Hi
I'm coming to the end of my first year midwifery diploma. Have recently found out I'm pregnant - already have 3 young children and this wasnt planned... Agonised for while about whether to have TOP or not, decided not right for me. Anyhow have had chat with uni who have told me 'fine to take mat leave' but when I return I'll have to transfer to degree course.
I really dont want to do this - I have a degree already and the thought of doing dissertation with 3 children and a baby doesnt appeal... Not to mention the poverty.

Can anyone help/ advise?
What are the financial effects of the degree...
Should it be possible for uni to keep me on diploma? (my year is the last diploma so will be in yr 3 when I return to do yr 2)
thanks

Hi June welcome to the site. Sorry you had the awful decision to make.
By the sound of it you will have to do the degree anyway as by the time you do year 3 there will be no more diplomas anyway.

With 4 young children sometimes the bursary works out more means tested than non. It depends on your OH's income.

I hope you can find a suitable solution, you have come this far.

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Please help us raise funds for a bereavement room in Honey's memory by taking part in the SMNET Auction & Raffle here thanks x

Thanks
My OH's income is higher than the level that would enable us to get much. The uni have said exactly what you've said that there will be no more diploma courses. My OH is already worried about the money. I know we'll find a way to manage but this is really testing *his* level of commitment to my career...
I'm only at the very early stages of pg but have had to take a day or 2 off placement as I feel so tired/ nauseous. Got an exam in 2 weeks and just cant focus to study...

Why is it always the men that seem to stand in our way. They have a knack of doing it subconciously!

Do what is right for you noone else. Can you see a way to muddle through the remaining 2 years? It will be worth it in the end.

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Please help us raise funds for a bereavement room in Honey's memory by taking part in the SMNET Auction & Raffle here thanks x

I'm hoping 'fingers crossed' that I'll still be able to claim my bursary when I'm on mat leave as I wont actually be transfering to the degree course until I return so that might soften the blow......
who knows what will happen in the next year (I certainly wouldnt have predicted this) but yes, I am doing this for me, I couldnt go through with a TOP. He'll come round... he always does...
Might need to work a bit over the summer (to put some cash aside) when this damned nausea subsides.
Thanks for your support :-)))

no problem June xx

Any thing else I can do just yell! Hope the sickness gets better soon x

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Please help us raise funds for a bereavement room in Honey's memory by taking part in the SMNET Auction & Raffle here thanks x

Good luck, June x

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hi there and welcome to the site
congrats on your pregnancy, babies are always good, no matter when they decide to come into our lives!!
students on the NHS bursary are entitled to maternity pay, not quite sure how it works, but i know you get it.
What i dont understand, and maybe I've missed something, is that when you go back, there will still be a last year of the diploma to run, for those starting in sept i presume? So why cant you join in that year? Probably misunderstood as life is never that easy is it?!
good luck with everything
x

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Site Administrator, Student Mentor Scheme Manager

STMW 2nd year - no, really!

Please help us raise funds for a bereavement room in Honey's memory by taking part in the SMNET Auction & Raffle here thanks x

Her year is the last year in her uni.

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As LIttleNoo says this is the last year of diploma at my uni (I'm not saying where at the moment as not all my cohort know about my pg, June isnt my real name)

But Ollybolly you have given me a really good idea... I'd like to find out if there are any diploma direct entry 3 yr courses starting this September, and as you rightly say there will still be funding for them.

I might contact the NMC too as the finances may make the difference between whether I continue with course or not.

I know its really early in pg to be thinking about all this but I have no miscarriage history so I have to be realistic and try to get organised.

Thanks. That's kindof what I think too...