I am quickly realizing that midwifery is my passion – the one thing that I can learn about with boundless energy and excitement. For as long as I can remember, I have been amazed by pregnancy and childbirth. When I was studying to be a nurse, I felt honored to be present in the hospital with women during the birth of their child. However, something kept me from pursuing a job as a labor and delivery nurse. I felt uncomfortable with the impersonal, medical way that birth is often treated in the hospital.
After I graduated from nursing school, I spent several months volunteering as a nurse at a small hospital in Haiti (in the Caribbean West Indies). There, I observed as women in the hospital would lay flat on a table during the birthing process, and accept routine episiotomies and other procedures – typically without pain medication. In a country where poverty and sickness are enormous problems, hospital birth appears the only way to protect the safety of the mother and child – but must they sacrifice their desire for a personal, compassionate birth experience in which they have the freedom to make their own decisions?
I have a strong feeling that birth is much more powerful, intimate, and wonderful than these medical processes I had witnessed. In my searching, I have found women who desire their births to be treated as the normal event their bodies were created to do, and not simply a medical diagnosis that must be treated.
It is my passion to become a midwife who can combine in-depth knowledge and experience with gentle support of the woman’s natural ability. I am excited to begin the journey to becoming a midwife, and especially to someday experience the amazement of birth myself!
56 Responses to “Becoming a Midwife”
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My name is Bethany, and I am the author of this site.
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June 29th, 2005 at 03:32 PM Hi Honey! Enjoy your blog!
July 1st, 2005 at 02:06 AM Amazingly enough, many women don't recognize the power of such a beautiful birth experience. It sounds like your warmth for midwifery will make you a good educator on the subject too. Great site!
July 2nd, 2005 at 07:41 AM Good beginings both site and life. Nigel
July 25th, 2005 at 02:31 PM Bethany, I am also a former peds oncology nurse and now an aspiring midwife. I was accepted into CNM school last year and then found out I was pregnant with our much wanted second child. So I will wait until the time is right again to start. She is now six months old. I did become an L&D nurse four years ago, then a doula and CBE becuase I knew I needed more skils to properly support women. I wasn't getting that from my RN job. I'd love to chat if you have the desire. Thanks for posting. marie DoulaRN@sbcglobal.net
August 1st, 2005 at 06:11 PM thank you for sharing your passion. i feel i have a calling for midwifery. i have been researching schools for the past year. your site is inspiring. thank you for your humility and compassion.
October 1st, 2005 at 07:32 AM Hi Bethany! It was a pleasure to meet you at the Midwifery Today conference! Your passion for birth and life experiences thus far will make you a wonderful midwife someday, soon I hope! I enjoyed our talks and your calling inspires me! Keep in touch and I'm up for Haiti when you are! Blessings, Christal
November 3rd, 2005 at 04:43 AM Hey There I loved you blog on the passion about becoming a midwife. I myself am looking forward to starting nursing college and three yrs of learning, about moms to be, new babies, antinatal and postnatal care, i believe that having that personal touch with every delievery for every mom and baby should be a special one each time, to be able to offer compassion, and compfort to a mom in pain, and to reasure her that her pain is not all in vain, but what a wonderful act of nature it is, and that she will have a beautyful child after all it, has to be the best thing. I myself have four children, and wanted no pain relief but i felt i could cope without any, i had a wonderful midwive , and a wonderful team working with me. The reason i want to become a midwive is, because i want every mom to be , no matter if it is her 1st or 16th child, to feel compfy, at ease, and that every experince is as special as the first, and a good midwive, makes it extra special.
December 28th, 2005 at 08:13 AM Hi Bethany! My name is Emma Stoball and I attend William Paterson University and I am a student but as of now I am a Community Health major and I have the same passion as you do. I would love to become a midwife someday and I am doing so much research on where I should start. If by any chance can you put me on that path? I know you have to become a nurse first I already have that covered I just do not know where to go after that.
December 30th, 2005 at 06:17 AM Thank you so much for your comment, and I wish you the best with your education and midwifery plans! I started my research by searching Google online for midwifery schools. There are some really neat programs out there...I am interested in doing something through distance learning such as the "Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing":http://www.midwives.org/Default.htm. On my website, check out the link on the top right called Midwifery Resources. I have included a link to the "American College of Nurse Midwives":http://www.acnm.org/careers.cfm?id=86 and their list of approved midwifery schoools. Blessings to you on your journey!
April 16th, 2006 at 11:29 PM i am desperate to become a midwive but have no qualifications or anything but i constantly read books and watch all midwifery progs where do i begin please help....xx
June 13th, 2006 at 06:16 AM hi im 14 years old and i am in year 10 at school i am doing my gcse's next year and hope to get 5 gcse's a to c grade in science, maths and english i would love to be a midwife before i wanted to be a paramedic but i have finally made my decision after thinking about it for a long time now that midwifery is the carear for me my mum and older sister are both nurses but i find that midwifery is the right thing for me. me and my best friend both want to be midwives we are working really hard at school and even going to stay behind for extra tuition. i want to be a midwife so badly!! goodluck to everyone who does enjoy your exiting and chalenging journey!! this is a great website it has really inspired me
September 8th, 2006 at 08:57 AM im a student who wants to become a midwife.. n reading that now i want it more than anything.... seems lik u hav alot of passion for your work.. that is great to see...!!!
October 4th, 2006 at 12:01 AM hi my name is brona an im 14 an i want to Midwife i was wondering do u have to stay on at school to be a midwife and wat gcses i would need to pass to be 1 so could you plz help me??
February 3rd, 2007 at 01:28 PM
hi i am a young teenage mum of 17 yrs of age whn i go bk to college i would be 18 i have just had a baby boy on the 20th of january i never knew how interesting it is in how baby grows. i really didnt know what i wanted to do now i do i want to become a midwife and id really love to know how to go about it i dnt hv any gcse has i had problems in gaining them. please could you give me advice and a guide to go about it thank u.
February 11th, 2007 at 02:24 PM
HEY I’M MANDELLA AND I’M 15 YEARS OLD..I REALLY WANT TO BECOME A MIDWIFE CAUSE I FELT IT FROM DAY ONE..I LOOK AT BABY STORY AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS WHICH COULD HELP ME TO BECOME A MIDWIFE..THE CARIBBEAN IS WHERE I LIVE AND TO BECOME A MIDWIFE I HAVE TO GO TO NEWYORK TO STUDY.MY SISTER IS HELPING ME TO GET A GOOD SCHOOL WHICH CAN HELP..I REALLY WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MIDWIFERY CAUSE I THINK THATS A FANTASTIC JOB..PLEASE SEND ME MORE INFO ABOUT IT..
May 3rd, 2007 at 08:14 AM
i really want to become a midwife but im finding it hard fiding courses that take people on with no G.C.S.E’S can you help me please
May 15th, 2007 at 09:11 AM
can you send me some information on midwifery please. an d what qualifications i need to become one.
June 2nd, 2007 at 03:51 PM
Hi bethany, i really liked your blog, and your passion for midwifery! I had my my first child a year ago and unfortunatly did not have the plesant experiance and i would of like due to serval pregnancy problems, but my midwife was wonderful in helping me deal with it all. Since my own pregnancy i have been inspired to become a midwife myself,and was wondering if you would be able to give me some information on where to start? I am 24 and left school with no real quaficaions, all my g.c.s.e’s being grade d or lower. Will i be able to get on a course? Many Thanks
June 4th, 2007 at 08:24 AM
hi im susan and i have a little girl whos three and will b starting school in september and since she was born ive wanted to do midwifery.i have gcses but e and under could u plz help me thanks
June 10th, 2007 at 10:54 AM
hi my name is kirsty, im 16years of age and really want to become a midwife, im re – taking my gcses, but not ure if ive done well, do i need to go to uni to do the course and what qualificaions do i need my gcses last year were grades D and under, im hoping iv done better this year, if not where do i go from here pls help me thanks
June 10th, 2007 at 10:55 AM
hi my name is kirsty, im 16years of age and really want to become a midwife, im re – taking my gcses, but not ure if ive done well, do i need to go to uni to do the course and what qualificaions do i need my gcses last year were grades D and under, im hoping iv done better this year, if not where do i go from here pls help me thanks
June 28th, 2007 at 11:20 AM
Hey! Wow it amazing reading everyone’s comments. I am 16 years old and I have just finished my GCSE’s I am really hoping I have got at least 5 GCSE’s C and above. I am dyslexic so I have done GCSE foundation level, this means in math’s I can only get a D which is a shame but next year I am going to College to study child care and I will then re take Maths GCSE. I am doing a child care course as I have been told I need to have at least 2 a levels to do midwifery and this course will let me achieve this. Can you please give me advise on how I can get into a midwifery school around London/clay hall area as I really want to become a midwife but I don’t know how to. Thanks Lucy
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:51 PM
hi im jess and have found everyones comments really interesting to read especially the last two as i am only 15 myself. I have always wanted to become a midwife since i helped my mum through adiffacult pregnancy when i was 13. I was there throughout the birth and stayed at the hospital aswell. I am convinced this is what i want to do but would i have to do a course in nursing first as it is only midwifery i am interested in. Please help with any information about this and in general thanks jess
July 4th, 2007 at 02:25 PM
Hi! Thank you so much for posting this. I am also an aspiring midwife, but I’m only 18 so I have a long way to go. My only problem is I’m not sure where to start. I’ve been to a dozen different midwife sites and they all seem to say different things. Some say I need to go to a midwifery school and some say I just need to take a few nursing classes in childbirth. I’m a little lost and was hoping you could give me a push in the right direction. If you could that would be so great. Thank you!
July 9th, 2007 at 09:08 AM
i am 15 and has a passion to be a midwife i hope i do become 1
July 11th, 2007 at 07:53 PM
I am 22 years old and would love to become a midwife. I have two years of nursing school already, I have move and have to go to another school to finish my nursing to become a RN. The best part of my schooling was being able to work with the mother when they went into labor and taking care of the baby after. So, I would like to get some information about becoming a midwife
July 20th, 2007 at 02:00 PM
Hi everyone. I have read everyones comments and there seems to be alot of confusion about how to get into the midwifery course at uni. You can either do A levels (long!), diploma in care or what I done is an Access to Nursing course which is only a year three days a week. I very much enjoyed it and recommend it thoroughly. I have also met someone who done an Access to Midwifery course which is great but when we got talking we found that they are extremely similar anyway. I am waiting to hear from uni as to whether or not I have been accepted on the course. I wish everyone the best of luck!
September 6th, 2007 at 02:41 PM
hi everyone i have tried to look in to becoming a midwife but im not sure where to start i dont have any qualifications but i am willing to do what ever it takes to become one. please could some one point me in the right direction please thankyou !!
September 11th, 2007 at 11:53 AM
Hi
I have 4 GCSE’s at C and above but not in maths/scient. I then went on and did 2 A Levels at Grade B then worked for 3 years full time and now have decided to go to uni to study how to become a midwife. How do I go about this please as all uni’s seem to want a grade c in Maths/Science, which i dont have…all local colleges are fully booked and i dont want to wait another year as time is ticking!
Thanks
December 10th, 2007 at 03:31 PM
i want be a midwife but just want to now what i need to be one am now in year10 dont want to wait untill it to late !!!!!!!
thank you
December 19th, 2007 at 12:52 PM
Im leaving school in may and would like to become a midwife im aiming to get all of my GCSE’s C grade and above. I want to become a midwife when i leave but dont know where to start and what i need to do!! Can you please let me know what i need to study at college and university? Thank you
January 9th, 2008 at 10:12 AM
hi i am 16 years old and in my first year of a levels i want to be a midwife but just wondered if there was any possibility that i could do it with just GCSE’s and then a levels even if they aernt that good??
January 12th, 2008 at 01:33 PM
im 15 and want to become a midwife would anyone tell me how i could start learning thanks sarah
January 18th, 2008 at 07:03 AM
hi it has allways been my dream to become a midewife because i hvae grown up with babys all my life and i have seen my antie give birth i thorght it was brill, and im only 14 but i want to no what cwolificshains i need to have to become a midewife please tell me i ned help becomeing a widwife is all i want please xxxxx
January 21st, 2008 at 02:56 PM
wow this is great. next year i will be going to school to become a mid-wife so do you have any good ideas chorse i should take? if you could e-mail me that would be great your site is wonderful and is helping me so much Thank you
January 28th, 2008 at 09:39 PM
hi im 13 i have a passion for midwifery i really want to be a midwife its my dream and im going to make it come true one day :)
February 27th, 2008 at 04:17 PM
Hi, I am interested in becoming a midwife what qualifications do i need to study for this as i left school with low grade gcse’s.
February 27th, 2008 at 04:18 PM
Hi, I am interested in becoming a midwife what qualifications do i need to study for this as i left school with low grade gcse’s.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:08 AM
HI I WANT TO BECOME A MIDWIFE.TO ME THATS A VERY GOOD CAREER FOR A PERSON WHO HAS PASSION FOR CHILDHOOD.I HAVE MADE UP MY MIND THAT A REALY WANT TO BECOME A MIDWIFE…..I JUST NEED HELP I DONT KNOW WERE TO START AT…...CAN U PLZ E-MAIL ME SUM INFO…. THANK YOU,LOVE VERONICA
April 16th, 2008 at 02:31 PM
hey, i want 2 b a midwife when i leave school does anyone know what gcse’s and a levels i need please someone tell me x
May 28th, 2008 at 02:10 PM
hi,i really need some help!i would like to train to be a midwife but dont know were to start,i have 5 c grade g.c.s.es but not science, i also have 2 AS levels in english and art(not too sure if they are a c or d grade).i’ve read some info on websites but am v.confused.if some one could e mail me some info i will b very gratefull
July 10th, 2008 at 06:53 PM
I’m 32 and want to be a midwife. I have been intrested in childbirth for many years but I dont know how to go about becoming one. Any ideas? I have no qualifactions as such but want to start a worthwhile career.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:12 AM
hi i am a young teenage mum of 17 yrs of age whn i go bk to college i would be 18 i have just had a baby girl on the 24 june 08 i never knew how interesting it is in how baby grows. i really didnt know what i wanted to do now i do i want to become a midwife and id really love to know how to go about it i dnt have any gcse has i had problems in gaining them. please could you give me advice and a guide to go about it thank u.
July 23rd, 2008 at 01:23 AM
I have always wanted to be a midwife. I am a 44 yr old woman with a LVN License since I was 19. after 10yrs, of being a Pediatric Nurse and Beriatric nurse I needed a change. I became a Mortgage Banker and have been very successful, but with all the ups and downs in the Industry today I need to move to somethig I know I will enjoy doing and still be a Banker ..
August 20th, 2008 at 01:28 PM
Hey, im only 15 years old and i have a passion and determination to become a midwife. I love being and working with babies and young children. I need some advice of what qulifications and skills I will need. Could you help me please?
August 28th, 2008 at 04:05 AM
Hello, I’m Leah, I’m 16 + Just Finished My GCSE’s I Didn’t Get The Grades That I Wanted But, Im Enroling For College Today. I’m Doing “First Diploma In Health + Social Care, I’m Really Looking Forward To It But I’m Scared I May Not Get In Cause Of My Bad Grades. I Really Want To Become A Midwife, I Know Alot Of People On Here Want To Become One Aswell, As I Have Read All The Comments, I Wish You All Good Luck To Persue Your Dreams, I’m Going To Try My Best At This, I Want It So Badly. Since I’ve Been Caring For My Baby Niece, Midwifery Has Been In My Head + That Is What I Want To Do, I Just Hope My Dreams Don’t Get Shattered. Bethany What You Have Wrote On Your Blog Is Amazing Its Really Inspiring To Read + I Hope I Follow In Your Footsteps x
September 27th, 2008 at 05:35 AM
I rreally want to b3ecome a midwife however, none of the schools seem to accept international students as they say it is government funded i would like to know what wat the route you took in order to become accepted as a midwife. I would like to become a direct entry midwife. PS. Reading your page really motivated me even more. Thanks in advance.
October 2nd, 2008 at 07:01 AM
Hi i am 13 and i am still at school but all my life i have wanted to be a midwife i think it is a great opertunitie to be a midwife my mum was a nurse before she had me and have followed on from her but a different thing, i ope i get to be a midwife and pass all my grades.
October 3rd, 2008 at 05:26 AM
hi i am 13 and i am still at school but i did not realise how much i wanted to become a midwife till i was at the beginning of year nine. plus i think it would be a great opertunitie to be a midwife. but i what i really want ot no is what grades do i need to get to become one and how do i go about becoming a midwife. please can you help me please?
October 7th, 2008 at 07:23 AM
hi i am 15 and i really want to be a midwife when i am older but i don’t no how i am taking as many classes at school as possible but i still don’t no what else i need to do. will you please help me!!
October 17th, 2008 at 06:54 AM
heyaaa ma name iz rashida nd i wanna become a mmidwife it seems like an amazing job but i think im not smart anuf could i become trainey
October 30th, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Haaaay. i am 16 and my passion is to be a midwife but i dnt know what qualifications you lot seem to be very educated in this subject can you sujest what i should take in college ? x
November 4th, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Hi, I am just about to take my GCSE’s and i am consiidering whether to do A-levels. I would love to become a midwife as i find pregnancy and birth very interesting but i dont know what A-levels i would have to take to pursue my dream of becoming a midwife. Do you have any advice or help? X
December 1st, 2008 at 08:49 AM
You need to be an RN for about a year and then you can apply to the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. It is primarily an online, distance education program that you can take int he comfort of your own home. Check out the web site for more information:
www.frontierschool.edu
December 9th, 2008 at 05:00 AM
This is amazing! i am wanting to become a midwife. but i don’t know what subjects i need to take
January 4th, 2009 at 06:27 PM
hi im 15 years old and im in the 10th grade and i would like 2 become a midwife…for years ive had a passion for babies and younger children and it amazes me to see them being born…i really want to persue my dreams, i jus need to kno wat classes and courses to take so i could achieve my goal