to give up midwifery?

[BurntoutAndBroken]

I simply don’t know what else I could do though? I’m a midwife. I love being a midwife. I love midwifery.
But I’m not sure how long I can carry on in the NHS.
What else could I do?

BPAS/ MSI / NUPAS

Telemedicine, work from home ?

Same position here. I'm off sick at the moment and the thought of going back absolutely feels me with dread. I don't think I can go back but don't know what else I can do. I don't want to be a health visitor. I like their hours but too much safeguarding and can't really afford to re-train.

I know some that have gone in to HV, school nursing, University posts. Or just completely retrained.

Specialist roles can be a good way to get 9-5 and the stress is different, but the stress is still there and realistically you have to bloody love your speciality.

Needless to say, you really wouldn't recommend anyone retraining to become a midwife at the moment? 🥲

I'm also in one of those professions that everyone wants to leave. OP what is it in particular that is unbearable? I think only you know if you can continue

Private midwife, lactation consultant, antenatal teacher, lecturer/clinical skills educator, health visitor, research. If you're in a hospital setting, might a MLBU be more for you, or community/home birth team.

I'm sorry it's come to this for you.

I left in July after 20 years. I am heartbroken but I couldn't do it anymore. I still can't really talk about it because I feel so sad and angry and guilty.

I'm really lucky as I have been able to find some freelance work doing my hobby which is keeping my head above water but I am not sure if it will work out long term so still trying to think about what comes next. Maybe research, or BPAS. But also realising we have loads of transferable skills so there must be something. 🤞

A maternity nurse in private home

Another vote for HV, you keep the holidays, more sociable hours and still get to see families and babies.

Seventeen years in healthcare and I’m looking for a route out too. I love my job but the NHS is crumbling around me and I can’t watch it much longer

I'm not a midwife and I last gave birth 12 years ago, but hearing the staff shortages and other pressures must be hugely anxiety provoking. The thought of being responsible for women at their most vulnerable time and their babies is terrifying to me if you don't have a team and resources around you. I'd love you not to leave because the nhs needs you, but I understand why you would.

@Karmakamelion is that a joke!?

We pay £9,250 PER YEAR to train!!! The Trusts are paid to train us! We work for free during that time. What on earth do we owe them?

Just to be clear, that's £27,750 we are paying, personally!!!! And we start paying interest on that sum on day 1 of our training.

OP, health visiting. You have to try it. X

And I'll add, I'm a 3rd year student midwife who won't be starting my job. It's terrible at the moment and I'm not martyring myself for it.

This so so hard to read 😪

That they have probably paid back through non supernumary, missed breaks and unpaid overtime.

OP owes them nothing. The NHS is like a sinking ship. Why should any staff member have to suffer because of it. Unfortunitly I know a few NHS staff that became sick young and passed away. Stress as you should know is not healthy in the long term. So I say to you OP get out and retrain.

Another vote for Health Visiting, it has a bit of a bad wrap on this site but in real life it’s been such a worth while job & saved my mental health also

I feel the same. But as a nurse not midwife. I'm currently on maternity leave and have spent most of it researching other jobs I can do with my degree. For now I'm planning on handing in my notice to work full time agency. Is that a possibility for midwives? The flexibility I feel will help me slightly and hopefully re ignite my passion for the job

You can work in fertility! I’m a midwife and I work in a fertility clinic and scan

Wouldn’t recommend downgrading to that either.

Thank you all. I’m considering your suggestions and mostly gutted I’m even considering giving it up.

Could you apply for any specialist roles going? Get off the wards? Risk, education, teenage specialist, etc?

This makes sad reading, I'm sorry you are feeling this way OP (as many others are too)
I have a place to begin a MW degree in January and I am having major reservations.

Just a quick message to check in:
@BurntoutAndBrokenhow are you doing? did you stay in midwifery, or find something new?
@greencatsdid you start your journey to train as a midwife?