Midwives are highly skilled professionals who provide vital care to mothers and their babies during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. They are experts in normal pregnancy and birth and are trained to identify and manage complications. Midwives work in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, and home birth settings. In many countries, midwives are the primary care providers for pregnant women and their families.
The role of a midwife in healthcare is essential. Midwives provide continuity of care and support to women during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. They also offer advice to mothers and families during this special time.
If you are considering a career in midwifery, there are several accredited online midwifery programs. The online midwifery programs at Baylor University are ideal for those who wish to enter the profession but cannot commit to full-time study. They are also well-suited for those already working as midwives and who want to further their education. The programs will give you the necessary skills to work as a certified midwife and advance your career.
Key duties of midwives
A midwife is a trained healthcare provider. They have been carefully trained to translate scientific knowledge into birth experience. Midwives comprehensively understand the normal stages of pregnancy and the normal delivery processes. The midwife is responsible for providing women with a safe and healthy childbirth experience. Midwives work as:
1. Coordinators
Midwives are the first point of contact for women after labor begins. They are skilled communicators and can provide an important focal point for women and their families as they go through work. In unplanned births, midwives help to coordinate care. This can be crucial, especially in emergencies where midwives must monitor women and their newborns, inform emergency personnel, and shepherd the mother and her baby to the emergency room.
2. Counselors
Midwives often have the unique role of educating the family about labor and birth. They ensure family members are prepared and understand the process of delivery. As per their training, they offer support before and after the birth, help with feeding and postnatal care, identify and manage issues, and help address women’s concerns and fears. Above all, midwives offer support, reassurance, and positive feedback. This includes assisting women to overcome the challenge of postpartum depression, which is a common problem.
3. Caregivers
During normal labor, midwives are responsible for caring for the mother and can assist with managing complications should they arise.
Especially when complications arise, midwives provide the support women need. Midwives administer pain relief and monitor fetal heart rates and blood pressure. They also monitor the delivery and are on the lookout for the signs of any potential problems.
4. Leaders
Midwives are highly skilled professionals who offer unique insight, compassion, and experience when treating women. Many expectant mothers seek out the advice and guidance of their trusted midwives for reassurance and comfort as they enter the final months of pregnancy. The midwife’s role is to coordinate care and make critical decisions on behalf of the mother, baby, and the broader family. As such, midwives need exceptional emotional intelligence and good judgment.
5. Family Planners
Midwives work closely with the family during the birth process, looking out for the whole family’s well-being. Many midwives are especially well-versed in the social and cultural aspects of birth and closely involved in activities surrounding the delivery to ensure that the needs of all concerned are met. They can coordinate all birth-related services, define treatment protocols, and provide standardized education. Some midwives work in birth centers that do not provide acute services.
6. Advisers
Midwives are an essential part of any maternity care team. They keep their finger on the pulse of healthcare and offer healthcare providers a unique perspective. They know when families are at risk and often call upon their expertise when a problem arises.
Midwives use science, intellect, and experience to provide evidence-based advice and insight to women and their families. However, midwives can solve many problems in the healthcare system by identifying problems and offering solutions. They keep healthcare providers informed about trends and developments.
7. Managers
Midwives apply their extensive team skills to run a large maternity care facility. They must be skilled at recruiting, supervising, and training personnel, delegating work, and keeping tight controls.
Midwives are well known for adding “magic to the delivery room” and see countless births daily. They quickly recognize the signs of high-risk pregnancies. They are well aware of their “calling” and see the opportunity to see these births are successful and give care.
8. Educators
Midwives communicate with women at every stage of pregnancy and labor. As the pregnant mother learns more about and experiences her pregnancy, her questions may become increasingly complex. When the time comes to give birth, midwives are invaluable. They offer both supportive and knowledgeable guidance through the labor process.
9. Record keepers
Midwives are skilled at documenting births and medical histories officially and systematically. They take notes to demonstrate what they have witnessed and offer these records to others in the healthcare system. They keep accurate and complete records in a timely fashion. They can document births and generate reports whenever required, as well as assist doctors in the evaluation of new methods of obstetric practice.
10. Supervisors
The midwife’s job is to make vital decisions on behalf of the mother, baby, and family. They oversee the birth, and all care is based on their professionalism, experience, and findings. There are shortages of midwives, making it difficult to provide enough supervision. It is essential to provide ongoing training to newer midwives.
Bottom line
Midwives work in diverse settings, including the home, the hospital, birth centers, and emergencies. They care for women and their family members throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum. Midwives need to plan the daily activities of their office, arrange meetings, and keep track of their own time.
If you need a career in midwifery, now is the time to enroll in an accredited program to become a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) to make a difference in the lives of women and their families. Midwives deliver babies, educate the public, and do clinical work and research. They work together with other healthcare professionals to ensure that moms are prepared to give birth and that the baby is healthy.
