International Midwives’ Day 2023: International Midwifery Day has been observed annually on May 5 since 1992. This day is celebrated to honour midwives and raise awareness about their vital role in delivering care to mothers and infants. In addition, it is an opportunity for us to recognise their efforts to improve the world.
HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL MIDWIVES DAY
Midwifery is defined as the provision of trained, competent, and compassionate care to pregnant women, newborns, and their families throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and the infant’s first weeks of life.
Core characteristics include optimising fundamental biological, psychological, and sociocultural processes of birth; prompt mitigation and management of risks and intervention; and referral of patients to other services. Additionally, they respect their wards’ distinct perspectives and circumstances and encourage them to take care of themselves and their families.
Midwives, student midwives, and maternity support personnel have faced adversity and risked their lives throughout the years to provide exceptional care to families and communities. This observance was established to recognise their contributions to our communities and rally support for their demands that the government invest in maternity care.
In 1987, the International Confederation of Midwives held a conference in the Netherlands during which the idea for a day to honour and recognise midwives was conceived. In 2014, it was commemorated in Iran and New Zealand, among other nations.
On May 5, 2021, the publication of the State of the World’s Midwifery Report (SoWMy) coincided with the celebrations for International Midwifery Day. The report included workforce data from 194 countries in the disciplines of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Adolescent Health (S.R.M.N.A.H.).
The United Nations Population Fund (U.N.F.P.A.), the International Confederation of Midwives (I.C.M. ), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and Novametrics collaborated on the report, which demonstrates growth since the 2011 edition and identifies obstacles and challenges to future progress. According to the research, there is a global shortage of approximately 1.1 million S.R.M.N.A.H. personnel, with more than 900,000 midwives alone.
On International Midwives’ Day, we recognise the exceptional contributions midwives have made to humanity, while also highlighting the statistics and evidence that midwifery is a vital component of healthcare.
HOW TO OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL MIDWIVES DAY
Research midwifery.
One of the best methods to commemorate International Midwives’ Day is by learning about midwifery and its role in homebirth. Recognising their contributions to delivery safety is the first step in appreciating them for their work.
Acknowledgement of gratitude
If you know a midwife or someone who helped you during childbirth, send a thank-you gift or get in touch with them to express your appreciation. A modest act of gratitude can go a long way.
Contribute to awareness
Why not experiment with different ways to inform the public about midwives? This can be done through a marathon, a public performance, a march, or perhaps a rally. Create a social media marketing campaign as an alternate method.
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Five essential facts about midwives
This is superior to Superman.
The most recent edition of the State of the World’s Midwifery report estimates that increasing the number of midwives and enhancing the quality of care they provide will save an estimated 4.3 million lives annually by 2035.
Better prospects
According to the American College of Nurse-Midwives, women who use a nurse-midwife are significantly less likely to undergo interventions such as C-sections, induction of labour, and anaesthesia.
A mother’s decision
Midwife-attended births in the United States have increased dramatically since 1991, according to Midwifery: Evidence-Based Practise, a publication of the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
Same variation
According to the Cochrane Library, fit women with normal pregnancies are likely to experience the same outcomes as their counterparts who consult an obstetrician.
Certified professionals
Although not all midwives are certified, a midwife in practise may choose from a variety of qualifications and credentialing programmes.
WHY INTERNATIONAL MIDWIFE DAY IS VITAL
Midwives are true heroines.
In addition to saving lives, midwives provide a range of other vital medical services. Counselling and breast and cervical cancer examinations are also among their contributions.
Midwives are advocates for women’s rights.
Midwives are crucial to the protection of women’s liberties. They are able to aid victims of gender-based violence and contribute to the prevention of female genital mutilation. Their contributions should not be discounted.
This is a vital healthcare reminder
International Midwives’ Day aims to emphasise the significance of health systems worldwide. It also functions as a reminder to all involved parties to pay attention and take action.
INTERNATIONAL MIDWIVES DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | May 5 | Friday |
| 2024 | May 5 | Sunday |
| 2025 | May 5 | Monday |
| 2026 | May 5 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | May 5 | Wednesday |
