Top 12 Midwife Skills to Put on Your Resume

In the rewarding field of midwifery, showcasing the right blend of skills on your resume can lift your chances fast. The following guide highlights 12 core midwife skills that signal competence, compassion, and readiness to provide outstanding maternal and newborn care in a busy, high-stakes world.

Midwife Skills

1. Obstetric Care
2. Fetal Monitoring
3. Neonatal Resuscitation
4. Prenatal Education
5. Lactation Support
6. Electronic Health Records (EHR)
7. Ultrasound Interpretation
8. Labor Support Techniques
9. Postpartum Care
10. Gynecological Exams
11. Family Planning
12. Intrapartum Care

1. Obstetric Care

Obstetric care, in the context of midwifery, covers comprehensive support during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum period—aimed at safeguarding the well-being of both mother and baby.

Why It's Important

It’s the backbone of safe maternity care. Thoughtful, evidence-based obstetric care helps spot complications early, guides timely action, and supports healthy outcomes, all while honoring each family’s needs.

How to Improve Obstetric Care Skills

Strengthen practice through layered, practical steps:

1. Continuous Education: Keep current with guidelines, courses, and certifications through professional bodies such as ACNM and RCM.

2. Interprofessional Collaboration: Coordinate closely with obstetricians, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, and nurses. Team-based practice improves outcomes.

3. Quality Improvement: Lead or join safety and quality projects that reduce variation and enhance reliability in care.

4. Patient-Centered Care: Build trust. Elicit preferences. Share decisions. Respectful maternity care isn’t optional—it’s essential.

5. Smart Technology Use: Employ electronic records and telehealth to improve access, follow-up, and continuity while maintaining privacy and security.

Blending clinical rigor with humane care changes outcomes—often profoundly.

How to Display Obstetric Care Skills on Your Resume

2. Fetal Monitoring

Fetal monitoring tracks fetal well-being during pregnancy and labor—typically using intermittent auscultation or continuous electronic methods—to catch trouble early and guide action.

Why It's Important

It helps identify fetal distress, informs timely interventions, and supports safer births for both mother and baby.

How to Improve Fetal Monitoring Skills

Sharpen judgement and technique through:

1. Updated Guidance: Review current recommendations from organizations such as ACOG and FIGO.

2. Pattern Recognition: Practice interpreting fetal heart rate patterns frequently—simulation and drills help lock in skills.

3. Appropriate Technology: Match monitoring intensity to risk. Use intermittent auscultation for low-risk labor; know the limitations of Doppler and CTG.

4. Parental Education: Teach parents to monitor fetal movement and report changes promptly; provide simple kick-count instructions.

5. Collaboration: Escalate promptly when tracings are concerning; coordinate with obstetric and neonatal teams.

6. Individualized Plans: Tailor monitoring to history, preferences, and risk—no one-size-fits-all approach.

How to Display Fetal Monitoring Skills on Your Resume

3. Neonatal Resuscitation

Neonatal resuscitation is the immediate set of actions taken when a newborn struggles to breathe or circulate effectively, with the goal of establishing ventilation and supporting circulation in those pivotal first minutes.

Why It's Important

Seconds matter. Competent resuscitation prevents injury, saves lives, and reassures families that care is swift, coordinated, and skilled.

How to Improve Neonatal Resuscitation Skills

1. Follow Current Standards: Train and retrain with the latest Neonatal Resuscitation Program guidance.

2. Hands-On Simulation: Practice high-frequency, low-dose drills to keep skills sharp and roles crystal clear.

3. Team Communication: Use structured communication and briefing/debriefing frameworks to tighten teamwork under pressure.

4. Equipment Readiness: Standardize checks before every birth; know your devices inside out.

5. Family Communication: Explain, reassure, and update parents with clarity and compassion.

How to Display Neonatal Resuscitation Skills on Your Resume

4. Prenatal Education

Prenatal education prepares expectant parents for pregnancy, labor, birth, and early newborn care—reducing fear, building skills, and improving decision-making.

Why It's Important

Informed families cope better, choose wisely, and feel more in control. Education steadies nerves and supports healthier outcomes.

How to Improve Prenatal Education Skills

1. Use Multiple Formats: Mix in-person classes, virtual sessions, and self-paced materials to widen access.

2. Personalize: Adapt content to literacy levels, language, culture, and unique concerns.

3. Evidence First: Build curricula from current, trustworthy research and guidelines.

4. Make It Active: Add demos, role-play, and hands-on practice (comfort measures, newborn basics) to boost retention.

5. Coordinate Care: Align messages with the broader care team to avoid mixed signals.

6. Seek Feedback: Short surveys and quick debriefs help refine what truly helps parents.

How to Display Prenatal Education Skills on Your Resume

5. Lactation Support

Lactation support means guiding breastfeeding parents through latch, positioning, milk supply challenges, and realistic troubleshooting—so feeding becomes sustainable and satisfying.

Why It's Important

Breastfeeding supports infant health, maternal recovery, and bonding. Expert help during hurdles can be the difference between stopping early and thriving.

How to Improve Lactation Support Skills

1. Stay Current: Follow guidance from recognized breastfeeding organizations and clinical protocols.

2. Strengthen Credentials: Consider advanced lactation certification (e.g., IBCLC) to deepen assessment and counseling skills.

3. Tailor Support: Every dyad is different. Encourage skin-to-skin, early initiation, and practical, stepwise adjustments.

4. Build Community: Connect families to peer groups and local resources for ongoing support.

5. Offer Virtual Help: Video consults and vetted apps can extend reach between visits.

6. Listen First: Empathy, validation, and clear language reduce frustration and improve adherence.

7. Follow Up: Schedule check-ins to catch issues early and celebrate progress.

How to Display Lactation Support Skills on Your Resume

6. Electronic Health Records (EHR)

EHRs are digital charts that consolidate histories, labs, meds, and plans—supporting safer, faster, more coordinated maternity care.

Why It's Important

Instant access to accurate information tightens communication, reduces errors, and supports timely decisions—key drivers of better maternal and neonatal outcomes.

How to Improve Electronic Health Records (EHR) Skills

1. Midwifery-Specific Templates: Build workflows for prenatal visits, intrapartum notes, newborn assessments, and postpartum care plans.

2. Training and Support: Offer ongoing education, tip sheets, and super-user coaching to improve speed and accuracy.

3. Interoperability: Enable data exchange with hospitals, primary care, labs, and pharmacies to close information gaps.

4. Patient Portals: Encourage appointment management, secure messaging, and access to key results to boost engagement.

5. Security and Privacy: Adhere to HIPAA and sound cybersecurity practices; build patient trust by protecting their data.

How to Display Electronic Health Records (EHR) Skills on Your Resume

7. Ultrasound Interpretation

Ultrasound interpretation involves recognizing normal and abnormal findings to assess fetal growth, anatomy, placental position, and overall pregnancy health—within scope and local regulations.

Why It's Important

Early detection of concerns guides timely referral and management, supporting safer pregnancies and births.

How to Improve Ultrasound Interpretation Skills

1. Formal Education: Complete accredited courses designed for obstetric imaging within midwifery practice.

2. Repetition with Feedback: Scan under supervision; review images with experienced clinicians to sharpen pattern recognition.

3. Deepen Anatomy: Regularly study fetal and maternal anatomy using high-quality radiology references.

4. Peer Review: Discuss challenging cases in image review meetings to broaden exposure.

5. Simulation: Use simulation platforms to practice systematically without patient pressure.

6. Stay Updated: Track changes in obstetric ultrasound standards and safety recommendations.

How to Display Ultrasound Interpretation Skills on Your Resume

8. Labor Support Techniques

Labor support techniques include positioning, massage, hydrotherapy, breathing, counter-pressure, and continuous emotional presence—tools that ease pain and smooth the course of labor.

Why It's Important

Good support lowers stress, improves satisfaction, and can reduce unnecessary interventions—benefiting parent and baby alike.

How to Improve Labor Support Techniques Skills

1. Keep Learning: Pursue continuing education on comfort measures, physiologic birth, and shared decision-making.

2. Refine Communication: Practice active listening, plain-language coaching, and steady reassurance.

3. Hands-On Mastery: Drill positions, rebozo techniques, acupressure points, and water-based methods.

4. Emotional Care: Use grounding, pacing, and affirmation strategies to help manage fear and fatigue.

5. Professional Community: Exchange tips and case pearls with midwives, doulas, and childbirth educators.

6. Evaluate Tools: Periodically assess aids (peanut balls, TENS, birth stools) for safety, availability, and usefulness.

How to Display Labor Support Techniques Skills on Your Resume

9. Postpartum Care

Postpartum care monitors recovery, mood, feeding, and newborn adaptation—while guiding families through the swirl of early parenthood.

Why It's Important

Attentive follow-up detects complications early, supports lactation, and addresses mental health needs, easing a vulnerable transition.

How to Improve Postpartum Care Skills

1. Earlier, Ongoing Care: Make contact within the first 3 weeks, with a comprehensive visit by 12 weeks, then as needed thereafter.

2. Targeted Education: Provide clear, brief teaching on bleeding, pain control, pelvic floor health, sleep, and newborn care.

3. Mental Health Screening: Screen for depression and anxiety using validated tools; create fast referral pathways.

4. Support Recovery: Offer guidance on nutrition, gradual activity, perineal and cesarean care, and contraception planning.

5. Link to Community: Connect families with lactation help, parent groups, and practical resources.

How to Display Postpartum Care Skills on Your Resume

10. Gynecological Exams

Routine gynecological exams performed by midwives (within scope) assess the breasts and reproductive organs, screen for disease, and address menstrual, sexual, and contraceptive concerns across the lifespan.

Why It's Important

Regular screening and timely counseling prevent illness, catch problems early, and support reproductive wellness before, during, and after childbearing.

How to Improve Gynecological Exams Skills

1. Communicate Clearly: Explain each step, check consent continuously, and invite questions—comfort rises when surprises fall.

2. Create Comfort: Warm instruments, thoughtful draping, trauma-informed approaches, and patient-controlled pacing matter.

3. Update Practice: Follow current cervical cancer screening intervals, STI testing recommendations, and treatment protocols.

4. Use Feedback: Gather patient input to refine environment, language, and workflow.

5. Adopt Suitable Tech: Employ less invasive diagnostics when appropriate and ensure privacy is protected.

How to Display Gynecological Exams Skills on Your Resume

11. Family Planning

Family planning encompasses counseling and services that help people time and space pregnancies, choose contraception, and plan for healthy futures.

Why It's Important

Healthier intervals, safer pregnancies, informed choices—family planning strengthens families and communities.

How to Improve Family Planning Skills

1. Broaden Knowledge: Stay current on contraceptive methods, eligibility criteria, and side-effect profiles.

2. Counsel with Care: Use shared decision-making, respect preferences, and address myths with plain, balanced information.

3. Cultural Humility: Provide sensitive, respectful care that honors values, language, and context.

4. Community Outreach: Partner with local organizations to expand education and access.

5. Policy Awareness: Track coverage rules and referral options so cost and logistics don’t become barriers.

6. Professional Development: Engage in workshops and case-based learning to refine counseling and procedural skills.

How to Display Family Planning Skills on Your Resume

12. Intrapartum Care

Intrapartum care is the real-time support and clinical management provided during labor and birth—continuous presence, vigilant assessment, and timely intervention.

Why It's Important

Active, skilled intrapartum care prevents harm, promotes physiologic birth when appropriate, and stabilizes emergencies when they arise.

How to Improve Intrapartum Care Skills

1. Keep Up with Evidence: Review current guidance from global and national professional bodies.

2. Listen and Communicate: Center the birthing person’s goals; use respectful, clear language under pressure.

3. Maintain Core Skills: Practice fetal assessment, non-pharmacologic pain relief, and emergency drills regularly.

4. Support Physiologic Birth: Encourage mobility, hydration, position changes, and water therapy when safe.

5. Cultural Competence: Deliver care that is respectful, inclusive, and responsive to diverse needs.

6. Thoughtful Technology: Use tools that add value without overmedicalizing low-risk labor.

7. Teamwork: Coordinate seamlessly with obstetric, anesthesia, pediatric, and nursing colleagues.

How to Display Intrapartum Care Skills on Your Resume