To think about retraining as a midwife in mid-late 30s?

[Ivegottagoforaliedown]

Any midwives here? Or career changers?!

I'm only 31 but just had my first baby a few months ago and hoping to have another by the time he is 3, then would like to continue working part-time until number 2 (if we are lucky enough to have another) is about 3 and at preschool age, as I would need to do extra shifts to pay the bills as a student so I wouldn't want to be out too much when they are very small if that makes sense.

I'm thinking I'd start just before my 37th birthday so would qualify at 39 (and a half!!)

I work in mental health at the moment and have a professional registration already, I'm used to the long shifts and nights.

I know there are plenty who train later but I'm wondering would this be too late with a small family?

Surely it’s 3 years to qualify? I don’t think you’re too old by any means but possibly naive to think you can study midwifery full time, raise little ones and work extra shifts. The training requires quite a bit of self directed study as well as full time uni and placements.

I actually enrolled into college to start my midwifery journey in 2020 but fell pregnant with my second child! I was thinking about doing it again at the start of this year, but baby #3 is now happening! I am definitely going to look into it again once this baby is born and a bit older, you're never too old. I'm 27 this year x

It’s not too old. I know people who qualified at 55 but I’d strongly recommend considering whether you really want this and why.
The culture in midwifery is toxic and there is little flexibility, the pay is just about ok but little prospect of any raise and you will never be able to provide the care you want to due to the constraints of the system unless you work privately. Why do you want to do this?

I'm a nurse, but also support midwifery. It isn't impossible, so many realise nursing and midwifery is their calling in their 30s/40s and beyond. The concept of training mirrors that expected of a student nurse so there are very strong similarities.

It is hard, full on, mentally and physically exhausting, and that's without raising your own family there too. Realistically, you will be limited on earning potential for the course without it impacting on your grades/practice. You will need a strong family support network to help with childcare etc.

I assume as you hold a professional registration you are thinking a condensed course? But actually in your circumstances I would be looking at apprenticeship route, at least you will be salaried and have no student debts. Very competitive though, so maybe reach to your local hospital, see if they support apprenticeship route and how you could stand a chance.

Are you a midwife? I'd be interested to hear more about the culture if you have time.

I've worked in perinatal mental health for a few years now which is what has put the idea into my head really. I'm not a nurse I'm a social worker but I really enjoy all the physical health stuff. I'd like to be able to support women through their pregnancy journeys from both a physical health and mental health standpoint.

It is 3 years it's just the way my birthday falls I would be almost 37 when starting then almost 40 qualifying.

You're right about the shifts, I did it first time round no problem but with kids I imagine it's a different kettle of fish!

Thank you, an apprenticeship would be ideal but I wasn't aware they were really a "thing" in midwifery. I'll look into it for sure!

I'd wait until they are bit older mine is nearly 9 and started my nurse training when she was 7. I started the first time when she was 2/3 and it was too much this time round she's a lot more independent. Also lectures are still mostly online for theory apart from practice stimulation so that makes things easier this time.

It's never too late. My mum's in her early 40s and is training to be a dog groomer as her first job. She says the other girls who work there are on college work experience or in their early 20s, but it doesn't bother her. I always wanted to be a midwife, but with severe learning difficulties it'll be hard for me to get into. I know the open university do courses that you can do in your own time, not sure if there's a midwife one though

Realistically you have 10 minutes with each woman 6-8 times in her pregnancy. It’s unlikely you will see a woman at every pregnancy appointment. During that appointment you will have to take blood pressure, test urine amd in later appointments feel for the position of her baby and maybe listen to the fetal heart. How much support do you think you can offer in these appointments?

Postnatal community care can be better but also can mean finishing late which is harder with children of your own. Postnatal ward care permits maybe half an hour in a 12.5 hour shift to do anything beyond the basics and too much of the basics is paperwork

Labour is the main time you are intensely one to one with a woman assuming staffing allows and you aren’t also caring for someone in early labour/being induced.

There is satisfaction in continuity roles but recent reports and ongoing staffing shortages means these opportunities are diminishing.

Many hospitals use and abuse their staff. I recently worked in a hospital where a young midwife would be working 36 hours straight without a break. This kind of thing never used to happen but now a community midwife can work a day, be ‘on call’ and be called into the hospital to cover staffing shortages and then still work in community the following day.

There is good things in midwifery but a lot of midwives end up feeling stressed, guilty about giving less than adequate care and the culture blames individuals for the failure of the system. There is little mutual support and management tends to be poor, perhaps due to their own pressures.

Thank you - sounds like a lot of parallels to mental health services at the moment. Out of the frying pan and into the fire comes to mind!