Maternity assistant

[theoneiam1]

Hi!
Is anyone working as a maternity assistant?
How is the job?
What's a normal day like?
I've taken a new job as one and want to know a bit more about it!
I'm so excited!
Is there anything I can do in advance to prepare/ get a head start on things?
Thanks in advance ☺️

Hi following as I’m a HCA. Not in maternity though and I’m interested too.

It's what I'd love to do.

Unfortunately life is in the way at the moment.

I literally can't wait to get started! Hope someone comes along who's doing the job already :-)
It is such a dream job for me!

When do you start OP? Will you be working in a hospital? Congratulations on the new post.

Thank you! @Dreahil1
I'm not sure on start date yet, within the next month hopefully :-)
Yes, in a maternity hospital !

I’m not, but popped in to say the maternity assistants were amazing when I had my baby this summer. No visitors, so they were helping me with getting up and dressed post-section, and generally being a lovely human face when I wasn’t seeing any others! (All curtains closed on the ward). I hope you love it!

I work as a HCA in a hospital, not a maternity one though, although I would love to.
I hear that HCA on maternity wards do alot of observations (b.p temp ect) cleaning of rooms, stocking up, fetching and carrying for midwives, paperwork!
Enjoy your new job!

@NewLockdownNewMe
That's so lovely ! I'm glad you had such a positive experience in what must have been a tough time.
Congratulations on your little one, hope you are recovering well.

@nannytwins
Thank you for your reply!
I'm looking forward to learning how to do all of the obs!
I hope I'll be ok with the paperwork, not a strong point of mine!
Looking forward to doing something new and learning new skills :-)

Hi, I am a midwife now but started out as an MCA many moons ago.
Your working day will depend on location and skill set as much as anything else.
Will you be on a postnatal ward or delivery or a bit of both?
Delivery you’ll be cleaning rooms, occasionally be a 2nd at a birth, restocking and once trained , a theatre runner potentially (this depends on unit structure) breastfeeding support, washing ladies after birth (only where spinal anaesthesia is involved usually)
PN ward, again depends on the unit. Tea round, washes, catheter removal, feeding support, cleaning after discharges (beds etc) delivering/serving meals. If you get further training you’ll be able to do mum obs, baby obs, venepuncture.
This isn’t everything, just what I can think of off the top of my head after a 13 hour day!!

@CuppaTandCake
Thank you for reply! Especially after a long day !
Ah all of that sounds amazing and makes me even more excited! I will be working on AN and PN wards. Not on Labour wards just yet!
I really hope i do get trained up on all of the obs and more clinical things. I think that could become a strong point of mine :-)
Does being an MCA mean you can become a midwife a bit easier? Or is it still 5/6yrs at uni?
Thanks again for your reply!

Training to be a Midwife is 3 years at uni. Experience as a MCA may improve your application but it’s still 3 years.

Good luck in your new job.

@theoneiam1 I just wanted to say how much joy your enthusiasm and excitement for your new role has given me! Good luck in your new job, I am sure you will do wonderfully.

Good luck! I agree it is a wonderful job and your enthusiasm is exactly what is needed.

There will be lots and lots to learn and your enthusiasm and attitude will be a huge asset to you and will take you far.

Good luck

Apologies, been having a day with the kids.

Being an MCA will stand you in good stead for training if you decided you wanted to go that way, it also gives you good insight into the roles, but you would still need the relevant qualifications (Access or A Levels) and apply through ucas for the degree. It’s 3 years full time and there isn’t a part time option anymore.
Some trusts are moving forward with the midwifery apprenticeships but I’m not sure which ones are at the moment, if indeed any are with things as they are.

@theoneiam1 good luck for your new job. Sounds exciting.
Can I ask what qualification you need for a MCA? I’m interested in this job in the future, and find it difficult to find what qualification is needed! Thanks :)
All the best

When I had my first I needed (or maybe baby needed?) 3 hourly observations including overnight. The HCA/maternity assistant who was on those first 3 nights would come in and find me up in the night trying to feed and was such a practical support. Showing me what to do, helping baby latch and all in the middle of the night when I needed it. That lady is the reason I was able to Breast Feed my kids.

@BeHereNowx32
Thank you!
I haven't got any qualifications for it other than being a mum myself and I've done a breastfeeding peer support course.
Other than that, just GCSEs and my current employment that's in healthcare.
Hope that helps!

@MaryGubbins
That's so lovey to hear! I'm glad you had her there to start your journey so positively!
I also owe my breastfeeding success to a midwife working in the hospital on that first sleepless night with my newborn! I owe everything to that lady 🥰

@theoneiam1

Hi! Is anyone working as a maternity assistant? How is the job? What's a normal day like? I've taken a new job as one and want to know a bit more about it! I'm so excited! Is there anything I can do in advance to prepare/ get a head start on things? Thanks in advance ☺️

How's your job going? I have just applied so wanted some advice on what thenjib is like

😊

*the job

Bit late to this thread, but I was a Maternity Support Worker for three years. I started as an apprentice and worked in all the departments on a rotation before settling into my permanent role on the ante natal ward.
I had previous NHS experience, but my colleagues came from different backgrounds with no relevance to NHS or maternity.
Absolutely loved my job. I was the breast feeding link on the ward.
One of my favourite parts was "specialling", where a patient needed 24 hour supervision, often due to mental health issues, but sometimes due to concerns with their visitors. Some of the ladies stories were heart breaking.
I hated post natal, that was really hard work in high temperatures, always short staffed.
Some days on the birth centre all I did was stock trolleys and serve meals, other days assisting at the births or in theatre.
If I did any bank work I chose the EPU.
I was lucky in that my colleagues were all very nice and I felt trusted and appreciated, which has not always been my experience.

@cherrytree63
May I ask what you got paid after every thing is taken out?
I was hoping for £1500 every month from a 24k salary

@NoNotYou
From memory it was about £1600 with HCA, unsocial hours and the occasional bank shift.

I've never heard of a maternity assistant. What is one?