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AIBU?

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Original poster

To re-train as a midwife?

35 replies

SlightlyWorriedMaybe · 13/05/2025 06:17

Keen to hear from other midwives and students.

I'm early 40s, 2 kids under 6, hubby, mortgage (due for renewal Dec 2027). The course starts Sept 2026, if I'm successful.

Would it be unreasonable to re-train as a midwife? Is it possible with 2 young kids? Will it affect my mortgage chances in 2027?

OP posts:
Isouf · 14/05/2025 22:26

I have a colleague that left our ward ( nurse) to qualify as a midwife and is now coming back because she can't find a job. I didn't ask details but was really surprised.

pitterypattery00 · 14/05/2025 22:02

The lovely newly qualified midwife who delivered my baby was a man who was at least late 40s if not in his 50s and who had decided to have a complete career change now that his own children were grown. I was totally impressed with him - not just his midwifery skills but that he had the courage to make such a big change in his life. Very inspiring.

UseNailOil · 14/05/2025 21:59

UpUpUpU · 14/05/2025 21:55

I qualified last year at age 40. I have never regretted it for one second.

I am a single parent with an almost 7 year old and so have survived.

I LOVE being a midwife and it genuinely fills me with joy. Being newly qualified is hard, as is student life but my shift last night I left knowing I’d made a huge difference to a very young woman’s birth experience.

Absolutely go for it if you can

Can I just say thank you for your service.
We all know it’s bloody hard to work for the NHS.

UpUpUpU · 14/05/2025 21:55

I qualified last year at age 40. I have never regretted it for one second.

I am a single parent with an almost 7 year old and so have survived.

I LOVE being a midwife and it genuinely fills me with joy. Being newly qualified is hard, as is student life but my shift last night I left knowing I’d made a huge difference to a very young woman’s birth experience.

Absolutely go for it if you can

MrsPatrickDempsey · 14/05/2025 21:46

None of the student
midwives qualifying locally to me have secured jobs. There isn’t any funding for them. I don’t know what it’s like nationally.

Original poster
SlightlyWorriedMaybe · 14/05/2025 11:36

Thanks for your input @TorturedParentsDepartment
It would be 2030 by the time I graduate, I wonder what the future holds?

OP posts:
TorturedParentsDepartment · 14/05/2025 09:59

Normally I'd encourage anyone to go for it as I retrained at the same sort of point in time into another AHP career and it was a positive move - however the last few months have been the grimmest of any I've worked through in the NHS in terms of cuts, pressures, fucking nonsense from senior management (and printers), and having had another colleague and friend in tears yesterday cos of aforementioned management... think very carefully.

I love my job, I love my clients, I love my colleagues (apart from one who has just started and is driving me mad) - but it's fucking grim right now - half of us are terrified of redundancies, the other half are praying for voluntary redundancies to be able to get out, and any of us working full-time are desperately trying to work out how to manage finances to cut hours and remain remotely sane.

Original poster
SlightlyWorriedMaybe · 14/05/2025 09:53

Thanks for the replies.

Hubby works shifts, but that could change. We've got family that could support too.

The mortgage worries me, but I maybe wrong, if we stay with the same bank at renewal we won't have to prove affordability? Is that right?

OP posts:
Hdpr · 13/05/2025 06:32

Yes! I know somebody who did this. It’s hard going but they absolutely love their job. The pension is better than mine in the private sector, she loves her colleagues. Think carefully about childcare as you will have to do placements and overnights, but if it’s your dream, go for it

LegalAlienated · 13/05/2025 06:22

It will affect your mortgage as you’re unlikely to be able to work due ro placements. Which could involve 12 hr shifts for weeks. Could you sort childcare for placements?