Lisa switched careers: ‘I will hardly bring anything in for the next four years’

“The moment I first heard my unborn child’s heart beat, I suddenly realized that I should have become a midwife. “I’m not going to take this seriously until you’re your old non-pregnant self again, okay?” My friend said when I told him. That seemed very sensible to me, but the idea never let go.

Devour information

I devoured Safe pregnant and Delivered safely, the books of Beatrijs Smulders. Not only for myself, but also as a professional literature. Even my not-so-smooth home birth didn’t give me any doubts. I have never been afraid of blood, I have seen enough foals born on my grandfather’s farm for that. When I turned on my computer for the first time after three months of leave – I worked as an ad planner for a television channel – the first thing I googled was information about the midwifery course.

Back in the classroom

Two months ago I quit my job and registered as a student. I have been back in school for a few weeks now. My friend was the one who gave the final push. That says something, because he pays the highest price. To start with the long journey that was blamed on me this summer. He will work full-time instead of four days. For the next four years, I will hardly contribute anything – midwifery is a full-time course. There are more objections. By the time I finish, I will be almost 46. My best friend, her forty years old, is already entitled to wretched days.

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Calling

Although the outlook for midwives is favorable, I am also concerned on uncertain days. What if babies suddenly get ‘out’? What if I am overtaken left and right by women who are younger and more experienced than me? But then I say to myself: do I want to implicitly give my son the message that you only get one chance in life? That you should agree to your fate when you discover what your calling is at a later age? There are people who do not find the love of their life until they are seventy. Then I’m still early.

Get used to

Once my mother got over the shock of my career switch, she transferred ten thousand euros to our and / or account. This shows a lot of confidence. I will not disappoint her. It will be quite tough that we will have to bite for so long. But if I will be standing with an ultrasound probe in my hand in four years, and even better: having delivered my first baby, it will all have been worth it.

This article has previously appeared in Kek Mama.

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