Four children under 8, am i mad to be considering a midwifery degree?

[Quadrophenia]

Hi, just need some advice/ideas regarding this please. I have four children, all of school age and am currently working about 30 hours a week on the bank in a brain injury unit. Since having my children it has been my dream to train to be a midwife, I trained as a doula and worked as one for a time but found the inconsistency of income to restrictive with four young children to support. Academically I think I am capable of the course, having achieved good grades in Gcse's and A levels, however my obvious is concern is wether I'd be taking on too much. My partner also works shifts which could be both a hinderance and a help, I also have quite a bit of family/friend support but have never used any other form of childcare. Any feedback would be really appreciated, as I'm beginning to feel in a bit of a rut and am wondering if this is time to start my dream, cheers

bump

I am a single mother of 3. Ages 6, 5 and 8 mths and a full time student hoping to be a teacher in future.

Yoiu are sooooooo not mad it will make u feel fabby. Goodluck if you decide to follow this plan through.

Thankyou MS and E , you sound like you must be very busy . I think i need to hear that others have done similar, it inspires me further. My current job can be very rewarding, but working on the bank can be very disillusioning, as I don't have the level of input I would like...I think I need to follow mty dreams. Would i need to do an access course or will my a levels be enough?

I know theboob (fellow MNer) who is on the same coursse as myself will be training to be a midwife. She is moving onto her access next year which is the equivilant to A levels I belive. I will give her a shout and link her to this thread. Theboob has researched all routes completely so she should be able to help. Life is far to short to be doing something you are not fully satisfied with IMO

You should definetly go for it me thinks!!

Hi to quadrophenia, I'm due to start midwifery course in sept.

unis normally want you to have recent study i.e witin the last 5 years. How long ago were your A levels and what subjects? you will be expected to do earlies and lates on the course, so anything from starting will also bat around 7am or working until 9pm etc.. you will also be required to work nights.
it is a very demanding course (from what I've been told) it takes up a lot of your time so family/friend support is essential to get through it.

The deadline for applications for this year has now passed. Although you could still submit one now but it is unlikely to be looked at as midwifery is very oversubscribed course. some places have 600 applicant for 20 places!!
I would go for it if it is your dream

Thanks MS and E and Me23. I think I passed my A levels ten years ago, so maybe will have do an access course, am wondering if my NVQ in care will count as recent study? The shifts don't concern me too much as I do them now, the only bit that will be a problem is nights as my dp works some nights and it will be sods law that they coincide, but I'm sure we'll be able to get round it. Me23 are you doing a diploma or a degree course, i understand that this year is the last year of the diploma. thanks for your responses, its helping with my thought processes!!!

Hi, I'll be doing the degree course. The fact you've got healthcare expeince will help your application, as they like people to have spent a bit of time in a healthcare setting. Think your nvq would count as recent study. I did an open uni course called understanding health and social care, this was good and quite relevant.

this website is my second home now click on forum! it's great for advice and help applying www.studentmidwives.co.uk

thanks me23 thats really useful

Hello Quadrophenia

I am a student midwife, in my first year.
I love the course however no-one can prepare you for just how demanding it is!

If you are seriously concidering it then my one tip is to make sure that your childcare is very very stable, and that you have multiple back up childcare incase, your children are ill /your childminder is ill.

Placement hours can be very long (12.5 hours where I am) and you also need to have childcare cover for weekends, evenings and nights.

Def look at www.studentmidwives.co.uk but be warned, its very addictive

HTH
x

Hi, Im a student midwife in my first year. I commute over 230miles a day to uni and i have 2 preschoolers. There are half of us with children in our group and 2 or 3 have 5 kids, quite a few have 3 kids and most peoples children are school age, about 3 of us have children in childcare. it is very challenging, the key is organisation, you have to be planning constantly, you need backup plans if childcare breaks down or children are ill. you need to also be ready to change your plans at any moment-clinical placements change and can vary in distance from where you live.

TBH I think you will find working as well as doing the course, too exhausting. I know 2 people on my course who do work as well as studying, but its minimal hours every now and then -and they have mums who are available to provide free childcare when required. I would say they do about 2-4 shifts a month, but when you have to be in every day theres no time because you have to prepare for the next day, organise any lecture notes you need to print off and do any assignments or workpacks they set.
When you are out on clinical placement you wont have time because you'll be working 37.5hrs a week and also completing workpacks and portfolios.

Hth, and good luck

Hi I start midwifery next Monday (gulp!) and I have 3 kids (4, 8, & 9). I am dreading juggling the childcare but it can be done (I hope). I've been setting up plans and back-ups plans for weeks now.

One thing you might have to consider is funding though. I am lucky enough to be on the last diploma intake so I will get a bursary. Its not much but will all go on travel and childcare. If I were doing the degree I doubt I would get much as we look OK on paper but our outgoings are high and there would be no money spare for all the childcare so I just couldn't do it.

I am worried about how I will cope but most of the people on my course have kids. I think its that way in most places so it must be possible. However it is really really hard to get in so if it is your dream then you need to start working on it now. You might not make it the first year or may need to do extra study first so you need to just go for it. You may decide you cannot cope with it all but at least you will have explored the options. If you don't try you will never know.

Good luck

Hi everyone.

I have 4 children and am in the 2nd year of a medical degree.

I'm obviously slightly insane, but I can't imagine anything else now!

Follow the dream.......

mo