Midwives care for and support pregnant women, their partners and babies, before, during and after the birth. Some midwives give advice before a baby is conceived, but most will support the mother after pregnancy has been confirmed.

The work of a midwife includes:

• monitoring the health of the mother and baby with physical examinations and ultrasound scanners
• counselling the expectant mother on issues such as healthy eating or giving up smoking
• explaining the mother’s options for the birth, for example natural childbirth, pain controlling drugs, hospital or home delivery
• looking after the mother and baby during labour and birth, and for around one month after the birth. 

Midwives will often run antenatal and parenting classes which involves teaching expectant and new parents the essential skills needed to care for their baby. Midwives will also advise new mothers on breast feeding.

Hours and Environment

Midwives in the NHS work 37.5 hours a week, which can include evening, weekend and night shifts. Many hospitals offer flexible or part-time hours. Some midwives work extra hours, either as overtime or with an agency.

As a midwife you can work in a variety of settings including hospital maternity units, GP surgeries, health centres, clinics, and in the homes of patients.

In some NHS trusts you will split your time between working in the community and working in hospitals. In other trusts, you will be rotated every six months between ante-natal, delivery, post-natal and community settings. As a midwife in the community you will travel between different clients in your area, so a driving licence will be useful.

Skills and Interests

To be a midwife, you should:

• be able to relate well to people of all ages and backgrounds
• be able to build up trust with women and their families
• be able to help mothers feel confident and in control
• have effective communication skills
• have a genuine desire to help people
• enjoy working in a team but also on your own initiative
• have maturity, compassion and sensitivity
• be able to remain calm under pressure
• be able to explain processes to people who have no medical knowledge
• respect the mother’s wishes about how and where to have her baby unless it is dangerous to do so.

Entry

To qualify as a registered midwife, you need to achieve one of the following:

• a Diploma of Higher Education in Midwifery 
• a Degree in Midwifery
• a Diploma of Higher Education in Nursing (adult branch) followed by a 78 week midwifery conversion course.

To get onto an approved course you need to meet some general requirements set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). These include:

• providing evidence of your literacy and numeracy, good health and good character, and recent successful study experience
• meeting the minimum age requirement for training - 17.5 years old in England, 17 in Scotland, and 18 in Northern Ireland and Wales
• agreeing to undergo a criminal records bureau check; however, a criminal conviction does not automatically exclude you from working in the NHS. 

Course providers can set their own academic entry requirements, which can include:

• midwifery diploma or degree - five GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) in English and maths/science, plus two A levels/H grades possibly including biology or human biology
• nursing diploma - five GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) preferably in English, maths or a science-based subject. 

If you do not meet the course entry requirements listed please check with universities because alternatives, such as an Access to Higher Education course, may be accepted. 

To qualify as a midwife via a 78 week conversion course, you need to be a registered nurse in the adult branch. Additional entry requirements can vary between course providers, however, you are likely to need:

• between one and two years' experience as a qualified nurse
• evidence of recent study 
• relevant experience, for example working in an acute clinical area 
• the support of your existing employer.     

In England, applications for diploma courses are made through NMAS (for all other regions, check the contact listed in Further Information); for degree courses you apply through UCAS.

Alternative entry routes:
If you are 16-19 years old you can prepare for a career in nursing or midwifery by doing a two-year Cadet Scheme. This includes a range of clinical placements and working towards a qualification such as an NVQ Level 3 in Health, or Health and Social Care. Check with your local hospital trust or NHS Careers (in Further Information) for entry and recruitment details.

If you work in a caring role, perhaps as a healthcare assistant or support worker, you may be able to study for a relevant NVQ/SVQ at level 3; this will usually satisfy the entry requirements for a midwifery or nursing diploma. Check the Healthcare Assistant job profile for details.

As a midwife who trained, qualified and registered overseas, you may need to complete a midwifery adaptation programme in order to meet the midwives part of the NMC register. For more details it is essential that you contact the NMC; see Further Information.

Training

As a trainee midwife on an approved course, you will divide your time between university and supervised work placements including antenatal wards and clinics, delivery units, postnatal wards and the community.

You will be trained in areas such as:

• midwifery practice
• care of the newborn
• management of labour
• communication skills
• health education
• health promotion.

Funding 
Nursing and midwifery diploma and degree courses attract a non-repayable bursary to cover living expenses. Bursaries for a diploma are non-means tested; bursaries for the degree are means-tested. Course fees are also usually paid. Check the NHS Careers website in Further Information for details.

As a qualified midwife you need to renew your professional registration with the NMC every three years. To re-register you must complete a minimum of five days (35 hours) relevant learning within the previous three year period. Anything that has helped you maintain or develop your role within midwifery can count towards this requirement. Check the NMC website for details, including additional criteria and advice.

As a midwife it is essential you continue to develop in your role. There are many opportunities for further training in areas such as family planning, teaching and research.

If you are a registered midwife wishing to return to the profession after a career break, you can take a return-to-practice course. Courses are available throughout the UK and include a mixture of theory and practice. NHS Careers hold further details, check Further Information.

Opportunities

The NHS is the largest employer of midwives, but there are some opportunities in private hospitals and clinics. Some midwives are self-employed and practise independently in accordance with NMC guidelines.

As a qualified and experienced midwife you may have the opportunity to progress to ward manager or team leader, responsible for efficiently running a ward or team of midwives in the community. There may also be promotion opportunities to the role of director of midwifery, or midwifery consultant.

Midwife consultants spend half their time working directly and independently with patients, and the remainder carrying out research into their area of expertise. They will also be involved in creating and delivering training. Consultants need at least a Masters degree, which reflects the fact they are working at the top of the profession. 

As a midwife you will find work opportunities overseas, especially in developing countries.

Annual Income

Figures are a guideline only.

Newly qualified midwives working within the NHS can earn between £19,200 and £24,800 year.
Senior midwives can earn around £31,000 a year.
Midwife consultants can earn up to £61,000.

Extra allowances can be earned for additional responsibilities, length of service, and geographical location.

Further information

School of Nursing
Shore Road
Newtownabbey
Co Antrim
BT37 0QB
Tel: 08700 400 700 Rosehill
New Barn Lane
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL52 3LZ
Tel: 0870 1122 211 School of Nursing and Midwifery
Medical Biology Centre
97 Lisburn Road
Belfast
BT9 7BL
Tel: 028 9097 2233 23 Portland Place
London
W1B 1PZ
Tel: 020 7637 7181
Registration contacts
Overseas: 020 7333 6600
General: 020 7333 9333 Rosehill
New Barn Lane
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL52 3LZ
Tel: 0870 112 2206 for general enquiries
Tel: 0870 112 2200 for application packs Innovation House
Bridgend Road
Llanharan
CF72 9RP
Tel: 01443 233 333 22 Queen Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1JX
Tel: 0131 226 7371 Tel: 08000 150 850
Email: learning@nhscareers.nhs.uk PO Box 376
Bristol
BS99 3EY
Tel: 0845 606 0655