Midwife
Support women at all stages of their pregnancy – before, during and after the birth.
About the job
A day in the life – Midwife
What it's like
As a midwife, you'll be the lead maternity healthcare professional for pregnant women. You'll guide a mother to bring her baby safely into the world. Before, during and after the birth you’ll help her through this emotionally and physically demanding experience.
Midwifes care for and support families from a range of backgrounds with different needs. You'll build a relationship with the mother to help them stay well during their pregnancy.
As well as actually delivering their baby, you'll be a source of emotional and practical support during labour. Sometimes, things get a bit trickier. That's when a doctor called an obstetrician steps in and takes the lead. They're experts in complicated pregnancies and births.
You'll still be there to support – monitoring the mother’s wellbeing, heart rate and blood pressure. You’ll also keep a careful check on the baby's heartbeat, reporting any changes to the obstetrician.
As a midwife based in the community, you'll visit people's homes to check on the health of the mother and baby.
Your tasks might include:
checking the health of mothers and babies
explaining birthing options – such as hospital birth, home birth, natural childbirth and the types of pain relief
giving advice on things like healthy eating and getting regular exercise
running classes about pregnancy (antenatal) and parenting
supporting women in labour – giving medication or suggesting ways they can manage pain
delivering babies and liaising with doctors if you notice any medical problems
monitoring the baby after it's born and giving advice to families about feeding, bathing and generally caring for their baby
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
NHS Scotland Careers – discover more information about working as a midwife
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) – explore the independent regulator of nurses, midwives and nursing associates
Like the sound of this career?
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Midwife'
Select qualification level(s)
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- taking responsibility
- making decisions
- developing a plan
- social conscience
- empathising
- cooperating
- verbal communication
- listening
- supporting
- resilience
Things you should know
Meet Shannon
a midwife at NHS Forth Valley
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Biology
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Care
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Childcare and Development
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Human Biology
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Skills for Work: Health and Social Care
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services and Healthcare
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services Children and Young People
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You must have a degree to become a midwife in Scotland.
Let's look at the ways you can work towards earning this degree.
University
You’ll need a degree or postgraduate qualification in Midwifery.
If you're already working as an adult nurse, you'll likely be eligible for a shortened postgraduate Midwifery degree.
Use the My World of Work course search to find midwifery degrees and postgraduate courses.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you progress to a Midwifery degree. Useful subjects include:
Care and Administrative Practice
Healthcare Practice
Social Services
Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP)
Are you an adult who doesn't have the qualifications you need to go to university? You may be able to use the Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP) to kickstart your midwifery career.
Volunteering in a relevant role can help you build some of the skills and experience you’ll need to become a midwife. Search for opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
You'll need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) once you've qualified as a midwife.
All midwives must be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, run by Disclosure Scotland.
Studying or training
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Midwife'
