childcare
2 x baby sitting agencies who can get sitters to you within an hour

etc.....


at first, i thought, can; do this with a young child ( DS is 7, so at school, not an issue with him as lot less trouble for a friend to take to school, pick up and look after than DD who is 14 months)

but i thought if i do this ,, then by the time DD is at school, will have some experience under my belt and will be able to really go for it

re midwifery - i have 9 GCSes, incl biology and a degree ( law not science though!0 so not sure how much use that would be

and there is the competition to get on the course, the fees and the hard work- bad enough doing first degree - no kids or responsibilities then..! and then no guarantee of a job at the end of it!!