Am I too old to be a midwife

[goodnightgrumble]

So I am 47 (only just) and a primary school teacher. I would like to retrain to be a midwife but. It sure if I will be considered too old. I will need biology or an access before I start so I will be 51 when I qualify! My current degree is primary Ed with English so not relevant at all.

My children are older now (I have 5) and I feel that I am in a position to finally retrain! What do you think? I am not bothered to be in classes with younger ones but would like some real honest opinions from midwives or mature students.
Funding not a problem as I funded my degree first time round.

You are going into this with a poor attitude....you will not even get thru the interview

If you want to do this ABSOLUTELY do it. Seriously please come and help us.

Just seen your comment however about having more experience than a NQ midwife because of your birth experiences.

Not really how it works.

You’ll be answering to 22 year old doctors once you’re qualified so maybe keep that in mind.

I’m currently a student midwife. Got accepted to all 3 universities I applied for (which was an absolute shock!)
I’m
A first year, on my second placement.

Happy to answer any questions about applying.

It is very competitive, universities want top grades and the right attitude. I agree that having children yourselves doesn’t make you a better midwife so scrap That idea straight away

Midwives are leaving in droves for a reason. This last year there has been yet another jump in the deficit.

There are a lot of midwives around the age of 55 who under their pension scheme can retire and most do. In your shoes I would be looking to speak to a couple of them about why. Some come back under "retire and return" where they can come back and work a certain number of hours while still claiming their pension but tbh a lot talk about in and then don't, they just leave and find other jobs if they need to top up their income.

However, if you are going into it with your eyes open and with belief and passion then why not?

Do consider the warnings given carefully. It is bloody difficult and knackering.

You need to consider the impact of nights and long shifts carefully. You might think that you can cope as a student and then go into community or something with more regular hours but continuity of carer is being rolled out nationally and while some trusts are further ahead than others it isn't something you'll be able to escape and the vast majority of midwives will have to work in a continuity model which will involve nights, on call, care in labour etc as well as community care. If isn't for everybody.

And no, having had 5 children does not make you in any way more qualified than someone who qualified age 21. Really doesn't. Do you think so little of the degree and training that you claim to want to do?

That said, you will of course have a lot of transferable skills and experience. Communication skills, teaching (for both antenatal education and working with students) and management skills for example are all valuable.

I’m in third year. It’s hard but nowhere near as hard as people say. It’s just a case of managing your workload and getting assignments done as soon as you get them. You get plenty of reading weeks etc.

I love love love it. Can’t wait to qualify. If you want to do it then give it a try. But don’t imagine that your own births give you an advantage, and don’t look down on a 22 year old newly qualified. Everyone brings different skills to the party

It might be worthwhile to try some bank shifts as a health care assistant on a midwifery ward before you commit. Then you will see the reality !!

I don't think the OP was saying she was more experienced than a 22 year old she was saying that at least she would have an understanding of actually going through labour rather than someone 22 that hasn't experienced it!
To be honest I'd rather have OP knowing exactly what I'm going through and can understand the pain and fear compared to someone who hasn't!! People are so quick to jump on an issue!
Go for it OP it sounds amazing.

@Iwonder08

Don't do it. The last thing poor women need in this country is yet another inexperienced midwife. By the time you are fully qualified and gain some experience in the field you will be nearing retirement age

What an absolutely stupid post. Regardless of the age of the mw every single person becoming a mw has the same training /experience when they start the role

@lulubelle6

I don't think the OP was saying she was more experienced than a 22 year old she was saying that at least she would have an understanding of actually going through labour rather than someone 22 that hasn't experienced it! To be honest I'd rather have OP knowing exactly what I'm going through and can understand the pain and fear compared to someone who hasn't!! People are so quick to jump on an issue! Go for it OP it sounds amazing.

‘Giving birth 5 times would make me more experienced than a midwife who trained at 21’ ....lthose are OPs words🙄

The real learning curve is upon qualifying when you hold your own registration and that is at risk each and every shift. It’s a huge adjustment to working under your supervisors PIN.

Contemporary practice is incredibly demanding OP As for your own birth experiences benefitting you, I’d completely disagree as it can affect your ability to be compassionate to others. Don’t bring that baggage with you.

Yeah sorry, I was with you 100% until you said you'd be more experienced having had children than a 21 year old childless midwife.

Im a childless midwife with 7 years post qualification experience on top of my three years of training?

As you've had all those babies, could you manage a shoulder dystocia? PPH? Cannulate a woman as she seizing during an eclamptic fit? Errrm no probably not, so please drop that attitude or you'll piss a lot of people off

Hhmmmm I'm in two minds about what to say.

On the one hand I would advise against joining the NHS, especially as a nurse or midwife, as it's an absolutely draining job sometimes (I'm a senior nurse not midwife) nights and 12 hour shifts im keen to get away from now in my mid 30s as been in the job since I was 18. Also the lowest rung of a band 5 is a really shit salary.

On the other hand if you are really passionate about it then go for it, I had a lovely colleague who trained as a nurse in her late 40s after many years as an auxiliary nurse. She qualified at 50 and is still working now at 60 however she does outpatients clinics and vaccinations so avoids the shite shifts.

Also don't pay attention to the posters saying that having had 5 children won't give you an advantage in the job, of course it will! I'm on my third pregnancy and of all the midwives I've encountered, the more experienced ones with children of their own always stand out from the crowd.

Good luck whatever you decide to do. It's a hard job but if you enjoy it then it's worth it.

Giving birth five times between the ages of 23 and 40 would also make me more experienced than a midwife who has trained at 21!

You were at the business end for none of your births. How arrogant.

You’re not too old.. however you need to be very energetic and physically fit. Most midwives go into it hoping to support and empower women and discover the reality is actually exhausting and gruelling. Id volunteer up on the wards before you commit

@lulubelle6

I don't think the OP was saying she was more experienced than a 22 year old she was saying that at least she would have an understanding of actually going through labour rather than someone 22 that hasn't experienced it! To be honest I'd rather have OP knowing exactly what I'm going through and can understand the pain and fear compared to someone who hasn't!! People are so quick to jump on an issue! Go for it OP it sounds amazing.

Even that is a dangerous attitude. I’d had a baby before I trained as a midwife but I would never have dared to presume that meant I understood what someone else is going through. People have their own very individual experiences.

Rather than assuming what someone is going through is the same I went through, and putting my own feelings and values on their experience I’d prefer to talk to them and listen to them and reflect on what they’re telling me.

A decent student will learn how to do that over their training. Some of the best midwives I know don’t have children.

Plus you can’t experience every complication and type of birth even with 5 kids!

I don't see why not.

My mum retrained as a nurse in her mid 40s. Late 50s now, and has been a registered nurse for almost 10 years. Go for it.

And please don’t assume that giving birth makes you experienced as a midwife. It’s like saying driving a car qualifies you as a mechanic.

Talk to some midwives about it. I hear it’s a job that’s very physically demanding especially hard on the knees, but what so I know 😬

I’m only sad that you preferred AIBU to the actual Mature Study and Retraining board …

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mature_students

Go for it, I retrained as a nurse mid 40s, best thing ever.
It'll be hard but worth it if its something you want to do.

Good luck.

Finding this thread interesting as was also considering retraining but in 40s rather than 50s. For those saying 50s is too old, would you say the same for 40s in terms of coping with the mental/physical demands? To those comments re the hard work and sinking ship etc would you think this also applies as a maternity support worker rather than a midwife? OP have you thought of being a maternity assistant rather than a midwife?

A maternity assistant has the benefit of providing hands on care, particularly on postnatal ward, without the professional responsibility. It is still a route into midwifery, though many Trusts no longer offer secondment (where you are paid to train for your degree) and you’ll have a good grasp of the realities of NHS practice. In time I think we’ll see more band 4 posts in a similar way that’s happening with nursing. That could be a good option.

@pancakes22

Finding this thread interesting as was also considering retraining but in 40s rather than 50s. For those saying 50s is too old, would you say the same for 40s in terms of coping with the mental/physical demands? To those comments re the hard work and sinking ship etc would you think this also applies as a maternity support worker rather than a midwife? OP have you thought of being a maternity assistant rather than a midwife?

Pros and cons. I think MSW get to spend more time providing care to women especially postnatally. But not as much autonomy, don’t get as involved in antenatal care or labour. But less paperwork. So I can see there could be good job satisfaction from that point. Midwives seem to spend more time on documentation than caring for women at times!

@CovidCorvid I think many non nurses/midwifes would be shocked at how time is spent completing documentation..... around 70% in my nursing role I would say