To ask for advice on a career change? Help me decide!

[GeorginaJoules]

I'm suppose to be applying for uni to start my degree as a midwife in 2020 but I'm having doubts.

Although I like the idea of the role, the practicalities scare me. I work alongside midwives currently and they're overstretched to the max, with a lot of pressure and a lot of questions to answer when things inevitably go tits up.

In addition to that, I do worry about my pension age and how I would manage on my feet so much nearing 70! Pension age will probably be over 70 when I finally reach retirement age

I'm currently working as a Healthcare Assistant and the 12 hour shifts are tough but I do like the fact I work 3 days and it's considered full time! It means more time with my young DC, it's great. It feels more part time, with a full time salary. Midwifery would be like that too, long days meaning less days you actually work.

The financial strain of a 3 year degree with little/no time to work alongside it also worries me.

My background is PA, corporate. I do miss certain aspects, and I like how flashy I felt a lot of the time. But it just wasn't for me. Something was 'missing'.

I'm now wondering is there any career choice I haven't considered? Could any helpful Mumsnetter help me out?

I would say my biggest skill and genuine personality trait is organisation. I'm a very clean and tidy person, naturally. It's something I really enjoy doing too, organising, arranging, etc etc.

Haha my name is actually a quote from one of my fave books and not to do with my actual job although I forgot all about my name when I posted.

I think so long as you go into it knowing you will work nights weekend and shifts it’s not any more inflexible than any other career.

The hardest part is sorting out childcare if you have kids because without family around to help I imagine you would struggle to work late shifts and nights due to there being no childcare provision available at those times so if your children are younger that is going to be something you will need to factor in.

A 9-5 job is easier with kids although if you look in the right areas of health care you do have some options for jobs with better sociable hours though probably more so in nursing than midwifery.
I’m thinking of areas like health visiting, school nursing where some trust take you on as a staff nurse, occupational therapy, some wards and theatres such as day care. GP surgeries, resus officer jobs, teaching etc. But most of these jobs you progress into rather than start out in.

Have you considered training as a KonMari Consultant. It seems to fit with your innate skills. The fact you would consider midwifery, would i hope suggest you have a caring side too which would help in that role. You could work as flexibly as you wish being self-employed!

I think that’s really waffley ohmmm advice Waste money “training” as a jumper folder
Really?whats the job satisfaction or career path in supporting harried affluent folk to tidy up
I imagine the appeal of midwifery is making a difference,working with all socioeconomic groups
Midwifery is a professional career. marie Kondo is a made up fleeting job

Actually when you are qualified and have a bit of experience under your belt midwifery is REALLY flexible. Lots of people I know do 9-5 (community) or are part time and top up with bank, or (like me) do bank only. Especially in big cities there are lots of opportunities that aren't just 'labour ward midwife'.

I think if you work alongside midwives already you already know as much as you can without doing it yourself. You could be a Maternity Support Worker, if they have them in your Trust; our MSWs do home visits alone, run some clinics, do breastfeeding support and a lot of clinical things, but they don't actually do births obviously.

If you decide to retrain in one of the registered health professions it will be a lot of work and a three year degree, but the payoff is at the end; if you decide to do a more supporting role such as MSW you do get a qualification but the pressure is less (though still important) but you don't get the higher qualification level at the end and obviously the pay is less.

I think the thing is, whether you want to bite the bullet and do this NOW, and make it work practically, or if you think it's going to be too much. Only you know if the sacrifice was worth it for you. I think on balance it was for me but if I'd not done it then I would have had a happy career doing something else. I also don't agree that if you are happy doing something like accountancy you wouldn't make a good midwife. You need to really ask yourself: do you actually not want to do midwifery or are you just taking the 'easier option' that doesn't involve so much sacrifice and potential personal emotional investment because it's a bit scary? If it's that, and you actually really want to do it, go for it because you might surprise yourself at how strong you can be. x

Midwifery can be flexible. For example, working 3 long days equates to full time hours which can be for childcare. I managed to negotiate set days which again helps with childcare. It isn’t for everyone but bring a midwife is a total joy for me. I’ve bedn doing it 16 years now and still look forward to going to work. The training will be tough if you have children though but with good support, you will be fine.

I’m hoping to train as a nursing associate next year and am terrified of doing it at 40 plus so I understand how you feel x

Well if it were me starting a second career I’d go for something less stressful. How about Speech and Language Therapist?

(Also- definitely NOT teacher!!)

Dear god, SALT is not less stressful than being a mw.different job,still stressful
I’m not a SALT but it’s incredibly patrionising to suggest it as less stressful option