Midwives are health care professionals that provide nurturing hands of care to expecting mothers before, during and after the birth of a baby. They develop a kind of trusting relationship with the mother, which results in a safe, natural and confident birth. Midwives also provide care, support and advice to partners and family members of the client. They help women to make their own decisions about the services and care that they require.


Major Responsibilities of Mid Wives:

Midwives are personally responsible for the care of both mother and child. The main responsibilities include:

Diagnosing and monitoring women throughout pregnancy; Providing all types of antenatal care including the various tests in the hospital; Spotting high risk pregnancies; Providing advice and counseling during screening; Arranging health awareness for the women and her family members; Encouraging support and participation of other family members during and after the pregnancy process; Supervising and managing various drugs and medicines as per the requirement of the mother; Providing emotional and mental support during any abnormalities or miscarriage; Providing guidance and advice on daily care of the baby regarding breast-feeding, daily bathing and other tasks; Taking proper care of the mother and baby after the birth.


There are 2 Types of Midwife:


Lay Midwife

A lay midwife designates an unlicensed midwife who does not have any kind of degree or former training. She will have been educated and trained by another midwife or through other informal routes. This does not mean a low level of education and can be termed as a traditional birth attendant or midwife. The risk level with a lay midwife is more than the CNM as she is not trained on medical grounds, so is unable to handle complications and emergency situations.


Certified Midwife (CNM)

A certified midwife is termed as a registered nurse with advance training in midwifery. In most of the cases, they have an obstetrician backing them. They are legally allowed to write prescriptions and can provide independent consultations and health care management. Certified midwives play a vital role in educating women and their families about child-care health and nutrition. CNM provide their services in various sectors including health departments, health maintenance organizations and to rural under-served populations.


Midwife Benefits

A woman under the care of a midwife can give birth safely and naturally while being fully supported by family members. Midwifery care reduces fear, lowers complications and reduces the risk of requiring a cesarean section. They combine modern techniques with traditional knowledge and make the whole process more comfortable for the mother. Midwives provide personal and emotional support to the women in every aspect of pregnancy. Their role is very important and diverse as they provide support, information, care and guidelines about the birth process to the mother. She will also help to maintain a loving and supportive atmosphere for the pregnant woman and her family.