Midwives! Please help

[Technoprisoners]

Hi - I used to teach English at secondary level and have been a SAHM to my 3 dcs for the last 6 years. I am very interested in a complete career change and in training to be a midwife, but am slightly dismayed at the prospect of 3 years full-time training to get there. Given that I don't have a nursing background, are there any shortcuts out there that might apply to non-nursing postgrads - or must I steel myself for the 3 year hurdle? Many thanks!

It would be 3 years I'm afraid!

There is a post-grad nursing course (2yrs) but as far as I know there isn't a post grad midwifery degree.

You could do an advanced diploma in midwifery which would give you a bursary (around 6K per yr) while you train but it is still 3 years.

Good luck

Thanks for replying, Madmental. Could you just tell me please, what is the difference & pros and cons of the advanced diploma you mentioned, as opposed to the 3 yrs BSc degree in midwifery? I'm over the shock of the 3 year thing now and still very keen, but just want to make sure I get on the right course. Thanks again!

Both courses will qualify you as a midwife but the degree is a slightly higher award than the advanced diploma. The first two years of study are the same but in the third year the degree students do some extra units on critical care and a dissertation. Some uni's may differ - I'm just going on my own experience. They are planning on phasing the diploma out altogether so eventually there wont be any choice. If you do the advanced diploma you can top up afterwards to a degree but I believe that it isn't always that straight forward to arrange the time and finance.

If you can afford to to the degree I would go for that. It will save you topping up later and will give you something extra in a competitive job market. If you need the bursary, then go for the advanced diploma. You'll be a midwife at the end of it whichever way you choose. Some universities do let you do the advanced diploma for the first two years (with bursary) and then change to the degree programme for the final year - it might be worth seeing if this is an option for you.

Good luck.

Many thanks, that's really helpful. I had no idea about the Advanced Diploma. Hope I'm not swapping a guaranteed job in teaching for competitive midwifery, but I'm still v keen on it! Thanks again.