What does a Midwife do?
Published 3 min read
A midwife is a trained professional who provides health care to women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Midwives are experts in normal pregnancy and birth, and they provide comprehensive care to women with low-risk pregnancies. In addition to providing medical care, midwives also offer emotional support and guidance to women and their families during this exciting time.
Midwife job duties include:
- Antenatal care
- Postnatal care
- Labour ward care
- Delivery suite care
- Gynaecology clinic care
- Family planning clinic care
- Antenatal classes
- Breastfeeding support and advice
- Health promotion
Midwife Job Requirements
A midwife is a health professional who specializes in caring for pregnant women and their babies. Midwives are trained to provide care throughout the pregnancy, labor, and delivery process. They may also provide care during the postpartum period. In order to become a midwife, one must complete a midwifery education program. Midwifery programs are typically three-year programs that lead to a bachelor's degree or higher. After completing a midwifery education program, midwives must pass a national certification exam. In order to maintain their certification, midwives must complete continuing education credits every three years.
Midwife Skills
- Listening
- Empathy
- Compassion
- Communication
- Organizational
- Time management
- Problem solving
- Critical thinking
- Patience
- Multi-tasking
- Stress management
Related: Top Midwife Skills: Definition and Examples
How to become a Midwife
There are many ways to become a midwife. The most common way is to attend an accredited midwifery school and complete a three-year program. Other ways include completing a two- or four-year degree in nursing with a focus on midwifery, or completing a four-year degree in another health-related field with a focus on midwifery. There are also many certificate programs available that can be completed in as little as one year.
Once you have completed your education, you will need to pass the national certification exam administered by the American Midwifery Certification Board. Once you have passed this exam, you will be a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM). In order to maintain your certification, you will need to complete continuing education credits every three years.
If you are interested in becoming a midwife, there are many resources available to help you get started. The American College of Nurse-Midwives has an excellent website that provides information about midwifery schools, financial aid, and career resources.
Related: Midwife Resume Example