Coming into midwifery from a totally different background!

Hi,

I am on the verge of applying in order to fulfill a lifetime vocation. I never thought I could be a midwife because whilst I was very bright, I rebelled at school and messed up my GCSE science. I was so pleased when I found out I wouldn't need it to train to be a midwife. Now I have a degree in History of Art and a Masters in Writing Studies. I was almost embarrassed telling the admissions tutor of the course but she was incredibly encouraging and told me to just go for it. Currently, I work part-time in the library of a university that does Midwifery and when I am tidying books or during my lunch breaks, I keep gravitating towards the obstetrics and gynaecology sections. I am a single Mum to a 2.5 year old boy and I had a traumatic birth (posterior presentation, delayed second stage, emergency caesarean) and terrible problems breasfeeding. After giving birth, I was in hospital for a week and got to know which midwives really seemed to care about my breastfeeding and which couldn't be bothered. I think women's bodies are amazing and that birth is a phenomenon even though it happens every day but I think that care should be consistent. I have just completed my training to mentor pregnant and parent teens to help them feel positive about themselves and their futures.

I have no care or nursing work experience but I am an excellent communicator and I respect and embrace diversity. I want to help women through pregnancy, birth and the days after they have given birth, times which are often full of as much fear and sadness as they are elation and joy.

Anyone else come to the profession from a totally different background? Do I sound like a nutter for thinking it's worth applying?!
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Hi Leosmum and welcome, you certainly don't sound like a nutter, lol, I'm guessing that the majority of mature students pursuing this path have come from a different background. I've read about several on this site. I was a Veterinary Nurse for 17 years then an LSA for Autistic children before starting on the BEd course. Your mentoring qualification will certainly stand you in good stead. Is it a Sure Start scheme? Hope you don't mind me asking, it sounds very interesting.

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I might come across as bolshie online but I'm nice really, lol

Hi Mads and thank you for your friendly welcome. The scheme is local to me and it is run through a charity that gets government funding. They also do work with ex-offenders and lone parents. I originally signed up to do mentoring with lone parents as I hate the general consensus that we sponge of the state when many of us are quite capable of working and just need a shove in the right direction! Unfortunately, I couldn't make the accredited training but I did manage to go along to the one run by the charity and I found it to be very useful. While I was in there, they also spoke about their teenage parenting scheme and said that many of the teen parent mentors end up being birth partners to girls who are single and come from a care background. This really appealed to me and now I am waiting to be matched up with a mentee.

Thanks for your info on the car situation too - if I can do a placement that's easily accessible by public transport then I am not too worried. The area's main maternity unit is a short bus ride away, I just didn't want it to penalise my application.

Hi Leosmum,

I to am hoping to qualify and practise as a midwife, it is all I can think about at present. I also come from a completely different background and have finally managed to submit my UCAS application - with set backs of course!!!

Based on what you have written here, and despite your doubts, you clearly have a passion, willingness and caring nature about yourself. You have taken step's to help others without judgement, showing women that you do actually CARE - working with teens can't be easy!

Don't let anything hold you back and apply if this is what you really want, you have more than enough time for 2009 entry and the people on/in this place are wonderful and full of support and advise.

Good luck!

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Come hell or high water - Sep 09

Thanks for explaining that Leosmum, wow what a privilege that would be to be a birthing partner for one of your mentees! Sounds like a very rewarding job.

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I might come across as bolshie online but I'm nice really, lol