International Day of the Midwife
The Person Who Had Our Back
Parenthood has a way of etching certain memories into your soul with stunning clarity. The sound of a heartbeat monitor. The feeling of cool hands holding yours. The look in someone’s eyes that says, without words, “You’re safe; I’ve got you.”
Long after the birth plan has been scrunched up and discarded, the memory of your midwife remains. On the 5th of May, the International Day of the Midwife, we are given a collective moment to pause and send a wave of gratitude to those extraordinary people.
For many of us, a midwife is the first person to ever say our child’s name out loud. Think about that for a moment. In the haze of labour, when the world narrows to a pinprick of intensity, it is often the midwife’s voice that anchors you. They are the gatekeepers of a safe arrival, but they are also the curators of first impressions. The way a midwife places a newborn onto a mother’s chest isn’t just a clinical transfer; it’s a sacred introduction. That image, of gloved hands gently guiding slippery limbs, is the foundational portrait of a new family.
But your gratitude today might not be tied to a birth. It might be for the midwife who sat with you in a quiet consultation room when the news wasn’t good. It might be for the community midwife who noticed you weren’t just tired, but drowning in the fog of perinatal anxiety, and who quietly slipped a leaflet across the coffee table without any judgment. It might be for the bereavement midwife who gave you time to say hello and goodbye in the same breath, treating your baby with the dignity the world sometimes forgets. Midwifery is not just about balloons and pink-and-blue bunting; it’s about walking through the shadows safely, held by someone brave enough not to look away.
If you are currently pregnant, or planning to be, know that midwives are trained to care for the whole you. They don’t just look at the bump; they look at your face. They listen to the question you’re too afraid to ask, and they answer the ones you don’t know how to phrase. They are the guardians of the normal, the calm in the storm, and the expert in the emergency. You might forget the words they said, but you will likely never forget how they made you feel: empowered, capable, and seen.
So how can we, as patients, meaningfully mark this day? It’s not about grand gifts. It’s about letting that gratitude flow. If a midwife pops into your head today, consider sending a card to the unit. Better yet, if you have a story of outstanding care, share it with the Trust – a positive feedback file can mean the world to a midwife on a hard day. To every midwife who has held a mother’s hand in the dark, and who has had the honour of saying, “Here is your baby”: this day is for you. You are woven into the very fabric of our families, and we are forever grateful.
The core responsibilities of Midwife
- Antenatal (pregnancy) care – Midwives monitor the health of both mother and baby throughout pregnancy. This includes routine check-ups, measuring growth, arranging scans, and identifying any complications early. They also provide advice on nutrition, lifestyle, and birth planning.
- Labour and birth support – during labour, midwives lead care for low-risk pregnancies. They monitor progress, support pain management choices, and ensure the safety of both mother and baby. They’re often the primary professional present during natural births.
- Postnatal care – after birth, midwives check on recovery, support infant feeding (including breastfeeding), and monitor the newborn’s health. They also watch for signs of postnatal conditions like infection or postnatal depression.
- Health education and guidance – midwives educate families about pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenting. This includes running antenatal classes and giving advice on newborn care, sleep, and feeding.
- Safeguarding and advocacy – they play a key role in identifying vulnerable situations (e.g. domestic abuse, mental health concerns) and ensuring appropriate support is provided. Advocacy for the mother’s preferences and informed choices is also essential.
- Collaboration with healthcare teams – midwives work closely with obstetricians, GPs, health visitors, and neonatal staff. If complications arise, they refer patients to specialists.
- Record-keeping and clinical standards – accurate documentation, maintaining patient records, and following NHS guidelines and safety protocols are a critical part of the job.
- Community-based care – many NHS midwives work in the community, visiting patients at home or running clinics, ensuring continuity of care outside hospitals.