Q’s for those studying to be a MW
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Topic: Q’s for those studying to be a MW
Posted By: mummy_becks
Subject: Q’s for those studying to be a MW
Date Posted: 11 February 2010 at 7:07pm
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Due to a big change in our lives that are happening in our lives at the moment I may have the chance to study this sooner rather than later. For those that are in the process of studying for this qual what did you do before you applied study wise??? I don't have the best track record with my study (due to PND I got a compassionate w/d but it is still on my academic record as a w/drawn), but I am better now and know that if I do small steps now I can work my way back up to full time study in a year. I will probably study through Massey due to where we live but an advise would really help. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Replies:
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 11 February 2010 at 7:12pm
| Just a note about your past grades. When you apply you just need to state what the situation was when you got those grades/withdrew and what is different with the situation now. I had some bad grades due to a bad relationship I was in.. when I got my interview for teachers college I just explained that and they are understanding. It shouldn't be a black mark against your name at all. |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 11 February 2010 at 7:21pm
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Sweet thanks for that. My grades were at Massey so they would have that info and would see the notes with them. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: LuluBelle85
Date Posted: 11 February 2010 at 7:33pm
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Hi there
I'm a second year student MW in Christchurch. I'm not sure what Massey's requirements are, but here I did pre-health science first (2 maths papers, biology, microbiology, chemistry, info skills, therepeutic communication) and worked my butt off in them to get good marks. However not everyone in my class did this... some had previous degrees, some had come straight from school, some hadn't studied for a while etc. Probably best to phone Massey and see if they can give you some helpful advice (and try and talk to the actual MW department rather than enrolments). It's not all based on how well you do academically though, a lot of it came down to our application essay which included writing about certain aspects of the profession, our ideas, and why we wanted to do it. 
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 11 February 2010 at 7:40pm
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Well I may need to put it on hold Massey and the MW Council are having issues with their degree. However have found some papers I can do that go towards the degree as it stands at the moment. But anything else anyone has to offer would be appreciated. Thanks for that Lou, doing some health papers would help and maybe a maths paper as well by the sounds of it. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: LuluBelle85
Date Posted: 11 February 2010 at 7:45pm
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We are the first class to start the new degree (4 years crammed into 3) and it's great, but quite stressful!
Out of everything, maths and bio are definitely hugely helpful Good luck :) |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 11 February 2010 at 7:50pm
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Massey wants to go the other way and do it over 4 years again but the MW council is vetoing it at the moment. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: LuluBelle85
Date Posted: 11 February 2010 at 8:13pm
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4 years... *shudder* Lol!
This is my 3rd year studying towards this degree... when I include pre-health.. I'd be horrified if I had another full 3 years instead of 2 to do! Lol. My fellow classmate RachandJack should have some good advice too when she see's this thread. |
Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 11 February 2010 at 8:15pm
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Otago Polytech do a distance course with several onsite block courses each year - might be worth having a look at. Littlebug is studying through them from memory (but on campus). ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 11 February 2010 at 8:37pm
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Just a little too far away for me Flissey ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
. However not something I should completly rule out if Massey and the midwifery council can't agree. I saw Wintec do it as well so that is another option if they do it block mode as well.Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 11 February 2010 at 8:55pm
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I hear you! Though I know a few girls doing it/planning to do it cos it works better for their families than onsite. FiX that Massey gets its stuff sorted out! ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 11 February 2010 at 9:44pm
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Send Katte a PM, she is studying to be a mw & it's through otago & not Massey. I do know there is limited intake. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: LuluBelle85
Date Posted: 11 February 2010 at 11:21pm
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Otago and Canterbury do it jointly (so they will be doing the same one as me and rach)
And yes... it has a huge online component and also block 'intensives'. The intake this year for canterbury was 37... for us last year it was 34 (this includes the out of town sattelites) and I believe for otago its around the same give or take a few. |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 11 February 2010 at 11:28pm
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Yeah ring around and see what you need. They really love life experience and stuff but you also do need the science.
The college of midwives won't let massey do it in four years because the whole degree has to be finished in four years so then there would be no leeway for people needing to go part time for a year. Ours is the equivalent of four years but squeezed into three, we have a 45 week year. The only other thing to think about is how your family would cope. Its full time and you are on call and stuff so you need support. Also we have to go away in third year for a placement. Anyway good luck its so awesome! 
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Posted By: lemongirl
Date Posted: 12 February 2010 at 11:29am
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I got into the AUT intake for this year but had to defer for a year due to my partner losing his job.
I had bursary maths& science (showing my age here) plus a full honours degree (not science based) and I was sweet as. The most important thing you can do to boost your chances is to demonstrate your interest in the subject. Start reading midwifery books such as baby catcher (my favourite) or a midwife's tale plus http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.com/2008/02/blogs-for-student-midwives.html - this blog is extermely useful and is written by nz midwifery lecturer. Also perhaps contact a local midwife with questions etc. |
Posted By: LuluBelle85
Date Posted: 12 February 2010 at 12:15pm
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lemongirl... 'Baby Catcher' (Peggy Vincent) is amazing huh! I read it again over the summer break a few weeks ago and it was so cool to read it again after doing a year of midwifery. Definitely going to read it once a year from now on :)
'The Red Tent' is another great book (Anita Diamant) which most of our class has read and many of us wrote about in our application essays. And also 'Spiritual Midwifery' by Ina May Gaskin
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Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 12 February 2010 at 12:16pm
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I'm doing the Bachelor of Midwifery at Otago Polytech. This is a distance course and can be studied from virtually anywhere. I know some students in my year that were going to study through Massey but can't anymore, for the same reasons mentioned above, and are doing it through OP instead.
A lot of course content is delivered online, through documents, forums and online tutorial classes. There are intensive weeks every so often and you will need to go to the nearest major centre for those (which are Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Palmerston North - I think). You should give the Polytech a ring and talk to the Midwifery department, they are very approachable and friendly and will do their best to help you out, and they will be able to send you an information pack with course requirements regarding previous study, etc. A lot of it is to do with life experience, not just grades, so don't panic. I had a lot of aegrotat marks and withdrawn papers on my previous degree for various reasons and had no trouble getting in. If you don't have any science background then you may need to complete some introductory bioscience papers before you can be accepted. I really recommend that you give Otago Polytech a call and explain your situation to the Midwifery Department, and see what advice they can offer you about applying. That's the only way that you will be able to find out for sure what you will need to get onto. ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: lemongirl
Date Posted: 12 February 2010 at 1:25pm
I love her concept of spirit babies to explain miscarriages. Was so sweet. I liked a midwife's tale because she was clearly just as enraptured with the amish as she was midwifery but cried my way through the last few chapters. |
booweeza wrote:Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 12 February 2010 at 1:44pm
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Thanks all will give OP a call to see if I can do it through them with the blocks in Palmy or somewhere close to there. Like the idea of the books will go to the library when we come back to Palmy. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: LuluBelle85
Date Posted: 12 February 2010 at 2:02pm
I've been meaning for so long to get my hands on a copy of 'a midwifes tale' especially after reading about the Amish in Ina May Gaskins book (just a short few chapters). Spirit Babies is so lovely... I've passed it on to a few women who loved it and found it really special. |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 12 February 2010 at 8:02pm
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Next question for those that are studying now did you go into a hospital/ talk with a MW and spend a day with them to make sure that is what you want to do??? ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: LuluBelle85
Date Posted: 12 February 2010 at 8:15pm
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I didn't do that.
I just knew that it was my calling :) A few of us in our class were talking about this the other day, and we all said it's the first birth that you attend as a student that makes or breaks you, lol. I don't think talking about it can prepare you enough than actually being there. (And hospital midwifery is a lot different from LMC work so it depends on how you want to practice) HTH's! :) |
Posted By: lemongirl
Date Posted: 12 February 2010 at 8:18pm
At the age of 10 I kept trying to get a peak of my mum's labour of my baby brother. |