Midwifery Study in SA

[mumma_jessy]

Hi there,

I'm interested in studying to be a middy in SA. I did not complete my SACE. Any ideas on what I have to do to get in? Are there any TAFE courses that lead into it? Will I have to do nursing first?

Sorry for all the Q's, I want to know what i need to do so i can plan the future, I'll be busy enough with 3 kids soon, lol! So I need to plan my years wisely...

Thankyou!

[PunkyDiva]

You can do Bach of Nursing through Uni of SA (internal or external) 3yrs fulltime OR Certificate IV Health (Nursing) at TAFE 1 yr fulltime.

Have a looksy at the Open university as entry to Bach you will need to complete some short units externally.
Our TAFE had an entrance exam you sat for entry to Cert IV.

You can put Uni on HECS but most TAFE courses have to be paid for upfront .

Most places for Mid are very competitive.
When I applied to monash in Vic there were 25 places a year for over 300 applicants, so imagine will be the same all over.

HTH:thumbsup:

[BlueButterfly]

Hi!

Im doing the 3yr bmid program at flinders. Feel free to pm me with any questions! :thumbsup:

[Student Midwife]

hey! i am doing the bachelor of midwifery at flinders uni... if u wanna get into mid u will either have to do the direct entry mid course or do your nursing degree first then do the mid after that... the mid course on its own is 3 years, and the nursing course is 3 years also, you would then have to do another 18 months to complete your midwifery training after doing nursing. having said that, nursing is a lot easier to get into than the mid course, there are only very limited amounts of places in the mid courses, and only uni SA and flinders offer the course.

to get into any of the courses u need to sit the stat test... provided your 21 or over.

hope that helps!
JO

[BlueButterfly]

Hi Jo! I pm'd you!

By the way...its mel from your course! :p

[lilpearl]

Hi,

I enquired at the Uni of S.A, they said I'd just need to sit the stat test. I'll be applying for S.A distance, and Monash, here in Melbourne. My midwife from my recent homebirth told me that my life experience (mother of three, including two VBAC's, two waterbirths, and 1 homebirth, as well as my doula training and experience, and breastfeeding journey's) would give me a step up. It does tend to be easier to get into direct-entry midwifery courses if you have already completed a legit doula course. (I believe everyone should do a doula course before midwifery, anyway, as it paves the way for a midwifery view of birth as opposed to an obstetrical one, that birth is a normal, natural, social issue, not a medical one. Unfortunately many midwives end up being swayed by the system and ending up as "med-wives" with no intrinsic trust in the birth process. Anyway, a STAT test is all that is required if you are a mature age student, as well as whatever interviews, etc individual universities require, but it is very competitive. Good luck! :)

[BlueButterfly]

Hi,

I enquired at the Uni of S.A, they said I'd just need to sit the stat test. I'll be applying for S.A distance, and Monash, here in Melbourne. My midwife from my recent homebirth told me that my life experience (mother of three, including two VBAC's, two waterbirths, and 1 homebirth, as well as my doula training and experience, and breastfeeding journey's) would give me a step up. It does tend to be easier to get into direct-entry midwifery courses if you have already completed a legit doula course. (I believe everyone should do a doula course before midwifery, anyway, as it paves the way for a midwifery view of birth as opposed to an obstetrical one, that birth is a normal, natural, social issue, not a medical one. Unfortunately many midwives end up being swayed by the system and ending up as "med-wives" with no intrinsic trust in the birth process. Anyway, a STAT test is all that is required if you are a mature age student, as well as whatever interviews, etc individual universities require, but it is very competitive. Good luck! :)

I am not going to even start explaining my views on this bolded part! All I will say is that I strongly disagree...and I am in the midwifery program! I did not become a doula for a very good reason...I didnt want to! Just because I am a direct entry does not mean that I will be any less of a midwife than you (or a med wife as you call it). I have seen hundreds of midwives who trust women and their bodies, so perhaps you need to trust us more

[Student Midwife]

yeah u tell em Mel! hehe hello, sorry i didnt realise i had a pm from u, ill check it out now :P

[leane7]

How do you apply for distance learing & what will this involve? Will there be any times that you are required to go to SA Uni? I am in Melb & will be applying to ACU & Vic Uni but the distance learing sounds like a good idea too. Anyone have anymore info about this?

[lilpearl]

Bluebutterfly,

Of course there are hundreds of wonderful midwives -the majority of midwives are brilliant (and I had the privilege of birthing at the RPA birth centre in Sydney with my second child, where all the midwives (in the birth centre) were excellent (wont go into the attitudes of some of the midwives on the ward though!).

However, unfortunately, there are MANY midwives who do not see birth as a safe, natural event. As a mother who has had a past caesarean, I have personally come into contact with some very negative, unhealthy views of birth, directly from the mouths of midwives (who many call MED-wives, as it sums up a medical attitude towards birth). My aim in becoming a midwife will be to give back a woman’s birth power, which the hospital system is currently sucking from birthing mothers. Sorry, but if you think that all midwives are good, then you (luckily) haven't come across enough of them. A doula course will not necessarily make for a better midwife, but it will certainly pave the way, and, for this very reason, universities do look favorably on people who have completed a doula course.

Something that makes a great midwife, is an ability to see the problems of the birth industry today, and a want to help change things. We (anyone in the birth industry, myself included) must see the mistakes that are being made and the negative attitudes that must be squelched. This cannot take place if one turns a blind eye to the midwives who are not "with women" but more "with the system". As a doula, I've come across midwivs who certainly do not understand the importance of doing everything for the birthing mother but who are more concerned with their own comfort, even insisting women birth on the bed to "save my back". I've seen midwives break womens waters without consent(!!), and get narcy when a woman vocolises her needs - the industry is in crisis!

The midwife I employed for my recent homebirth has not completed a doula course, but she has a brilliant view of birth and was disgusted when she heard that my local hospital referred to my then up-coming third birth as a TOS (written in my notes [I was booked in incase of need to transferred] by a midwife).

I went to a "booking in" appointment at my local hospital, early in my third pregnancy and was told (by a midwife in the midwives clinic!) "They will want to monitor you continuously as you've had a past caesarean". I told her that I would not be monitored with CTG, as it does not lead to better outcomes for mother or baby, only a higher chance of caesarean section. She said....wait for it...."you'll have to debate it with an ob, they'll probably want you to sign something, I'm just a small person in this hospital"!!!!! She then went on to say, "you do realise the risk of uterine rupture, it would mean you start bleeding and bye-bye baby" - it was then and there that I (naturally!) chose to have a homebirth. The complete lack of up-to-date information, and lack of midwifery skills, that this woman spewed forth was revolting, and every time I corrected her lack of knowledge, she would simply say "yes, you'll have to debate it with an obstetrician".

My beautiful baby no 3 was born at home, in the birth pool, with zero intervention, no internals, physiological third stage, and a brilliant midwife who sat quietly in the background, with all trust in the birth process, the safety of VBAC (it's just another birth, and JUST as safe as a woman birthing her first baby, and ANYONE can have a uterine rupture, and there is far more chance of something else going wrong, etc, etc, etc), and my wishes and beliefs for MY birth experience. She truly is a midwife who is "with women".

So yes, I DO believe that a doula course is an important step to take before being plunged into a medical system that is completely power-hungry and out of control at the moment. I had a third year student midwife at my homebirth, and she was also a doula. What a wonderful person to have there! As a doula, she lavished her doula attention on me, and brought her midwifery skills to light when required - it was the absolute best balance, and I think a doula course should actually become part of the midwifery course.

I wish you all the best in your endeavors, but please do not turn a blind eye to people who are not in it for birthing women, but simply for their own power and glory. One medwife is one too many, and trust is only given when it is earned, my friend. It is by simply trusting that women end up with very traumatic birth experiences at the hands of "professionals".

By the way, I think the direct-entry midwifery course is a welcomed and well-overdue necessity. I only ever put off my midwifery studies due to refusing to do nursing, as it is such a different career and requires such a different attitude.

[becca74]

Hi,
I believe everyone should do a doula course before midwifery, anyway, as it paves the way for a midwifery view of birth as opposed to an obstetrical one, that birth is a normal, natural, social issue, not a medical one. Unfortunately many midwives end up being swayed by the system and ending up as "med-wives" with no intrinsic trust in the birth process.

As a consumer who is dishing out the $$$, I totally agree with your POV :thumbsup: .

As a consumer, I would only choose a midwife who has experienced normal vaginal birth herself, in fact, I would only choose a midwife who has previously had at least one homebirth, ie, that is where I would choose to put my $$$.

I would love to see the training of midwives go back to the days of apprenticeship, whereby the trainee acts in a doula capacity until the Midwife feels that the trainee has witnessed and experienced enough births. I would prefer to train in this way. I want to do DE midwifery, but given my personal real life experience, I am nervous about the things I will witness that I know are unnecessary interferences with normal birth (since I still live with trauma of such unnecessary abuses). I would prefer some kind of apprenticeship system, even if it took me a decade to be ready to don the sacred title of 'MidWife'... which means to be with woman, and to have great wisdom.

I personally think midwifery should be reserved to older women anyway, who have had a lot of life experience and birth experience....but that is just my opinion as a consumer of these services. Birth works when it is instinctive, and I honestly can not fathom how a young woman who has never given birth herself can have access to such instincts? Again....just the opinion of an individual consumer.

So Liana, a wonderful idea! :yelclap:


And out of curiosity, to the all the midwifery students....how many of you have personally given birth before?

[moonblossom]

That was beautifully written Liana. And so very very true. :yelclap:

[becca74]

One medwife is one too many, and trust is only given when it is earned, my friend.

oh so very true :yes:

[leane7]

I have never had any interest in Midwifery or anything medical (nursing/doctor etc), until I had my son in May. After that I realised how much I wanted to be a Midwife & how I wanted to help women to have a beautiful birth experience, just as I did. I am 23 y/o (Young I guess) but I have had the experience of childbirth & from that believe that I could make a fantastic midwife. I agree that some younger ppl (who have not gone through the experience of giving birth themselves) are not ready to be midwives & do not make great midwives as they do not have that life experience. It really annoys me that some Uni's accept more school leavers into Midwifery courses than they do mature students. I have a friend that is a Midwife, she has had not kids herself & has told me that after 6 mnths of being a midwife she has gone into nursing (she did a 3 yr nursing degree, with the 1 yr Midwifery course) as too many women were refusing care from her & her from delivering their babies as she was too young in their opinion (24 y/o). I can understand their point of view. My friend also said how frustrating it was when she was at uni studying Midwifery as there were many school leavers (17, 18 y/o's) that had no idea about life & just wanted to deliver babies & thought that it was all fun & games. I believe that my friend could be a great midwife given the chance, but alot of women do prefer to deal with a midwife that has gone through birth herself. In my particular birthing experience I had a Midwife around who was around age 30 & had kids of her own & I also had a younger girl (not sure if she was a student?-they didnt say that she was) who would have been under 25 & had no kids. I could really tell the difference between the 2 midwives, their experience & advice. The younger girl was a MedWife & the older girl was a Midwife.

I know I have rambled a bit here, but I just wanted to add in my thoughts on this topic. I am going to apply for Midwifery nxt yr & hope that I can make a difference in womens birthing experiences. I guess my main point here is that I agree that Midwives who have had their own kids & are older are generally better than those who have no kids & are younger, school leavers. I also wish that Australia had an apprentership system for midwifery, I think that the US offers this in some states.

[lilpearl]

I would love to see the training of midwives go back to the days of apprenticeship, whereby the trainee acts in a doula capacity until the Midwife feels that the trainee has witnessed and experienced enough births. I would prefer to train in this way. I want to do DE midwifery, but given my personal real life experience, I am nervous about the things I will witness that I know are unnecessary interferences with normal birth (since I still live with trauma of such unnecessary abuses). I would prefer some kind of apprenticeship system, even if it took me a decade to be ready to don the sacred title of 'MidWife'... which means to be with woman, and to have great wisdom.



:thumbsup: Yes! That's exactly what I wish for. It should be normal, common practice, for those wanting to be indpendent midwives (at least) to train as an apprentice.... gently being given the reins as the wisdom is passed on. Absolutely :yes:

[lilpearl]

Thank you, Moonblossom! :)

[BlueButterfly]

I dont know about you but all we've learnt in our midwifery course is to trust the mother and what her body can do. I think too many people judge us straight away as being taught the obstetric way, but we are actually against some of the practices of obstetricians. So therefore, my point is, please dont judge what we are learning, as I can assure you its not what you think.

We have the experience, we have the knowledge, we have the woman's best interests at heart. Some midwives may not, but to begin with, we are taught to trust our bodies.

And as for the comment about school leavers, I AM a school leaver, and the reason I got in along with many others is because a lot of the midwives are retiring, therefore they want younger ones who will stay on for a long time and not retire in a few years.

Please cut us a little slack. Just because I have not had children does not mean that I am not experienced. In fact, it means that I am totally unprejudiced to all options, unlike some homebirthing midwives and doulas that I know of (not on here), but some of them are so against medical intervention if absoluetly necessary that some babies have been severely damaged or even died. And in fact, Im the one looking after them in the nursery now.

So im going to stop debating now, because I know in my heart, despite a 'lack of experience' that you guys may feel, I KNOW what I am being taught, and I KNOW that most midwives are doing a bl**dy good job and are being unfairly judged