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Parenting

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Original poster

Becoming a midwife?

12 replies

Daffos · 14/02/2011 11:57

Just wondering if anyone out there is studying for a degree in midwifery. I would really like to apply for 2012 but am wondering how I would work childcare etc and what the time table is really like. (Do you get school holidays?)

By then I will have a 4 year old and a 2 year old. Has anyone ever tried this and made it work. I am concered as to how I will be able to afford the childcare costs when I wont be bringing in a salary.

I would be really intrested to know your stories.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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iskra · 14/02/2011 15:25

I want to know too!

I think it is currently possible to get childcare grants (not sure though).

leilarose · 15/02/2011 00:05

I have just been accepted onto an access to nursing course starting in sept, hopefully this will be my route into uni to do a midwifery degree (thats if I get accepted, in my area its 12000 applicants for 35 places at uni). As far as I know you can get upto 85% of your childcare costs paid for depending on your family income. I dont think Uni holidays are the same as school holidays though, and you have to take into account that some of your placements will be night shifts and unsociable hours. My two children are 3 and 6 months, I'm going for it because I want it that badly, I'm hoping I can find a way to make it work.
Tbh I think its a miracle if you even get into uni, my college lecturer said at my interview today that none of her students got in last year, and she was really trying to change my mind and make me do nursing but I wasnt having any of it!

SparkleSoiree · 15/02/2011 00:21

I am about to start an Access for Midwifery course via DLC and am hoping for a place in uni for 2012.

I have found a brilliant website at www.studentmidwife.net where lots of these kinds of questions get answered by people interested in learning, currently learning and qualified midwives.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

leilarose · 15/02/2011 16:50

I'm on that website too sparkle...its really addictive isnt it? Have you thought about any volunteer work to help your Uni application? My college lecturer says that your volunteer work is one of the main things that count towards getting in x

SparkleSoiree · 16/02/2011 01:38

Leilarose - I am working on that now so that when I submit my application to UCAS in September I will already have had a few months under my belt.

What about you - have you managed to organise anything?

Original poster

Daffos · 16/02/2011 09:03

Thanks girls, I am looking at student midwife and that looks good for answering questions.

When they say full time i wondered if it was 9-5 every day or 9-3 etc etc. Seems what i need to focus on now is getting experinace to help my application, with figures like above I wonder how anyone gets in...
:-(

OP posts:

StarSwept · 16/02/2011 11:01

Hi Daffos, I am currently a first year student midwife if you want any questions answered. I am also on studentmidwife.net and found that place fab for when I applied.

When they say it is full time it can vary. For the first 6 weeks my timetable was petty much 9-4 mon-fri. However after this half days and some days off have been introduced.

I have 7 week's worth of holidays. 2 weeks for Christmas, 2 weeks for Easter and 3 weeks in the summer of my choosing.

SparkleSoiree · 16/02/2011 16:41

Starswept, how are you finding the course? Is it how you envisaged and are you enjoying it?

leilarose · 16/02/2011 19:40

SparkleSoiree- I have been e mailing everybody I can think of! I have volunteered with homestart in my area, a woman from there is coming to interview me next week-you have to do a training course for around a nine weeks, its only once a week though so I'm hoping it will be helpful. My local hospital is looking for volunteers for e.g making tea, chatting to patients so have emailed them, have e mailed my local nct groups offering to volunteer for them but not heard anything.
I have wrote to a few independent midwives asking if I can shadow them for a couple of days, thinking about phoning my local health visitor or midwife to see if they can suggest anything, I wouldnt have thought they would be able to offer me much though because of confidentiality/insurance etc.
starswept- did you get in on your first time trying? What kind of voluntary work did you have? Can I ask what your names are on studentmidwife.net? Mine is the same as this one- Im not very imaginative
Sorry for the big essay!

StarSwept · 16/02/2011 23:34

SparkleSoree I'm finding it tougher than I thought I have to admit, but The placement makes it all worth while :). It's so worth applying for and doing.

Leilarose I did get in on my first attempt which I was really shocked at. I was originally on the reserve list so wasn't holding out much luck, but I eventually found out I had a place in July. I didn't have allot of work experience if I'm honest though a bit more than some of the others.
I had a weeks worth of experience shadowing midwives and CSW's/MCA's in my local maternity unit. I spent one day in theatre and saw two caesareans, but spent most of my time on the postnatal unit.
I didn't get much of a chance to do much volunteering. Though If I hadn't got in I had arranged to volunteer with SureStart. Any type of health care volunteering is good. I'm not sure if its still available but there was an online course to do with entenox (gas and air) which awards you with a certificate. The course can be completed at your own pace so if you like I can dig up the link?

My name on Studentmidwife is my real name so if you don't mind I'll add you as a friend? Only I don't want to say it on here. Seem's im even less imaginative as you :)

babybear5 · 16/02/2011 23:45

Hi all. I am a midwife and it is a very rewarding job but the training can be tough. I did this with a 2 year old 14 years ago and currently have 5 children now, youngest just about to turn 1. It is full time but for 6 week terms you are in uni 9 - 4ish and then on placement. It varies everywhere but my shifts were 10 hours which left me 3 or 4 days of my week off. There are grants available for studying and childcare but not sure exactly what in each area.
Interview process is intense but sometimes just life experience is enough to get on the course. I had no previous experience or anything but i was a mum so i think my life experience was taken into account.
Just wanted to say it can be done and best of luck with it

Jewelscatching · 24/02/2011 21:58

I'm in my second year, dd1 is 9, ds is 6. I waited until they were both at school before going to uni thinking it would be easier.....then got pregnant with surprise dd2 who will be one next week. I completed my first yr, then took a yr out and am now 1/2 way thru my second year.

Today I did a 12 hr shift on delivery suit, had 3 deliveries, the last one at handover meaning I had to stay on beyond 13 hrs. (scary distocia birth), I will be doing the same tomorrow and again on Sunday. My dh Is fab with the kids and my sister/mum help too but it is very tough.

Right now I have to do 30 hrs at hops, 71/2 in uni and have two 3000 word essays to write and 2 half hour presentations to prairie all by the first week of march.

I really don't want to put anyone off, it is a fantastic career, but with young kids it is VERY hard. I feel huge guilt, my boobs leak and dd2 has to suffer all day without a breast feed if I'm working, she's fine but the guilt is mega.

I never have time to listen to the kids read, spellings etc as they are often in bed when I leave and get home. Dh cooks, cleans, does washing and works himself......I do not know how a single mum could complete the course, but many do?

I fought so hard for my place, 7000 applicants for 60 places.......not sure right now if it was worth it, I hope so!

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