Pursuing my dream of becoming a midwife as a mum of four

Student midwife Amanda shares her journey going back to university after putting her plans on hold to look after her family, and the amazing experience she’s had at RGU so far.

Why I became a Midwife

My name is Amanda I’m currently in my third year at RGU studying midwifery. I’m a mum of four and I’ve just turned 40. I left school at 16 and had no idea at that point what I wanted to do and started an admin job.

From around the age of 18, I knew that I wanted to be a midwife after having my first child, but never thought I would be able to achieve my dream. I was lucky enough to be a birthing partner for my friends and it was then that I really knew I wanted to pursue my dream. However, with my husband working on rotation abroad, I didn’t know how I would juggle getting my Highers and looking after four children.

Fast forward to 2020, we found ourselves in lockdown. During this time, my husband was able to work from home. Unfortunately, my mum was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer at age 74 and it was then I decided now was the time for me to follow my passion as life really is too short not to follow your dreams.

Starting my university journey

In 2020, I took on an Open University health sciences course, Higher English, and National 5 Maths. In 2021, I took on two more courses with the Open University: infectious diseases and neuroscience.

Late 2021, I was finally able to make my application to RGU. Early 2022, I had an interview and I was offered a place to study Midwifery in September 2022, ecstatic that I was another step closer!

Starting university in September was a mix of emotions, excitement and nerves, then thoughts of “Can I do this”? “Am I too old”? But here I was doing something for me. I had just been known as “mummy” for 20 years, and now I was known as a student midwife! The feeling was immense.

My experience of the midwifery course at RGU

My first placement was with North team in Peterhead maternity. I loved every minute and felt that I learned so much there. I was lucky enough to be placed with the north team each year throughout my midwifery journey, and when on placements in Peterhead I’m always made to feel like one of the team!

The highlight of the course for me has been the placements and being able to play such a huge part in each woman’s journey into motherhood. It really has been a dream come true.

Building a mini caseload of our own for continuity of carer has been extremely rewarding for us as students and the women that we care for; taking care of them throughout their pregnancy, attending their birth and following them into the postnatal period. This enables us to get to know the women and be able to advocate for them throughout their pregnancy journey.

I can’t believe how fast the course has gone as here I am in my third year and loving every minute of university life. The lectures are engaging and I really enjoy when we are on campus for clinical skills sessions. I have found the assignments to be tough, but I always manage to get through them with the support of the lecturers and my peers.

I have made new friends for life whom I will cherish forever, knowing that we are all here for each other as we find ourselves on this journey into becoming midwives. I’m so excited to see what my final year of university has in store for us!

If you are thinking about applying for midwifery at RGU just do it, I promise you won’t regret it!

Amanda Jeffries