Midwifery

laurakilleen

Hey I'm a 6th year student thinking of doing midwifery. Can any current students tell me more about the course and how they find it?

And one major question I have is do you have to dissect dead bodies?

Thanks

Jayni93

Hiya, I'm a direct entry midwifery student who absolutely loves the course!!! For me doing the direct entry worked because I didn't want to go all around the world for sport, i.e. do the general nursing degree and then the 18-month post reg course, just to get to where I wanted to be in the first place. Having said that, the advice i'd give would be to put the midwifery first on your CAO and then put down the general nursing as your back-up, but i'm sure your guidance teacher has told you likewise

It's a four year course and your time is spent 50/50 between college and placement and points for UCD last year were around 470 because it's a highly competitive course to get in to as there are only approx. 20 students in each year.

First year is mainly observational and your time in the hospital is in the second semester and the time is spent between the antenatal, delivery and postnatal ward.

Second year placement is in the second semester also and in third year it is in the first semester. Second and third year are reserved for more specialist placement e.g. community midwifery, theatre, obs/gynae, Special care babies, 6 weeks general placement in St. Michaels, Dun Laoghaire, 2 weeks psych in St. John of Gods, etc and with UCD you have the option of going to Wexford General or Sligo general for six weeks to see more a midwifery-led care approach to childbirth and pregnancy as well as spending time in antenatal, delivery and postnatal again. This year is also the first year that they are offering the opportunity for 2 midwifery students to go on an Erasmus to Bristol for three months in second year.

In fourth year the first semester is spent in college and then after Christmas you have your 36 week internship and then you're qualified!!!

As to your other question, no you don't have to dissect dead bodies but there is the opportunity to visit the anatomy labs in first year at Christmas and summer as part of your anatomy module revision but this isn't compulsory but very worthwhile to attend!

Something to keep in mind though when choosing which university to study any midwifery/nursing course is which hospitals the university are affiliated with and how easy it would be for you to get to these hospitals. As far as I know, UCD students go to the National Maternity Hospital and TCD students go to the Rotunda/Coombe for their placements. Another thing to keep in mind is that the Health Sciences Building in UCD is right in the middle of campus beside the new Student Centre with an Olympic sized pool, cinema, state of the art gym and numerous other fantastic facilities whereas the TCD nursing building is located on D'Olier Street, away from campus.

But I really can't tell you what a rewarding course it is when you're standing there holding the first baby you ever delivered!!!! Best of luck

laurakilleen

Thank you SO MUCH! The only thing that worries me is that I'm a tiny bit squemish. I watch one born every minute and it doesn't bother me one bit, it's just the caesarian bit that makes me cringe a bit but I don't feel sick or anything. That is literally the only thing thats making me nervous. I don't want to go to college only to find out that I wouldn't be able to handle it in person. I really appreciate the help

Jayni93

There's no need to worry about the caesareans at all because that is such a small part of midwifery, it is a wholly medical are and in first year they want you to see and get used to normal pregnancy and childbirth so they don't throw you in to c-sections unless you have a patient going for one and you want to attend too.

Also it's in second year that you do your official theatre placement so you have plenty of time to get used to the whole thing and see if it is for you, which i'm sure it will be

laurakilleen

That's good to hear, seriously I appreciate this so much, my two major concerns are gone. Thank you!

Chet T16

One word, episiotomy. I'd sooner cut up dead people

Jayni93

No worries! Best of luck

laurakilleen

I had to google episiotomy and from reading about it, cutting up dead people sounds a lot worse. But its opinion I guess!

11Charlie11

Just wondering would this be the right course to do if I want to become a neonatal nurse .. I would love to work with premature and sick babies so I don't know whether to do general nursing of midwifery cause I have no interest in becoming a general nurse

leesmom

11Charlie11 wrote: »

Just wondering would this be the right course to do if I want to become a neonatal nurse .. I would love to work with premature and sick babies so I don't know whether to do general nursing of midwifery cause I have no interest in becoming a general nurse

My advice Would be to do children's and general or midwifery, leaning towards c and g .
Generally they like you to have 6 months experience within that area before applying for the course. That's why I'd say c and g or maybe mids as both give you experience working with sick neonates.
Personally I'd try to get into children's and general over midwifery as it gives you so many options whereas you're quite restricted with midwifery alone.