A mother-of-two who swapped her beauty therapy business for the NHS frontline – all while fighting for specialist education for her severely autistic son – has qualified as a midwife at Bucks New University.
Jodie Jones, from Reading, qualified as a midwife in September 2025 and starting work on the postnatal ward at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in January 2026.
She had always been interested in midwifery, inspired by her grandmother who worked in the profession, but she left school without the grades needed to go straight to university.
After having her children, she decided to return to education, completing an Access to Higher Education course and retaking her Maths GCSE while raising two young children.
Her studies came with additional challenges. During her degree, her son was diagnosed as severely autistic and non-verbal, and Jodie was working through the process of securing the right support for him, including an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and a specialist school place.
Alongside placements, assignments and caring responsibilities, Jodie also received support from Bucks for dyslexia – something she had previously been reluctant to accept during her teen years.
She said: "It was a real struggle at the time. Placements are long and shifts aren't family-friendly, so you have to plan everything.
"My son needed a lot of support and we were trying to get everything in place at the same time I was studying. It wasn't easy."
But Jodie says the experience has helped shape the kind of midwife she is today. She tries to treat others with kindness and support as she knows they remember how they are treated in these moments.
Now working on the postnatal ward, Jodie says supporting families through those early moments after birth is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
"Helping someone breastfeed for the first time, when they've been struggling, is a big thing," she said. "You can spend a long time supporting one family, but when it finally comes together, it makes everything worth it."
Jodie is particularly proud of a recent moment when she spoke up for a patient's safety early in her career. After raising concerns about a patient being discharged despite high blood pressure, the decision was reviewed and the patient remained in hospital.
She said: "You might be newly qualified, but you still have to trust what you know. If something doesn't feel right, you have to say it."
Her advice to other parents considering a career change or return to education is simple.
"You need good support around you, and you have to plan it carefully," she said. "But if you really want it, go for it. It's so worth it in the end."
Carla Avery, lead midwife for education at Bucks, said: "Jodie's done brilliantly. She has had a lot to balance, but she has always been determined and committed to becoming a midwife.
"What really stands out is her confidence to advocate for women and families in her care. That is such an important part of being a midwife and we're incredibly proud to see her putting that into practice."