Hokay. Hijackers!
I did always have an incling to do midwifery. I did nursing first because
a. there was a nursing campus near me and the DDs were littler so less travelling.
b. direct entry midwifery is hellishly competetive to get into so thought nursing might give me a leg up on the way (it did)
c. I wasn't completely sure about the midwifery so thought having nursing as a base would be a good start because you an do lots of stuff, specialisms, etc from it.
I am very glad I did nursing first because I actually love nursing, just don't like the crappy beurocracy that goes with it. not that midwifery is any different in that way but there are other options and a different supervision system.
The nursing bit does help hugely when actually working in maternity. You have a more rounded view of medicine, surgery, physiology, pain, communication, psychology, sociology etc etc.
However that's not to say that all that stuff isn't covered in the 3 year course. I think it just helps being more practiced in it before you start.
If you do consider the nursey bit first then it may be useful checking with local universities if they do the 18 month conversion because lots don't and you may have to commute miles.
And finally perfect for a midlife crisis career change. I have to say that.
Thanks for suggestions. keep them coming.
Am liking the decision making angle to the language thingy.