Midwives are Essential
Midwifery is an ancient practice that has played a crucial role in the birthing process for centuries. Midwives, with their vast knowledge and skills, have been trusted by families to provide comprehensive care during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. In addition to their medical expertise, midwives offer emotional support and advocate for the empowerment of women and birthing people during this transformative time. From historical origins to modern practices, the field of midwifery is both fascinating and deeply rooted in nurturing and preserving life.
Midwifery is defined as “skilled, knowledgeable and compassionate care for childbearing women, newborn infants and families across the continuum from pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, birth, postpartum and the early weeks of life”. The evidence shows us that midwifery plays a “vital” role, and is associated with improved quality of care and rapid and sustained reductions in maternal and newborn mortality.
Midwives provide evidence based, inclusive care for expectant families
Historically, midwives were from the communities they served and understood the cultural practices, sacred traditions and needs of their communities.
Midwives practice in hospitals, clinics, birth centers and homes
Midwives cultural reverent care that reflects their communities and honors their experiences
The spirit of midwifery care centers the WHOLE person and provides a loving patient approach to the life event of pregnancy, birth and beyond.
Black, Indigenous and other communities of Color are sorely underrepresented in the midwifery profession in present day, in spite of the long history of BIPOC midwives being the experts in their communities.
All women, birthing people, and newborns have a right to a quality of care that enables a positive childbirth experience that includes respect and dignity, a companion of choice, clear communication by maternity staff, pain relief strategies, mobility in labor and birth position of choice. Midwives are essential to the provision of quality of care, in all settings, globally.
When midwives are trained, and include the provision of family planning, it could avert more than 80% of all maternal deaths, stillbirths and neonatal deaths. Achieving this impact also requires that midwives are licensed, regulated, fully integrated into health systems and working in interprofessional teams.
Beyond preventing maternal and newborn deaths, quality midwifery care improves over 50 other health-related outcomes, including in sexual and reproductive health, immunization, breastfeeding, tobacco cessation in pregnancy, malaria, TB, HIV and obesity in pregnancy, early childhood development and postpartum depression.
Midwives are uniquely able to provide essential services to women and newborns in even the most difficult humanitarian, fragile and conflict-affected settings. This means that midwives will make a significant contribution to delivering on the commitments made in the Astana Declaration on Primary Health Care and the Global Action Plan on Healthy Lives and Well-Being.
Educating midwives to international standards is a cost-effective investment as it saves resources by reducing costly and unnecessary interventions
Yet there is a startling lack of investment in quality midwifery education, despite the evidence of impact. Now is the time to take collective action.
How are midwives paid?
Hospital based midwives are covered by private and public insurance but often because of affiliations with health systems.
Licensed Community based midwives have to rely on cash payments from families being served.
Midwives have been assisting women in childbirth for centuries.
Since ancient times, midwives have played a vital role in helping women navigate the miraculous journey of childbirth. Their expertise and care have been valued throughout history.
Midwives provide personalized and comprehensive care.
Midwives are known for their holistic approach to childbirth, focusing not only on the physical well-being of both the mother and baby but also considering their emotional and social needs.
Midwifery promotes natural childbirth.
Midwives prioritize empowering women to have a natural childbirth experience whenever possible, embracing the body’s natural abilities and minimizing medical interventions.
Midwives offer support during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.
Midwives provide continuous care throughout the entire childbirth process, guiding women and their families from the early stages of pregnancy through the postpartum period.
Midwives advocate for women’s rights in childbirth.
Midwives are dedicated to ensuring that women have the right to make informed choices about their birth experiences. They work to empower women and respect their autonomy.
Midwifery care can reduce the risk of interventions.
Studies have shown that women who receive care from midwives are less likely to require medical interventions like caesarean sections, induction, or the use of epidurals.
Midwives provide emotional and psychological support.
Midwives understand the emotional and psychological challenges that come with childbirth and provide compassionate support to women and their families during this transformative time.
Midwifery is not limited to home births.
While midwives are often associated with home births, they also work in hospitals, birth centers, and other healthcare settings, ensuring safe and personalized care for women.
Midwives offer prenatal education and breastfeeding support.
Midwives take a holistic approach to prenatal care, providing education on childbirth, breastfeeding, newborn care, and postpartum recovery to help women make informed decisions.
Midwives promote continuity of care.
Midwives build trusting relationships with their clients, offering consistent and personalized care throughout the entire childbirth journey, fostering a sense of comfort and security.
Midwifery is recognized as a profession globally.
Midwives are valued healthcare professionals in many countries around the world, guiding women through pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond, ensuring safe and positive experiences.
Are midwives and doulas the same? Doula and Midwives are often linked together because of the way they care for families, but midwives are primary care providers. In Perinatal health Midwives should be thought of as primary providers like OB GYNs
Are Midwives safe? Yes! In fact, The World Health Organization States that the number one way to combat maternal mortality worldwide is midwives.
Midwives help reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.
Access to midwifery care has been shown to significantly decrease maternal and infant mortality rates, as midwives are trained to identify and respond to potential complications.
Midwives are highly skilled healthcare providers.
Midwives undergo extensive training and education to provide safe, evidence-based, and compassionate care to women and families during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.
Midwives are advocates for women’s reproductive health.
Midwives promote overall reproductive health, offering guidance on family planning, contraception, and preconception care to ensure women have the support they need throughout their lives.
Midwives support natural pain management techniques.
Midwives encourage the use of non-pharmacological pain management techniques such as breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, massage, and positioning to help women cope with the intensity of labor.
Midwives celebrate the diversity of birthing experiences.
Midwives respect and honor the diversity of cultural and individual birthing practices, providing culturally sensitive care that embraces and celebrates each woman’s unique journey.
Midwives play a crucial role in fostering positive maternal and newborn bonding.
Midwives promote skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding, and other bonding practices that help strengthen the emotional connection between a mother and her newborn.
Conclusion
In conclusion, midwifery is a fascinating profession that plays a crucial role in the delivery of babies and supporting women throughout the childbirth process. Midwives provide compassionate and personalized care, ensuring the health and well-being of both the mother and the newborn.
From their historical significance to their modern practices, there are numerous captivating facts about midwives. Whether it’s their diverse cultural presence, their role in empowering women, or their use of natural and holistic approaches, midwives continue to impact and shape maternity care around the world.
So the next time you hear the term “midwife,” remember the rich history, the dedication, and the remarkable contributions they make to prenatal, childbirth, and postnatal care. They truly are unsung heroes in the world of healthcare.
(thanks to Facts.net and the World Health Organization for the summation!)