Getting Ready for September: Starting My Midwifery Journey

As we're part way through August, I know there are lots of very excited - and probably nervous - student midwives starting next month! And I wanted to find out more about what it's like for you right now - on the edge of something brand new and so important!

So I have been quizzing Viv who has told me all about the start of her midwifery journey. From digital marketing and school run revelations to online A-Level Biology, creating a calm study space, and securing a Master’s place: soon-to-be student midwife Viv shares her inspiring journey of career change, family support, and stepping into her dream role.

Why Midwifery & Finding the Path

Q. Why do you want to be a midwife? And when did you know? 

I currently work in digital marketing and have for over a decade, although I have been working part time since the birth of my daughter 8 years ago. After my second maternity leave finished in 2024, I found myself wanting a more fulfilling and meaningful job; I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. I had considered midwifery but initially dismissed it as I didn’t think it would be an option financially to go back to uni, so I felt a bit stuck.

By chance, I had a conversation with another mum on the school run at the end of 2024 and she told me that she was a student midwife and that in Scotland, where we live, university fees are paid by SAAS (Student Awards Agency Scotland) and midwifery students also get a bursary of £10,000 per year.

This changed everything as it made going back to uni an option financially. I got on my laptop, and had a look at the university website to find out more about entry requirements. By lunch time, I had emailed postgraduate admissions with some questions. This was the day I decided I wanted to be a midwife.

From my own experience and speaking to lots of mums about their experiences with pregnancy and birth, I know what a transformative time this is in women’s lives and what a big difference it makes to receive good care as well as how big the impact is of the midwife providing the care.

"I know I won’t be able to fix the system by myself, but I can make a difference in people’s lives, one woman and baby at a time."

Q. You completed online top-ups like your Numeracy for Health Care certificate and A-Level Biology. How did you manage those extra courses alongside life, and what advice do you have for others who need to top up their qualifications first?

While the Numeracy for Health Care certificate was fairly quick and easy to do, over a couple of days, I spent months working on the A-Level Biology course. It took some planning and a lot of support from my husband and mother-in-law to find the time for studying, alongside my work and family life.

Most of my child-free time was spent studying and we developed a new routine for Saturdays, where my husband would take our children out for most of the day, so I could study. It took some getting used to, as I didn’t normally have to miss out on days out and experiences with our children, but I knew that this would likely happen during university as well, and I hoped it would be worth the sacrifice if I get into uni.

I would recommend getting in touch with university admissions if you have any questions at all, and start courses with plenty of time to spare. I found that it took me a little longer than advised by the university to complete the Biology course, so I am glad I started as soon as I could, rather than leaving it till later.

Don’t let it put you off applying for uni if you are missing qualifications, as there are ways to gain them and the university admissions team will be able to advise you on this. Everyone I have spoken to at the university has been very friendly and helpful.

The Application & The Postgraduate Route

Q. What was the application process like for you?

Because I applied for the Master’s, I applied directly to the university instead of UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admission Service). I sent off my application a few weeks after applications opened and after attending an open day.

As it was the end of November, I wasn’t sure if I would hear back before Christmas. But within a couple of weeks, I had an email inviting me to complete an online assessment which I did the following day, and a few days later, I had my conditional offer. So all in all, it was quite a straightforward and quick process for me.

Q. What made you choose the Master’s (Postgraduate) route, and how did it feel getting your Unconditional Offer? Does the route that you've taken differ from more common entries?

My university encourages people who already have an undergraduate degree (which doesn’t have to be healthcare related, mine wasn’t!) to apply for the Master’s. Lecturers I spoke to at the open day confirmed that I should be taking this route so I only applied for the Master’s.

My understanding is that there is a lot of overlap between the Bachelor’s and Master’s, although a couple of modules differ and the academic expectations are higher for the Master’s. I look at it as an additional qualification, which may be useful later as I know there are some roles a Master’s degree is required for.

I was so excited to get my unconditional offer. I worked on my Biology course for months, with the goal of completing it before we went on holiday at the end of June, and I received my unconditional offer as we were on our way to Centerparcs. It was a big relief and I was able to enjoy our family holiday knowing I definitely had my place.

Q. What does it mean when people receive an unconditional offer or a conditional offer?

A conditional offer means that a place is offered by the university that is tied to specific conditions that have to be met by a deadline set by the university. This may be the case if you don’t yet meet all of the entry requirements or if you haven’t completed your exams if you are applying to uni during your last year of secondary school.

The conditional offer is then updated to an unconditional offer once you have fulfilled all conditions. If you already meet all the entry requirements when you apply, you can get an unconditional offer straight away.

Preparation, Books & Study Space

Q. Out of all the midwifery books and Why It Matters titles you’ve read while preparing, which ones would you recommend as must reads for other student midwives?

I have to admit that I haven’t yet read all of the books I have bought, but I really enjoyed ‘Catching Babies’ by Sheena Byrom, ‘Hard Pushed’ and ‘Womb’ by Leah Hazard, ‘The Roar Behind the Silence’, and when preparing to apply to the university, I found ‘Becoming a Student Midwife’ by Ellie Durant really helpful.

I have also read part of ‘The Politics of Breastfeeding’ by Gabrielle Palmer and it is such an interesting, eye-opening book. I highly recommend these books for anyone interested in midwifery.

Q. Has setting up your dedicated study space at home helped you transition into the student midwife mindset ahead of September? I imagine it's a bit like preparing a nursery when you're expecting a baby ☺️

That is a really good analogy. I have really enjoyed creating a study space that I like spending time in and I look forward to using it to study during my degree over the next three years. I wanted to make it both practical and beautiful, a place that makes me feel happy.

Your free artwork with affirmations included with orders from the Student Midwife Shop has been a perfect addition. It still doesn’t feel quite real yet, but I’m just a few weeks away from starting university now.

Q. You’ve got such a great collection of stationery, milestone trackers, and study tools ready. What are the things in your setup that you’re most looking forward to using?

I am really looking forward to starting to use my Student Midwife Planner, and start adding to my PERs tracker and my birth counter.

"I am very excited to start filling in my Birth Record Book, which will hopefully become a treasured possession over the coming years."

Once I have my timetable, I will also be able to add placements and other important dates to my wall planner. And of course, I am looking forward to using my pouches to organise my uni and placement bag. I have also bought some notebooks for uni and placements as well as lots of pens which will come in handy, no doubt. Back-to-school time has been great for stocking up on stationery.

Q. Do you still have things that you are looking for before you start that take a bit of work to find like comfy shoes?

Yes, I haven’t yet decided on which shoes to get for placements and I think I will wait until I start university and see what the guidelines are before I make a decision. There are a few other things I haven’t yet bought that I will likely get once I have started uni, like a stethoscope and sphygmomanometer. I also always keep an eye on Vinted as I have found some real bargains there.

Q. Which of your student midwife milestone cards are you most excited to take a photo with?

I am looking forward to so many experiences but I have chosen five of the milestone cards of moments I am particularly excited about.

• My first day at uni
• wearing my uniform for the first time
• my first placement
• supporting my first birth (although that probably won’t happen for a while yet!)
• and feeling like I made a difference - because that’s what it’s all about.

The milestone cards are absolutely stunning, and feature so much of your beautiful artwork.

Counting Down to September

Q. With September only weeks away, how are you feeling? If it were me, I'd probably have my bag packed weeks in advance!

"I am super excited and can’t wait to start but at the same time it still doesn’t feel real."

I remember thinking how it would be such a long time to wait to start as it has been nearly two years since I decided that I wanted to do this, and now September is nearly here. 

I have definitely spent some time thinking about what to pack in my bag, which bag I will use and making some final purchases. With schools already back here, the next few weeks will fly and September will be here before I know it. I think it’ll feel more official when I’ve registered for uni.

Q. Do you know what your first day will be like? And your first few weeks? Do you get a timetable in advance?

So far all I know is that uni starts the second week of September but that’s it. I believe I will get some more information at the end of August after registering. I know that we will be given a timetable for the whole of the three years which shows which weeks we will be at uni, which weeks we will be on placement and where (community, labour ward, ante/postnatal ward etc), although I don’t know when I will find out where exactly my placements will be. I think we will be given a few weeks notice of our exact schedule during uni blocks and of placement shifts, though.

It will definitely be an adjustment as I have already caught myself suggesting day trips and events to my husband and then having to remind myself that we can’t currently book tickets for anything as I don’t know yet when my first placement will start and whether I might be working weekends or during the October half term.

Q. How are you feeling about meeting the others in your cohort? Have you made connections with anybody else starting in September too already?

I haven’t made any closer connections yet although I have recently joined a Whatsapp group someone created for this year’s cohort. Because I will be doing the Master’s, my cohort will likely be quite small, with a much larger cohort doing the Bachelor’s.

I have had some contact with some who will be doing the Bachelor’s but I am not sure whether we will be attending the same lectures etc. I am really excited though to meet my fellow student midwives the first week of uni.

Nerves, Family Life & Finding Balance

Q. Are there things you feel worried about in advance of starting?

I am a little worried about not fitting in or not feeling like I belong with others in my cohort, as that has been something I have sometimes struggled with in the past. I feel like I can be quite socially awkward. So far, all the student midwives, midwives and lecturers I have met have been incredibly lovely, though.

I am also worried about managing a full-time degree alongside my family life, and although I already have a university degree, it is very different going back to uni in my 40s with two children. But I know that many students who do this degree have families, so I tell myself, if they can do it, so can I!

Q. How do you hope to have a balance between studying, being on shift, and being a mother?

I have no doubt that the next three years will be hard for my family and me, and I, along with my family, will have to make some sacrifices. Our lives will change a lot. I know I will need the support of my husband and my mother-in-law so that we will be able to manage childcare between the three of us, school and nursery. I will have to work hard to stay on top of assignments and studying to help manage my workload and not get overwhelmed. And just take it one day at a time.

I have been very lucky to have been working very little hours and very flexibly for the past few years, which worked well for us with having young children and childcare being very expensive. I got to spend a lot of time with my children for the first years of their lives.

But I also feel like I lost myself a little along the way. I look forward to having an identity apart from being a mum and to meeting new people through uni and placements. I want to learn new things and feel challenged.

"I haven’t felt this excited about my professional future for a very long time, if ever."

Feeling passionate about my work and enjoying what I do will no doubt have a positive effect on me and in turn on me as a wife and mum as well. Financially, I am also looking forward to contributing more to our family after completing my degree, and hopefully putting ourselves into a more robust position, not having to rely on one income as much.

I also want to be a positive role model for my children, especially for my daughter, to show them that it is possible to achieve something if you put your mind to it. That it is possible to change your career even when you’re in your 40s and have children.

Basically, I hope that my hard work and my family’s sacrifices over the next three years will be worth it in the end. I have read from several midwives that it is easier to have a good work life balance once you are qualified, so I hope the fact that the degree is limited to three years will make it manageable.

Q. How is your family feeling about you starting in September? Are your children excited to see mummy become a midwife?

My husband is excited for me to start my degree and has been very supportive. I know that my daughter was initially quite apprehensive about the thought of me starting uni and such a big change to our lives but I was able to quell her fears by telling her more about what I will be doing and that I will still be home lots, with uni being on weekdays when she is at school.

She does seem a lot more excited now. My son is only three, so I don’t think he understands yet what I will be doing and how our lives will change. But I have no doubt that it is the right thing to do, both for myself and for our family.

Encouragement for Future Midwives

Q. What’s your main piece of encouragement for anyone thinking “I want to do midwifery, but I don't know where to start"?

I would recommend reading some books, joining the Facebook group ‘Secret Community for Midwives in the Making’, and finding some midwifery related accounts to follow on Instagram as there is such a positive, supportive midwife and student midwife community on there.

Get in touch with the university you are interested in and find out their entry requirements and what you would need to do to apply. Find out if they are holding an open day that you can attend where you can speak to lecturers, student midwives and see the university facilities.

Follow the news on maternity issues, join your local Maternity Voices Partnership if you have young children, and think about what you could do to get some relevant experience, for example from training as a breastfeeding peer supporter or volunteering in a caring role.

Even if what you are currently doing has nothing to do with midwifery or healthcare, you likely have many valuable transferable skills already.

"If midwifery is what you want to do, do your best to make it happen. You are never too old and it is never too late. Even if you are in your 40s or even 50s, you still have many years of working ahead of you. You might as well spend them doing something you love."

Viv - thank you SO much for sharing your inspiring story. I feel so happy for you at the start of something so meaningful, and something that's about you as a woman - not a wife or a mother. I know what it means to have something to drive you in life that is just for you, following your passion (that's why I made Womb to World Art), and completely understand about wanting to model that for your children too.

I want to wish you and all the student midwives starting next month so much luck and good wishes for a wonderful start to your studies.

If you have a student midwife story to tell, please let me know - I'd love to share it.