Midwife sadly needing a way out :(

[Stars12]

I have been a qualified midwife for 17 years, working part time for the last 12 for childcare reasons, but permanent nights to make up the pay! I work in a large city hospital and it is just relentless.

I still mostly enjoy being with the women and I want to make a difference but it’s just impossible with the workload. Management clique, lack of resources and even the expectation and lack of appreciation from some patients and their families don’t help. I can’t keep this up for another 30 years and it really is only the money that keeps me there now, sadly.

My youngest starts school in September so I will have much more flexibility so starting to think I need a change. I only have a midwifery degree, I’m not a nurse. I also need to be earning the same money!

Has anyone left and successfully gone into a new role/career where the grass IS greener…?!

Would you be qualified to be a children's Health visitor?

I dont think this is something I want to do as I feel the pressures would be similar.

Would you move into admin and clerical side, clinical governance or complaints? Those roles benefit from clinical background.

Of business manager? Clinical coding?

I left practice and went into higher education for a while @Stars12 and enjoyed it. I have ended up back in practice in a different role that I loved but it was a change that I needed. Have a look at local unis they may be hiring midwifery lecturers or clinical skills tutors- they want people with practice experience!
Another friend quit midwifery and did NCT for a while and then set up her own antenatal classes. Doesnt make as much money as self employed but super flexible and shes very happy.

My sister is a qualified midwife, she now works in occupational health and safety... They often seek out nurses and midwives as a priority

Former midwife here. After I left the hellscape of maternity I went into abortion care for a while at MSI and loved it. Then did a public health role as a vaccination midwife. After that I moved into advocacy work for a maternal health and rights charity and stayed there for 4 years. There are many roles you can do that aren’t maternity care, join the Facebook group Beyond Midwifery to get ideas. I also recommend the book Flourish by Kate Greenstock if you want to stay but make the job easier on you. Good luck, I know how difficult it is to leave, but also how difficult it is to stay. Burnout is real.

The ambulance service also employ midwives in their call centres.

A friend is a midwife and has done a few different things once labour ward burnt her out.

-Clinical research
-In Victoria times it used to be a monthly nurse, but I'm not sure of the name now. She was paid privately to go to new mothers home to help with feeding, baby care and provide advice. Years ago, it was a sleep in role, but my friend lived at home and just visited homes. This was an expensive area of London, where some families already had a cleaner/nanny etc and could afford a private midwife type service.
-When my friend initially left clinical work, she did CPR training for new parents and grand parents- baby resus, choking etc. Initially via an agency, but then did it herself, hiring out a hall and running sessions.

Could you work as a private doula? That would keep the parts of the job you enjoy I think

I'm a nurse but worked as a clinical skills tutor for a while when I was going through some burn out. No personal students, no marking just teaching the on the ground stuff. I couldn't have done it long term but really helped me take the foot off for a bit. It makes such a difference not being directly responsible for peoples lives for a while.

I did nights without childcare when the kids were little and it wrecks you.

Presuming you don't want to work in community? Or do a specialist role?

Some of my friends have gone into either abortion or fertility roles and enjoy those, coming back occasionally for bank shifts.
Sexual offences examiner is another one. I know one person who went into sonography and loves it, she was paid during the year (?think it was a year) of training and now does Mon-Fri 9-5, you lose your antisocial hours pay but she's a band 7 now as a sonographer.

Personally I've been doing some ad-hoc lecturing / skills days at a university with a view to moving over to higher education once I feel I've had enough of midwifery.

Could you be a self employed doula?

I was also going to suggest doula or private maternity nurse (although might be area dependent)

It's really sad that you feel like this, but understandable if you've been in the role a really long time and you're burnt out.

I'd love to retrain as a midwife.

I know two midwives who went into sonography

Just be aware that to work as a doula you’d have to come off the register if you wanted to attend births. The NMC are very strict about that.

Occ health nurse assessor? PIP assessor? A lot of these positions can be home based too

Research midwife?

Thanks all. I need to have a proper look into a few of these ideas. The thought of leaving actually devastates me- it’s all I know as trained at 18 years old! There’s also the thought of ‘better the devil you know’! But I don’t think I can keep going 😢

Yes- I have done years of nights with no childcare- still do during school holidays etc and it’s a miracle me , and the kids, are still alive! 😂

Run hypnobirthing or baby sleep consultancy ?

Move into safeguarding type roles, usually daytime hours unless on call and same if not more money

Do you want to leave the NHS?

If no. Search for research jobs. Generally more relaxed. Lot are hybrid these days. Your clinical background would open up several roles. Worth searching.

If you'd consider outside the NHS.

University posts

Clinical trials jobs. Your midwifery background may help. Pharma employ lots of different roles.

Drug rep? Often well paid and has alot of ex nhs clinical staff employed in it.

@Stars12 how are you getting on OP?
Sorry to hear you had a burnout. From what I observed, it seems that big city hospitals can be absolutely relentless 😔