Leaving midwifery, what’s next?

[TastingTheRainbow]

I have made the decision to leave my job as an NHS midwife. It breaks my heart but sadly I can no longer cope with the short staffing, increasingly busy days and my mental health is suffering. I am crying in bed most nights knowing that I gave terrible care to women as I just couldn’t split myself between the needs of 20 women and their babies when on my own on the ward. The anxiety that one day I’m going to make a mistake or miss something and cost someone their life as a result is crippling.

The question is what next? I have no qualifications or experience in anything other than midwifery as it’s what I’ve always done and always wanted to do. I’m also a direct entry midwife so didn’t qualify as a nurse first.

I can afford to take a pay cut for better work / life balance and I would save on childcare costs anyway so it would balance out.

Can anyone give me any suggestions of what (non NHS jobs) would be open to someone with a degree in midwifery?

Private midwife services are a thing, OP. We have one locally called One to One Midwives. They are amazing! Free to use for mothers to be and the care they offer is second to none. I believe their case loads are always limited too, they will all only have so many women on their own list, so to speak, and all staggered in gestation. You may have similar locally.

What about practice education? Do you have those sort of roles in your trust? I'm a qualified nurse but work simply with students and placement areas now. I'm employed by the trust and my work is still counted as practice hours so my registration is safe. There are so many changes happening with the new standards it's a big thing at the minute with the NMC.

If you love midwifery but not the NHS is Australia or New Zealand an option?

What about becoming a postnatal doula? Better postnatal support is so critical to women's long term health and well-being. You could work around your family commitments and with your midwifery background you'd be brilliant.

Newborn Mothers Collective is an excellent training program: bit.ly/2X3kn1A

During labour I had 2 midwives and a student who I had never met because there was a change over in shift (1st midwife left at 8pm), I didn't see my community midwife until well after baby had arrived? Although I did see her once to be discharged from midwifery care postnatal but not once did I see my labour midwives!

My area doesn't seem to have continuity of care plans? Or am I missing something?

I left NHS nursing to work in the City. Working as a personal assistant in a large banking group, my salary with the bonus almost doubled. Flexible hours, working from home, no abuse or back pain. Working Monday - Friday, 9-5 ish with all the bank holidays and weekends off.

But you must have had some skills already Polarbearflavour? I can't imagine most nurses could start tomorrow as a PA in a large banking group. I wouldn't have a clue??

Being a PA isn’t rocket science. I worked for a medical secretary for a bit in the NHS and started applying for corporate jobs.

I think being a midwife would give you lots of transferable skills for sure. Working under pressure, team working, communication, customer service.

@TastingTheRainbow
I'm not sure if you'll see this but I am a midwife, have been for 9 years & am desperate to find a way out as I'm just not happy anymore, I actually find being a midwife quite miserable. I've lost all passion for it. Have you managed to find anything to do?

Did you ever get out? What did you do?

Research - regular hours, part-time possible, using some of your skills and adding new ones. Most large hospitals have research delivery teams (ie delivering research, not delivering babies!). I have known nurses go into research while children are younger then return to clinical role later for career progression, so it keeps your options open.

I feel the exact same, except I work in a medical receiving ward where the staffing levels are at an all critical low but the bosses at the top refuse to close beds in my ward due to the increase in number of admissions we're getting in. At nightshift you're coming in to look after 15 unwell people to 1 nurse most of the time which is completely unacceptable, dayshift isn't any better. My mental health is at such a low and I just dread going in as the workload just continues to increase with no help.

Funnily enough, I had been considering retraining within midwifery but reading this post has opened my eyes.

I second health visiting. Most times, the NHS will have posts open which they pay you to do your training.

I really do hope you find something else soon

Hey, I know this is an old post and I hope you found something that makes you feel happy again!

I just wanted to post this for any women in the same position to spread awareness about an organisation called 'When Push Comes To Shove' who are hoping to make a huge difference in maternity care! 'WPCTS' are an a EBE award nominated organisation for services to women and specialise in birth rights, homebirth, freebirth and 'high' risk out of hospital. You can check out the website here: www.whenpushcomestoshove.co.uk/

For anyone who is considering becoming a Doula there is a zoom course which is currently enrolling for May, it is a duration of 4 days and is for anyone worldwide - everyone is welcome! 'WPCTS' is hoping to branch out to help women worldwide! On completing the course you will become a certified doula and have a free membership to the directory and full have support. www.whenpushcomestoshove.co.uk/doula-training

As a side note there is also a 'Birth Keeper Course' for midwives which offers a fully comprehensive course to become a certified Birth Keeper. This is for midwives who want to focus on physiological birth, learn how to build a successful self employed business, you will also have earning opportunities at 'WPCTS':
www.whenpushcomestoshove.co.uk/midwife-lifeboat

For more information or to enrol on one of the courses please e-mail Nickita at [email protected] and quote CHLOE10 and she will be more than happy to help or you are more than welcome to send me a message!

Sending love to everyone! ❤

A young relative of mine has just completed a Masters in Public Helath at LSHTM (many others available). There were all kinds of disciplines on the course including a midwife. All of relative's friends got jobs very quickly.

Don’t feel bad for leaving, you’re not the only one that’s done it, and for the reasons you stated.
I think the hospitals, for a long time, have wanted to reduce the wage bill and run it with HCA’s.

Become a Nursing and midwifery Fellow within the NHS for a year. Are there any programme lead roles at the uni for midwifery?