Midwife

Career path and progression

You must renew your Nursing & Midwifery Council registration every 3 years to show you're keeping your skills up to date.

You could take further training to specialise in areas like ultrasound or neonatal care.

With experience, you could become a ward manager or team leader.

You could also train to become a health visitor, a director of midwifery or midwifery consultant.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• knowledge of medicine and neonatal care
• sensitivity and understanding
• knowledge of psychology
• customer service skills
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Biology - Midwives need a deep understanding of human anatomy, reproduction, and foetal development to monitor the health of both parent and baby throughout pregnancy. They use this knowledge when managing labour, recognising complications, and understanding how the body recovers after birth.
• Psychology - Midwives support people through one of the most emotionally intense experiences of their lives, and need to recognise signs of anxiety, depression, and trauma. They use counselling skills and an understanding of mental health to help new parents cope with the psychological demands of pregnancy and early parenthood.

Also relevant

• Chemistry - Midwives need to understand how medications work in the body, including pain relief options during labour and drugs used to manage complications. A foundation in chemistry helps them grasp pharmacology and how substances like hormones and anaesthetics affect different patients.
• Sociology - Midwives work with families from a wide range of cultural, social, and economic backgrounds, and these factors can significantly affect health outcomes. Understanding social inequalities and how community and family structures influence people's experiences helps midwives provide more sensitive and effective care.
• English Language - Midwives need to communicate complex medical information clearly to parents who may be anxious or unfamiliar with medical terminology. They also write detailed patient notes and birth reports that must be accurate and easy for other healthcare professionals to understand.
• Physical Education - Midwives advise pregnant people on staying active, managing physical changes, and preparing their bodies for labour. Understanding how exercise, breathing techniques, and physical fitness affect the body helps them give practical guidance during pregnancy and recovery.
• Mathematics - Midwives regularly calculate medication dosages, monitor vital signs, and interpret measurements such as blood pressure, foetal heart rate, and growth charts. Accuracy with numbers is essential to ensure the safety of both parent and baby.
• Food Preparation and Nutrition - Midwives advise pregnant and postnatal people on nutrition, including which nutrients are important for foetal development and recovery after birth. Understanding how diet affects health outcomes – such as the role of folic acid, iron, and calcium – is a regular part of the guidance they provide.