Am I too old to train to be a midwife?

[Illbebythesea]

At 32. But… with 3 young kids and one still 2 years away from school age. Could I do it… then. At 34? I’ve always wanted to. SAHM for 6 years and feel like this would be my last chance to have a career instead of a job.

Nope. Go for it!

One of the dm's at our school she is in training at 34...my dm's best mate was mid 40's....women need good midwives op!! Go for it!

Also, be v interested to hear from anyone who knows the best pathway to midwifery… (aka easiest with 3 kids) 🤣 I have read online about access courses as opposed to a levels? Or apprenticeships?

Do it..I wish I had tbh

Nope! Never too old!
The time will pass anyway, you may as well have something to show for it!

@Foggyfoggyfoggy great! This is what I want to hear! 😁

When I was at uni we did lots of joint lectures with the midwives and had people training in their 40's+. You'll be grand! I'd definitely consider an access course prior to uni. I did this before going to uni later and it was brilliant. Good luck!

Definitely not too late.

I actually just remembered now I posted a similar thread years ago under another username, before my (surprise) 3rd baby. I really wanted to do it then but life went in another direction… I had the most lovely responses at the time. I think I will always regret not doing it, I know it will sound sad but it almost feels like ‘a calling’ 😳

Absolutely not, my 45 year old friend has just graduated!

It’s definitely not too late. Good luck.

@Sunbird24 amazing 🤩

I'm a midwife. I'd say the majority on my course were over 25, think the oldest was 43. From the students I see nowadays I think the intake is a lot younger. I'm assuming this is because of the need to take out student loans/no NHS bursary. It's not a family friendly course, but most of my class had children. One woman had 5 (total superwoman, not sure how she managed it all!!)

I think you have to have evidence that you've studied in the past 3 years, which is why people do the access course. I'd already completed a degree a year before I started my midwifery so didn't need to do that, but most of the mature students on my course had done this.

Definitely not too old. I retrained at that age.

do an access course / foundation level at uni. mature students can get into courses this way without having a levels. not to old x

One of my best friends trained to be a midwife in her thirties. She left an abusive marriage had two dc one with severe autism. And she is a brilliant midwife, she’s quite senior now and has done her masters as well.

also my midwife when I had my last dc told me she trained as a midwife in her forties. And she is also really senior. She loves it.

do it.

I've friends who've done this. 1 nurse, 1 mid wife Both times I've thought that 3 years seemed a long time to commit.
And then blow me but they're graduating 2 minutes later.
Now obviously it's been a massive organisational feat for them - but in the wider perspective....In the "is it too late?" sense, "will it take too long?". No absolutely no. Go for it.

I used to work with midwifery students (in an admin capacity) as I remember the oldest student in my time there started past 50, so 32 is nothing! A friend trained as a nurse and qualified shortly before she turned 40. Your age isn’t a problem at all!

100% not too late. I trained to be a teacher in my early 30s with young children. 10 years in I am so pleased I did :)

it won’t always be easy but keep your eyes in the prize. Best of luck xxx

Does anyone know how intense the course is? (I have googled but great hearing first hand experiences) could I do it part time? I understand there are placements that are shift work 3 months at a time, I could juggle this childcare wise but not on a permanent basis.

Definitely not too old. I’d think about the hours, not family friendly and without being pessimistic, would you be able to continue if you split up, eg do you have other family support who can help as childminders don’t do the shifts nurses / midwife’s do. But otherwise absolutely go for it. I think a lot of women of child bearing age think about this kind of career but not for everyone. It’s a very rewarding and I’m sure heartbreaking and tiring role. If it’s a real passion then I’d go for it.

If you don’t have A levels etc I’d say look at Uni’s with a foundation year. Don’t the NHS offer burseries? I’d hate to think any nurse or midwife has to loan the full 60k most students end up owing given its not a high paying job

People retrain all the time. 34 is nothing. Imagine everyone sticking to a role from their 20s! We'd be fucked!

There's a book called diary of a student midwife, it's written by a nurse on the 18 month conversion course.

Might be helpful to you - I read it and decided to go for another health profession!

I know someone your age during the access course now. She was a nursery nurse then got a job as a midwife assistant so she knew what she was getting into first!

Think of this way- if it takes eg four years, in four years time you'll be 36 and either a qualified midwife or not.

I would definitely chat to some to see how it would fit in with your kids and schedules with the shifts.

Alternatives that you could study for could be - nct teacher, occupational therapist, radiographer

You’re definitely not too old!! You’ve got 35+ working years until retirement age - absolutely go for it. I know nothing about the process to train but midwifes are in short supply in this country and we could do with as many as possible so absolutely do it!