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Midwifery Mature Student

I’m applying for midwifery next September and just need to talk about it. One minute I’m feeling hopeful and the next I’m filled with self doubt. Can anyone offer any words of comfort or advice?

Background info;
I’ll be 30 when I start, I have 2 children who will be 2 and almost 4 when I start the degree.
My background is nursing, I worked as a HCA for 3.5yrs, then did a Foundation Degree apprenticeship as a Nursing Associate, this took 2.5yrs in the end due to a break during Covid year. Since then I’ve been a Registered Nursing Associate, now almost 4yrs.

Since I’ve had my children I have developed a strong interest in all things pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, postpartum and beyond. In my first maternity leave I didn’t know what this meant but I knew my career was going to make a change and I knew I wanted to improve my ability to ‘support’ so did a level 2 in counselling and a level 2 mental health first aid. During my second pregnancy I trained as a level 2 breastfeeding helper and am currently doing level 3 breastfeeding peer support training which will enable me to work on the National Breastfeeding Helpline. Earlier this year I trained as a doula as a way to further enhance my knowledge and experience and help me start up supporting parents in a way that made most sense to me at that time, knowing the experience would help me further decide where my future career was headed. My favourite thing at this stage was talking parents about birth options they didn’t know they might have, and simple changes to improve their births; think having skin to skin in after a c section, drapes dropped, telemetry, active birthing positions, understanding rights, signposting to appropriate maternity staff if they wanted something outside guidelines. I’m also currently gradually getting through a hypnobirthing course. My passion effectively is empowering parents and hoping to help reduce chance of trauma.

So all of that being said, onto the negative bit which I’m worried will hold me back;
During my college years I was struggling significantly with my mental health, as a result I never completed my A levels. I got C, D, E during AS levels and failed the second year. I have already called the university and had confirmation they will consider me because I have the Foundation Degree and I do have good GCSEs, but I’m really worried my lack of A levels is going to hold me back.

Also important to mention, I’m applying to 2 local universities. My main choice is where I did my Nursing FdSc Degree. My tutor from that Nursing FdSc Degree has also agreed to be my reference, she still works there. At the beginning of that course I was contacted by said tutor as I had been put forward for a ‘high achiever’ thing. I can’t remember what it was, Covid interfered! But I’m hoping this all helps with my chances.

Realistically, what are my chances? Are my lack of A Levels going to go against me?

Thanks all
Original post by Jesslewis24
I’m applying for midwifery next September and just need to talk about it. One minute I’m feeling hopeful and the next I’m filled with self doubt. Can anyone offer any words of comfort or advice?
Background info;
I’ll be 30 when I start, I have 2 children who will be 2 and almost 4 when I start the degree.
My background is nursing, I worked as a HCA for 3.5yrs, then did a Foundation Degree apprenticeship as a Nursing Associate, this took 2.5yrs in the end due to a break during Covid year. Since then I’ve been a Registered Nursing Associate, now almost 4yrs.
Since I’ve had my children I have developed a strong interest in all things pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, postpartum and beyond. In my first maternity leave I didn’t know what this meant but I knew my career was going to make a change and I knew I wanted to improve my ability to ‘support’ so did a level 2 in counselling and a level 2 mental health first aid. During my second pregnancy I trained as a level 2 breastfeeding helper and am currently doing level 3 breastfeeding peer support training which will enable me to work on the National Breastfeeding Helpline. Earlier this year I trained as a doula as a way to further enhance my knowledge and experience and help me start up supporting parents in a way that made most sense to me at that time, knowing the experience would help me further decide where my future career was headed. My favourite thing at this stage was talking parents about birth options they didn’t know they might have, and simple changes to improve their births; think having skin to skin in after a c section, drapes dropped, telemetry, active birthing positions, understanding rights, signposting to appropriate maternity staff if they wanted something outside guidelines. I’m also currently gradually getting through a hypnobirthing course. My passion effectively is empowering parents and hoping to help reduce chance of trauma.
So all of that being said, onto the negative bit which I’m worried will hold me back;
During my college years I was struggling significantly with my mental health, as a result I never completed my A levels. I got C, D, E during AS levels and failed the second year. I have already called the university and had confirmation they will consider me because I have the Foundation Degree and I do have good GCSEs, but I’m really worried my lack of A levels is going to hold me back.
Also important to mention, I’m applying to 2 local universities. My main choice is where I did my Nursing FdSc Degree. My tutor from that Nursing FdSc Degree has also agreed to be my reference, she still works there. At the beginning of that course I was contacted by said tutor as I had been put forward for a ‘high achiever’ thing. I can’t remember what it was, Covid interfered! But I’m hoping this all helps with my chances.
Realistically, what are my chances? Are my lack of A Levels going to go against me?
Thanks all

You have nothing to lose by applying for midwifery.... You should perhaps contact the chosen universities you are wanting to study midwifery at for further information regarding there entry requirements.

You definitely need math's, English and biology for midwifery...
You have a lot of good knowledgeable background within healthcare which is good for you.

You need education from the last five years ( you should have that with the amount of nursing courses you have done).

If you don't get accepted ok have you considered doing a MCA ( maternity care assistant/ support worker) course with your local maternity hospital ( this is generally around 18 months to complete) as you'll be trained to do every aspect of midwifery ( involved in theatre with C-section, breastfeeding and bereavement etc etc ) except you won't be doing any deliveries of babies, most MCA then go on and become midwives.


NHS registered midwife.
Reply 2
Original post by Tracey_W
You have nothing to lose by applying for midwifery.... You should perhaps contact the chosen universities you are wanting to study midwifery at for further information regarding there entry requirements.
You definitely need math's, English and biology for midwifery...
You have a lot of good knowledgeable background within healthcare which is good for you.
You need education from the last five years ( you should have that with the amount of nursing courses you have done).
If you don't get accepted ok have you considered doing a MCA ( maternity care assistant/ support worker) course with your local maternity hospital ( this is generally around 18 months to complete) as you'll be trained to do every aspect of midwifery ( involved in theatre with C-section, breastfeeding and bereavement etc etc ) except you won't be doing any deliveries of babies, most MCA then go on and become midwives.
NHS registered midwife.

I’ve contacted my main choice, which is where I did my nursing fdsc, they have said they’ll consider me because I have that foundation degree which is higher than A Levels, I did well with my GCSEs so have good grades for Maths, English and Science.

Yes my FdSc finished 2021 so in the last 5yrs. In regards to MSW jobs, they rarely come up at my trust, and also we need to save up as much as possible before uni, so dropping from top of band 4 (what I’m currently paid as a Registered Nursing Associate), would be tough. That being said I’m on NHS jobs everyday, my previous tutor works with the healthcare apprenticeships and mentioned I could get a midwifery apprenticeship if I was employed in maternity, which would of course be beneficial.

The breastfeeding peer support course I’ve done is a voluntary role, so I’ve done that voluntarily for the past 2yrs supporting parents face to face in groups or via messenger. There is meant to be some job roles coming up with that same charity soon where we will support on the postnatal wards, which I will go for for a few hours per week 🤞🏻 I’m on the MNVP as a champion in my area too, and previously volunteered with another charity that supported parents in any aspects postpartum.

Just waiting for my reference to come back then submitting my application. Desperate to send it just to see what I get back! I will update when I hear anything 🤞🏻
Original post by Jesslewis24
I’ve contacted my main choice, which is where I did my nursing fdsc, they have said they’ll consider me because I have that foundation degree which is higher than A Levels, I did well with my GCSEs so have good grades for Maths, English and Science.
Yes my FdSc finished 2021 so in the last 5yrs. In regards to MSW jobs, they rarely come up at my trust, and also we need to save up as much as possible before uni, so dropping from top of band 4 (what I’m currently paid as a Registered Nursing Associate), would be tough. That being said I’m on NHS jobs everyday, my previous tutor works with the healthcare apprenticeships and mentioned I could get a midwifery apprenticeship if I was employed in maternity, which would of course be beneficial.
The breastfeeding peer support course I’ve done is a voluntary role, so I’ve done that voluntarily for the past 2yrs supporting parents face to face in groups or via messenger. There is meant to be some job roles coming up with that same charity soon where we will support on the postnatal wards, which I will go for for a few hours per week 🤞🏻 I’m on the MNVP as a champion in my area too, and previously volunteered with another charity that supported parents in any aspects postpartum.
Just waiting for my reference to come back then submitting my application. Desperate to send it just to see what I get back! I will update when I hear anything 🤞🏻

Thanks for your response ☺️ ☺️ ☺️

Sounds like you should be fine if they will consider you at your chosen universities. 🤞🤞🤞
I think MCA roles are far and far between for being advertised like you said about your trust.
MCA roles start at band 3 I think so understand what you said about dropping from top of band 4 as it doesn't seem a lot of money but it is not worth dropping down.

Midwife apprenticeship is something that is rarely possible but definitely grab it if you can get the opportunity to do it as you'll be paid for working while learning.

You are the sort of person that the NHS can do with but it is totally up to the university accepting you on the course.

Hopefully you'll be getting some excellent references back which you will be sending in with your midwife application to the university.... I hope you do get it because you have the experience what the NHS is looking for.

I been qualified since summer 2019, since then I have took on two promotions ( band 7 after around 16 months - we can apply for band 6 positions after a minibus of one year qualification but doesn't mean you'll get it, then earlier the year I have took on the role of band 7 senior charge nurse midwife - yeah I just about scrapped the minimum 5 years of midwife experience for the job).


I'll look forward in hearing from you about things 🤞🤞

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