Hello
I really hope you make a go of it OP. I managed two years of the degree and it was the best thing I’d ever done. Hard (in every sense) but when it’s what you want to do you just know. I never dreaded a shift the way I dreaded office work and I loved working with lots of amazing intelligent passionate people.
However , in the end I had to give up as the family members providing the early/late childcare sadly got ill and my dh had to take an incredibly unpredictable and inflexible role. I simply cannot do the shifts anymore. So if you do it make sure you have back ups and more back ups for childcare.
Also as pp noted all courses now have to give experience of continuity of care-this means going on call for women with your mentor and, in your third year for your own women. It varies between trusts but for me all my community placements required me to go on call at least twice a week as a student. So, out on visits all day, then on call until 0800 the next day.
This is because of the government plan to ensure continuity for the majority of women which is brilliant for Women but does mean that continuity and on calls will become more and more the way you have to work unless you are a core hospital midwife, so you need to consider long term, not just the degree in terms of childcare etc.
In terms of academics it is more than possible to do an access course etc to prove recent study but you need to check what each uni needs (also check the hospitals they work with as often you get no choice in where you are placed so need to be able to reach them for early starts as well as random clinics and children’s centres for community). Most unis need study within 5 years also but again it varies.
If you can do it and really feel it’s for you then do. For me I so so sad I had to stop. Am hoping perhaps to get into it again or at least maternity care at some point but it’ll have to wait.
Good luck!!