What is a midwife

Midwives are the only health care professionals concerned solely with maternity care. Midwives are trained to care for women with normal pregnancies, labours, and postnatal periods. Most women will have problem free pregnancies and labours.

The World Health Organisation recommends Midwives as being the most appropriate professional to care for women with uncomplicated pregnancies.

A midwife cares for women during pregnancy, attends childbirth, provides support during labour and birth, and supervises the general care of women and children directly after birth. The term midwife, meaning "with a woman," was first recorded in 1300. However, accounts dating to the second century confirm the role of midwives in the birthing process. Contemporary midwives provide care to women during normal pregnancies and deliveries and call on obstetricians or other physicians if complications develop. Midwifery is a professionally regulated field.

Communication between the midwife and the pregnant woman is emphasized, and midwives focus on working with the woman to reduce the risk for complications during childbirth. Midwives also focus on the needs of the family, and most encourage family participation in the birth. They pay special attention to the cultural values and personal preferences of the women in their care.

Midwives are committed to the normal birthing process and as a result do not routinely advocate intervention, midwives encourage women to actively participate any decisions concerning her care. Midwives provide health care education and emotional and social support.