jus thought i'd ask *midwifery*

[mytimewillcum]

just thoght i'd ask coz i'm desperate!! and maybe someone could help !??... i am due to start collage in september in birmingham i will be doing an access to higher education course then hopefully going on to birmingham university to become a midwife!!!. i am looking to find some work experiance but so far i havent been able to get any ive wrote letters made calls e.c.t i dont need it as its not assential BUT it was adviced i try and get some if any of you have any connection to midwifery in birmingham and can help or give me some advice e.c.t ? that would be appreciated dearly ! ..... thanks xxxx


there's a few of you who no of me on this site as i was currently trying to concieve for 3 year's but WE have now decided to hold off so i can follow my dream of becoming a midwife and also have a long ttc break xxxx

 

[mytimewillcum]

anyone??

 

[stephx]

I don't really know anything about midwifery but could you try getting experience in other area's of 'mum and baby' care?

Help out at baby groups/ local childrens centre/ HV's?

 

[mytimewillcum]

well ive contacted alot of ppl regarding midwifery work experiance so hopefully they get bk to me ... thanks for your advice tho xx

 

[supertabby]

Not in Birmingham but I'd go for whatever you can in caring - volunteer experience in a hospital will be beneficial, doesn't need to be maternity (although try to get maternity hospital work too if you can), could be with the elderly etc. This shows you're not afraid of mucking in and getting to grips with bedpans etc. Then also try to get some volunteer work with babies - breastfeeding groups maybe (although these are often peer run) or ask at Sure Start centre. Volunteer work with babies will be hard to get as it's appealing, babies are cuter than incontinent adults.

Midwifery is incredibly hard to get onto, a friend of mine has been turned down 5 times so far and has done all the access courses, volunteer work etc. It's not that she isn't good enough, it's just so competitive. So prepare yourself for this.

 

[Jaysmummy]

I have a couple of friends who have done/are doing access to become a midwife.

Not sure where in Birmingham you are but Russell's Hall hospital seems quite easy to get a week placement volunteering on the maternity department, I have a few friends who have done this.

Also, how about training to become a Breastfreding Support Worker? Think it's a 12 week course, 1 day a week.

Or ringing round local HV, Ante natal groups and seeing if you could pop along and see what they do.

 

[Caite]

Hi

I'm just coming to the end of my midwifery course. Whilst it was a lot different for me (I did nursing first), I have spoken to a lot of the 3 year girls. It is incredibly competitive to get in to via the 3 year route. It is a lot easier to get in to via the nursing route, but will take at least an extra 18 months.

Hospitals take on a lot of volunteers, all across the hospital, so rather than contacting them and asking for work experience, why not contact them and offer to volunteer? And even if it isn't in maternity, at least you will get experience of being in a healthcare environment. Alternatively, why not apply for a part time healthcare assistant (known by different names in different Trusts) post. Breast feeding support groups, Sure Start centres or baby and bump groups are likely to be good experience too. I'm not too sure what is going on with independent midwifery at the moment, but you could also contact an independent midwife near you and ask her if you could spend some time with her.

In my nurse training, I spent a couple of weeks on a midwifery placement. One of the girls in my class didn't so just went out with the community midwives for a few days.

 

[mytimewillcum]

hay ladies thanks ever so much for your advice/experiance... i have been so llucky to wake up this morning to be told i can spend for months on a maternity ward in the queen elizabeth and i can also attend breast feeding support groups as a volunteer!! i didnt exspect that atall because its very competative as alot of ppl have mentioned !.....i spoke to lady via email regarding all this i'm poping in to queen elizabeth on the 24th to meet her and discuss what steps i have to take next i'm SO excited ...(caite) i like the idea of spending time with a midwife 1to1 so i might look into that thanks againnnnnn!!!!! xxxx

 

[babyjan]

Congrats, well done that's great news

 

[mytimewillcum]

Congrats, well done that's great news

thanks overly excited xx

 

[Caite]

That's really good, well done.

 

[Jaysmummy]

Fantastic, well done!

 

[mytimewillcum]

thanks ladies xxxx

 

[PearDrops20]

I know that when I've gone to ask about work experience in the midwifery field its been refused as its such a specialist area, You can do other work experience in a hospital but its more record taking, patient survey's that kind of thing however that could just be the hospital near me.
Like you I want to do the access course & then go onto Uni to do midwifery but that won't be for a little while, Ideally i want to do it this September but we shall see

Good luck!

Just seen you got in damn me for not reading the whole thing before commenting , Your so lucky