How to Become a Midwife in the UK

How to become a Midwife. Job Description: Midwifes are persons who are responsible for the care of prospective mothers and aftercare of born children and their mothers. They give advice and carry out checks during maternity; they attend births to ensure that they go smoothly, and conduct checks after birthing to ensure the child is developing properly.  Midwifes are generally expected to be confident, Level -headed and willing to work at short notice and long hours, and capable of remaining calm in stressful situations. The hours depend on the department you are employed within. Being a Midwife is a good job for many people, but the key traits to have are a sociable personality, strong teamwork skills, and ability to work under direction, a good sense of humour, calm under pressure and caring.

Entry Requirements

To become a midwife you need to meet the requirements of the university at which you desire to qualify. This is generally 5 GCSEs and 2 A Levels. You must be literate, numerate and able to demonstrate that you have a good character. You may be able to exchange experience for qualification if you have been employed as a healthcare assistant or nurse.

Responsibilities and Duties

Standard duties vary daily. You will be primarily responsible for delivery of babies. This will entail checking the records of expectant mothers as they arrive and assisting them in having their babies how they have indicated they wish to. You may find yourself assisting a surgeon in a caesarean operation. You will also be responsible for meeting with expectant mothers before they are due and ensuring that the baby is well and that all is going according to plan. Carry out scans and foetal Doppler’s, and charting the progress of the foetus. You will also be expected to carry out home visits to women where required, as well as make decisions over the phone about when women should go to the hospital.

Working Hours

These may vary depending on the duties and job you are doing. Some wards work on 12 hour rotations; others are routine wards and may require standard set working hours such as 9-5. This is common in Community Midwifery, where you are only expected to work during practice hours and some weekends. Midwifery and ward nursing is usually 24 hours, and therefore you can expect to be called upon during any required time.

Skills and Training Development

Midwifes can expect to progress through their careers with improving skills and knowledge as well as time served. You may find yourself qualified as a Midwife, and decide to further your education in the fields of Mental Health, Paediatrics, Learning Disabilities, Physical Disabilities, Rehabilitation or Midwifery could offer you career progression. Promotion to higher ranks such as Sister or Matron of the ward is usually gained through time service.

Average Salary

The average salary for a Trainee Midwife is £16,000 PA.
The average salary for a qualified Midwife is £21,000 PA.
The average salary for a Matron Midwife is £30,000 PA.