Am I insane?! Could I be a midwife?

[OceanPrincess]

I have been unhappy at work for a long while. Have been considering changes for a while... but life has had other plans. Two kids later, I'm back in the same role and unhappy. I always thought I'd stay at my present employer (even if they are being slandered in the news ATM for sacking people... Meh, I'm happy enough with them, just not my role... ) and try a different pathway here, like HR or training... something working more with people.

However... A random conversation with a colleague here has sent my thoughts off onto a completely different tangent... she said I should do midwifery.

We were talking about my breastfeeding counselling training that I am currently undertaking and how I'd love to be an LC but you need to be a MW first. And so she said "Off you go then, be a MW!" Strange because when I did year 12 I wanted to get into medicine but my score wasn't high enough... and then at Uni I decided I'd have to study too hard and feel into something completely unrelated

So anyway... am I insane for considering such a massive career change at 32? As colleague pointed out, I could have 30 odd years of working ahead of me still... do I want to be unhappy for 30 years??

And who can tell me about Midwifery in Victoria? Which unis? Full time, part time? What is the course load like? How is studying Midwifery with small kids? Do you have to do nursing first?

I'm looking at some uni websites but thought I'd ask those who have BTDT...

[sloane]

I don't think you're insane at all! I usually look at it that life is too short/too valuablr to be in a job that makes you miserable.

I have no idea about the details but my student m/w is studying through acu.

You could even end up as a mchn - we need more of those who arent from the dark side!
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[helle]

You have to study nursing at uni and then specialise in midwifery. My SIL is in the progress of becoming a MW now. She has her first nursing class at uni this wednesday, so proud of her! Hopefully she'll see this and pop in and give you a run down...

I think you should definitely go for it!

And how sucky is that LC thing? I looked into it too as I was interested... but i have no desire to be a midwife, while it would be lovely I can think of some not so lovely aspects of the job that i'd rather not see or be able to cope with well enough for my pateints..

good luck!

[OceanPrincess]

Thanks for the affirmations guys! I've been looking at the ACU website, it looks great!

Might see if they can get me some info...

[HotI]

my student midwife is studying there and i am sure she would be happy to chat if you have questions.

[OceanPrincess]

HotI, I'd love that! Could you check with her and then hook us up? Let me know how that goes.

Saffy - thanks for that! I had a chuckle at being a "spring chicken".

Bub 3 - I see what you mean about general nursing. Is it bad if I say I'm not interested in general nursing?

I wonder how many women have babies and then go "I want to be a midwife!" I think it's probably similar to getting married and saying "I want to be a wedding planner!"

[sangie]

If you're insane then I am too because I've been thinking about it for a few years now and I'm 33 (almost 34!)

My biggest worry is fitting it in with two kids, I have no idea what the workload is like. Also I live in outer eastern suburb of Melb so I'd have to a bit of travelling to uni as well. But its something I know I would love so I'm planning on going to some Uni open days this year and checking it out. Also I have a science degree so I want to suss out if I could get credit for any of the biological science type subjects which would be a bonus! I'm keen on ACU as well. Good luck!!!

[bubno.3]

No thats not bad not wanting to a general nurse however and i dont know but just the extra knowlegde you would get would doing the nursing side would be beneficial in emergencies drugs etc etc but as i said i dont know what they teach with the direct entry midwifery course so i could be completely off the mark!

[Cranky Kitten]

It's funny, I'm contemplating a similar thing - whether to study nursing after I have my next baby rather than go back to work fulltime. I may later do a postgrad in midwifery, I'd like to but am a little worried about how I'd handle some of the sadder aspects emotionally. Here in Perth you don't have to do nursing first, midwifery exists as a stand-alone degree as well as a postgrad option. I'd probably be 32-33 before I get started, all things being equal

[bubno.3]

You can go directly into Bachelor of Midwifery without doing your general nursing. I as a RN1 would advise to do Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery together then you come away with two qualification and work in more areas than delivery or postnatal wards.

[Saffy]

Hi OceanPrincess,

I'm a midwife and LC-although I did it in my mid 20s after already being a nurse. My cousin at age 40 studied to become a midwife, she had no other medical backgroud, she also had her 4th baby while studying so it can be done and you are definately not too old! The average age of midwives is in the 50s anyway so you will be considered a spring chicken.

You don't have to be a midwife to be an LC but I think you have to be working with childbearing women or babies, so doctors, paediatric nurses, etc are sometimes LCs.

I don't know how the courses work now, its changed heaps since my day, but it is defintaly do able and I dont' think you always have to do nursing first- my cousin didn't . I think you would be great- go for it! Its a hard job and the money isn't fantastic but for a change of career its a great idea.

The other thing is the courses get heaps of applicants so its hard to get in I think.

[~MummaBear~]

You have to study nursing at uni and then specialise in midwifery. My SIL is in the progress of becoming a MW now. She has her first nursing class at uni this wednesday, so proud of her! Hopefully she'll see this and pop in and give you a run down...

I think you should definitely go for it!

And how sucky is that LC thing? I looked into it too as I was interested... but i have no desire to be a midwife, while it would be lovely I can think of some not so lovely aspects of the job that i'd rather not see or be able to cope with well enough for my pateints..

good luck!

THANKS!!!
I have sjut started. there are a few different ways that you can do it at Uni. i only have one choice because i live "rural" so i have to study RN ( nursing) first then do my final year 2 hours away from home. I am doing it part time for now because my babies are all so young! it will take 6 years to do the nursing and then another year full time to become a midwife! i dont think you are crazy for doing it at 32... i will be 27 this year so slightly younger but still not a spring chicken like the school leavers i am in class with LOL . I say if you want to do it go for it!!!!! just ring the Uni, they have some one there all the time to talk to future students and answer questions~

[My Three Sons]

just ring the Uni, they have some one there all the time to talk to future students and answer questions~

LOL... seriously half the time over here (melbourne) you are better off asking the students! The Uni give you such a run around- particularly with Midwifery because they have so many applications that they couldn't care less about helping people and answering their questions. (bitter much? lol... but unfortunately that is the experience of many of the women calling) they usually have about 600 applications or so for around 30 positions at our uni.

[Liviam]

Not insane at all!!! It is an absolutley fabulous career. I can honestly say that I love my job

You have a few options. You can either do your nursing degree first and then your midwifery OR do a double degree in nursing/midwifery where you come out a midwife. I'm not sure what uni's do it now and what load option they offer.

I did my nursing first and then I got accepted into a program where I worked in midwifery as a student midwife and undertook my midwifery degree via distance education.

Good luck with your decision but it is never too late to change your career. I did my nursing with a lady who was 56 and my midwifery with another lady in her 50's. I did my mid when I was 28yrs.

[feeb]

Hun fire away any questions on here or fb to me!

I did my nursing straight from year 12 then worked a few years before doing my mid! Now after 9 years as a mw I am studying again for mchn.

It would be hard with kids but not impossible if you have family and friends support to help look after kids when you have placements etc.

Personally I suggest going nursing first and then mid or doing double degree.

Look at latrobe, acu, vut and deakin web pages

[peanutter]

No, you're not insane.

Yes, you could be a midwife. I think you'd be a good one.

The question I'd be thinking, is whether you want to study for 4 years, and whether you're ok with shiftwork, travel, etc, which is part and parcel of being a midwife.

If you're happy with the package, I'd be investigating further what is involved both wish the study and the job, and maybe go to a careers day mid-year ...

Exciting!

[Teeki]

I think your colleague is absolutely right! You've got a long working life ahead of you and why shouldn't you be happy in it?

I believe you and I work for the same organisation, and I'm due back there in about a month. I've also considered changing jobs completely, my type of role isn't really me. But, I've considered everything Peanutter mentioned (money, study time, shift work) and realised I'm probably better off where I am right now Unfortunately I need the money and lifestyle this job gives, but if you're in a position to make the change and it'll make you happy I say go for it!

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[MummyNaomi]

My girlfriend studied midwifery through the birth of her first son, then daughter 3.5 years later (I think she studied part time for parts of it) and now has her qualifications and LOVES her job. She came from a call centre background.

I think you can definitely do it OP, you could always look at the part time study option while your kids are young so you can balance family and study and ramp up later

Good Luck!