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Midwife

Midwives deliver babies and provide antenatal and postnatal advice, care and support to women, their babies, their partners and families.

Midwives work as 'independent practitioners', only calling on help from doctors when there is a medical problem that puts the mother's or baby's safety at risk.

Midwife job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Midwives work as part of a team of professional and medical staff that includes doctors, social workers and health visitors.

Typical duties of the job include:

examining and monitoring pregnant women
assessing care requirements/writing care plans
undertaking antenatal care in hospitals, homes and GP practices
carrying out screening tests
providing information, emotional support and reassurance to women and their partners
taking patient samples, pulses, temperatures and blood pressures
caring for and assisting women in labour
monitoring and administering medication, injections and intravenous infusions during labour
monitoring the foetus during labour
advising about and supporting parents in the daily care of their newborn babies
helping parents to cope with miscarriage, termination, stillbirth and neonatal death
writing records
tutoring student midwives.

Typical employers of midwives

National Health Service (NHS)
hospitals
GP practices
private hospitals
armed forces
independent practices.

Vacancies appear in newspapers, NHS trusts' jobs lists and publications such as Nursing Times and Nursing Standard. Degree course and diploma applications should be made through UCAS. All student midwives are eligible for NHS funding, some of which may be means-tested. Early applications for midwifery courses are recommended as there is strong competition.

Qualifications and training required

A qualification in midwifery is essential. This can be gained by undertaking a three to four-year diploma or degree course. Graduates with degrees or diplomas in any subject can apply for midwifery training, although those with life, health, biological or social sciences qualifications may be preferred.

Candidates who are already registered nurses can qualify as midwives via an 18-month course. Previous relevant experience is not essential, but any gained caring for, or working with people can be helpful.