Midwifery Mature Student

[Jesgilm]

I’m applying for midwifery next September and just need to talk about it. One minute I’m feeling hopeful and the next I’m filled with self doubt. Can anyone offer any words of comfort or advice?

Background info;
I’ll be 30 when I start, I have 2 children who will be 2 and almost 4 when I start the degree.
My background is nursing, I worked as a HCA for 3.5yrs, then did a Foundation Degree apprenticeship as a Nursing Associate, this took 2.5yrs in the end due to a break during Covid year. Since then I’ve been a Registered Nursing Associate, now almost 4yrs.

Since I’ve had my children I have developed a strong interest in all things pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, postpartum and beyond. In my first maternity leave I didn’t know what this meant but I knew my career was going to make a change and I knew I wanted to improve my ability to ‘support’ so did a level 2 in counselling and a level 2 mental health first aid. During my second pregnancy I trained as a level 2 breastfeeding helper and am currently doing level 3 breastfeeding peer support training which will enable me to work on the National Breastfeeding Helpline. Earlier this year I trained as a doula as a way to further enhance my knowledge and experience and help me start up supporting parents in a way that made most sense to me at that time, knowing the experience would help me further decide where my future career was headed. My favourite thing at this stage was talking parents about birth options they didn’t know they might have, and simple changes to improve their births; think having skin to skin in after a c section, drapes dropped, telemetry, active birthing positions, understanding rights, signposting to appropriate maternity staff if they wanted something outside guidelines. I’m also currently gradually getting through a hypnobirthing course. My passion effectively is empowering parents and hoping to help reduce chance of trauma.

So all of that being said, onto the negative bit which I’m worried will hold me back;
During my college years I was struggling significantly with my mental health, as a result I never completed my A levels. I got C, D, E during AS levels and failed the second year. I have already called the university and had confirmation they will consider me because I have the Foundation Degree and I do have good GCSEs, but I’m really worried my lack of A levels is going to hold me back.

Also important to mention, I’m applying to 2 local universities. My main choice is where I did my Nursing FdSc Degree. My tutor from that Nursing FdSc Degree has also agreed to be my reference, she still works there. At the beginning of that course I was contacted by said tutor as I had been put forward for a ‘high achiever’ thing. I can’t remember what it was, Covid interfered! But I’m hoping this all helps with my chances.

Realistically, what are my chances? Are my lack of A Levels going to go against me?

Thanks all

If you have a chance to do a foundation degree and they'll consider you for that without A levels, you know the answer.

I've been on MW interview panels and you sound like an excellent candidate. Wishing you much luck!

If you’ve got a foundation degree you have a higher qual than a levels! So you should be accepted on that basis.

@Jesgilm you might do better to transfer your thread to the Mature Study and Retraining board, where you may also find other threads on the same subject.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

My eldest DD is a student MW, 2nd year and she's 29. She did a one year Access course at the local College to gain entry - and has 4 children. She is absolutely loving it but it's far from easy. She has a lot of uni work and the shifts on the placements are hard going. Her next placement is NICU with 14 hour shifts.

I'm incredibly proud of her, and in awe - I honestly don't know how she's doing it! She says it's a 50/50 split of young and mature students.

I trained as a mature student. We were a complete mix in my cohort, there were people with prior degrees, people fresh from 6th form with A levels and those who had never really finished school and had taken lots of twists and turns through life working min wage jobs but then found a confidence boost, did an access course and then became a midwife.

Everybody brings different things to the table, don't compare yourself with anybody else. You have lots of experience and skills and you know from working as an NA that the academics are only a small part of it.

Hi, I am hoping to gain a place after the access to higher learning but I have not had any experience as in volunteering as I work 9/5 in an office. Did she have any experience or volunteering work before gaining a place?

Oh you sound perfect for the course, you're a mum with a nursing background and a great deal of empathy. I hope the A levels don't make any difference. Let us know how it pans out.

I was 33 when I trained as a midwife, with two very young children. I had done a degree before but this degree really pushed me to my limit. But I did it, and I'm in a job I love.

The only caution I would say is to have a look at vacancies in your area. We have had a recruitment freeze in our area and it's meant none of our students have been offered jobs. They have ended up having to travel far for jobs or ended up working as HCAs until they find a job. It's upsetting to see some amazing students being left without employment after three years of hard graft. It may be different where you are though.