Bigmamma I would like your advice please!!

[tigwig]

Hi I think I have read before that you are a midwife and I have a few questions for you if you don't mind!
Do midwifes just work in delivery suites at hospitals or in the neo natal units too? Also, what is the difference between a SCBU and a neo natal unit or are they the same?
I ask because I have just applied for a job on a neo natal unit as a healthcare assistant and in a few years I would like to train to become a midwife myself.
I am already working with babies in a hospital staff nursery and am qualified with 12 years experience. Do you think this will be an advantage with my application in your experience or will they think I should be applying for nursery nurse positions instead? The problem is they were advertising for a nn but the hours were too much for me and although I am going to be dropping a band in my salary I would be prepared to do this to gain experience and hopefully progress my career. Sorry for bombarding you with all this but I would really appreciate your or anyone elses advice on this. Thanks!

[bednobs]

the nirses who work on the neonatal unit are usually nurses rather than midwives
to train to be a midwife you have to either be a nurse first or do a midwifery degree straight off. Do you have any qualifications? Could you prove you could study to degree level?

[bigmamma]

Hello tigwig , nice to hear from you. First of all SCBU , special care baby unit , and neonatal intensive care unit are the same .Each unit has an allocated number of intensive care cribs and ventilators , which are looked after by a team of trained neonatal nurses , a lot of who , like myself , have been midwives for some years, and have done the neonatal intensive care extra training . Each unit also has a number of cots , for those babies either not needing intensive care , or those who have progressed out of the intensive care area.
As a midwife in training you have a set time in outpatients clinic, prenatal ward , delivery suite , operating theatre , post natal , and family planning , and in this country , district too. As a trained midwife you then choose which area you wish to concentrate your work in.
A health care assistant aids the midwife and takes her lead from her/him , and helps new mums with feeding and bathing as necessary . You would learn as you work and I would think it would be of help that you have worked with babies , even though probably older babies .
I hope that explains a bit sweetie , you go for it hun if that's where your heart tells you to head xxxxxx

[tigwig]

thank you so much for your answers. bednobs I left school with a rather poor 2 GCSE's at C grade and all the others were D's. Since then I have gained GNVQ level 2 in Health & Social Care pass with distinction and a BTEC National Diploma in Nursery Nursing which is equivalent to 2 A levels. I have done loads of other short training courses since all related to childcare and I did actually get accepted at a University to study child nursing and was all set for doing it when I found out I was pregnant! I could have done part of the course but I thought it would be best to wait until I could commit properly. The time has not yet come as my little girl is only 4 and not at school full time but I think in a few years I will definitely go down this route. I know I am going on now but just thinking of the chance that I may get this job fills me with warmth and even though it will be the beginning for me I so hope it works out! One other question does a healthcare assistant actually spend much time being involved in the care of the babies or are they spending most of the time cleaning? I don't mind cleaning if it gets me to where I want to be but I would much rather be involved in the direct care of babies. Just wish that part time nursery nurse vacancies came up more thats all. Thanks again.

[bigmamma]

There will be some cleaning , some stock taking , and answering the phone , bed making , escorting patients , but the midwife will allocate work which will also consist of helping mums breast feed , bathing and nappy changing , and lots of baby cuddles , taking of vitals , transporting specimens , and measuring and charting intakes and outs fluids .

[bednobs]

lol getting on a bit will most probably work in your favour. Competition for places to train as a midwife is high, so anything that sets you apart will be good (like experience; life experience; a more mature attitude) Good luck!

[tigwig]

thanks!