Im absolutley determined to become and midwife and i plan to start this year! - im tired of some people assuring me i wont manage it because im alone with 4 small children :(

[Theconstanttalker]

Im not daft, i know it'll be hard work, i have 3 gcse's but i need 5 so i will have to do that first, but im not afraid of hard work - im a very determined and focused person, i dont care if it took me 10 years! But the people around me (even my mum!) telling me i wont be able to do it, and im not being realistic is upsetting - the more they say it, and the more i think about what they say the more i worry if they are right or not. There must be absolutley loads of single mums who have managed to become a nurse or midwife or similar, surely!??? I think some days their negativity makes me even more determined, just to prove them wrong! (is that childish???)

My advice is start with getting your GCSE's, it will help you to get back into the routine of studying and also help you to realise what it is you REALLY want to do.

As time goes on you may change your mind and decide on a different field of work your interested in. Or you may realise that Midwifery is EXACTLY what you want to do.

You won't know if you don't take the first step (which is the hardest). I'm sure you will definitely find your path.

It's absolutely GREAT that you want to become independent and don't want to live off benefits for the rest of your time, Hats off to you. You will be a very good role model for your dc's, and I'm SURE they will be very proud of you!!!! :)

I wasn't sure on exactly what it was I wanted to do, but I started off by doing an assertiveness course, just to get me out of the house and find my confidence again, after being at home for over 10 years, and recently been separated from husband.

I started a sewing short course and haircutting one, both were 10 week ones. Then I decided I wanted to become a teacher, but wanted to teach adults rather than children. So am now on a 6 month Celta course, its been bloody hard even though its part time, but the studying has been very difficult. Yet fulfilling.....:)

I have a friend who is studying as a midwife. She is a single parent with two early-teen kids, although she now has a committed partner who helps with them. I believe the route she took was an access course, then university. During the access course, she got herself a job as bank staff healthcare assistant at the county hospital, and nagged her way into doing most of her shifts in the maternity ward.

She is finding it hard, especially as the university is a 120-mile round trip away (she has to attend 3/4 times a week). However, I don't think she would regret doing it. The job situation is dire at the moment. However, we do desperately need more midwives- you just have to take a gamble on whether things will change in 5/6 years.

One thing to bear in mind is that universities often have nurseries- useful for your youngest. My friend also got various grants for a) doing a midwifery course, and b) being a mature single parent.

I think doing lots and lots of research about all of this will be key for you!

Go for it and if it's what you want to do, you will find a way. I'm just about to go back to uni for teaching and I know it's gonna be tough on my own with 2 dc - plus an evening job 2 nights a week to help pay the bills. But it's what I want to do do and i'll do it. Don't let anyone talk you out of it - find out all you can about childacre funding, access courses etc - there will bea way round it. One of my firends is a single mum and managaes fine as a midwife even with teh scary shifts - she doesn't get too many nights, maybe becasue she's on her own I don't know. By the time you'll have finished studying the job situation will probably have changed (that's what I'm telling myself about the teaching! ) Good luck!!

Do it. I'm in my final year of my Occupational Therapy degree. Had to do an OU course before I applied. It's been really hard work. Have had to do 3 placements. Just got the 1 DS but if you really want something then it's worth doing. You will get all your fees paid by the NHS and a bursary so that makes it cheaper to go to uni than most other courses. Good luck!!

Or even do OT. Once yoor qualified the hours fit in much better for childcare (fantastic job too!!)