International day of the midwife
The International Day of the Midwife is celebrated every year on May 5. The day was established to honour the very vital role that Midwives play in providing the essential care women need during pregnancy, in labour/childbirth and the postpartum/postnatal period (ie the 6-8 weeks after the baby is born).
The day is also widely seen as one of reflection on their work and an opportunity for Midwives all over the world to connect and share their knowledge with one another.
Each year there is a special chosen theme for the day and for 2025 the theme is: ‘Midwives: critical in every crisis.’
International Midwives Day works to improve many aspects of midwifery and in particular the importance of educating, training, regulating and licensing midwives. This is vital in order to improve the quality of care, newborn healthcare and to reduce maternal and newborn death rates
International Midwives Day gives the opportunity to shine a light on the invaluable contributions of midwives all round the world.
Midwives are the unsung heroes of childbirth. They provide compassionate care, skill and expertise and support to women and their families during pregnancy, labour and postpartum. International Midwives Day takes place to honour their dedication, professionalism and commitment to promoting safe and positive childbirth experiences.
In addition to providing antenatal and postnatal care and care during delivery, the midwife also plays a vital part in ensuring the health and safety of mothers and their newborn with other essential contributions, including:.
- Contraceptive and abortion care: Access to comprehensive reproductive health services is critical, but not always readily available or easy to access. Midwives will help navigate challenging conditions in order to meet these needs both compassionately and professionally.
- Support with breastfeeding: understanding the benefits of good nutrition is very important and Midwives will help to educate and support good breastfeeding practices. They will also help with how to breastfeed successfully when it is difficult for the mother.
- Education: As well as care providers, Midwives are also educators for families and wider communities by sharing their knowledge and expertise.
To encourage and support midwives on International Midwives Day, you could share or post some of these ideas on social media and digital channels:
- Share stories and testimonials from mothers, families and communities who have been positively impacted by the care of midwives.
- Highlight the vital role of midwives in ensuring safe childbirth practices, reducing maternal and infant mortality rates and promoting maternal and newborn health.
- Participate in/organise discussions, webinars or Q&A sessions featuring midwives, healthcare professionals and those who want to help raise awareness about midwifery care and its importance.
- Collaborate with midwifery organisations, healthcare institutions, and community groups to advocate for increased support, resources, and recognition for the essential work that midwives.
- Share educational resources, tools advice and helpful tips for expectant mothers and families on pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal care, highlighting the role of midwives in providing holistic care.
- Create a feeling of solidarity and support within the midwifery community by encouraging people to express their gratitude and appreciation for the work midwives do by sharing messages of thanks, artwork and personal stories. This can be helped by using dedicated hashtags.
Whatever we are able to do, by shining the spotlight on, and talking about the vital role Midwives play in our lives, we are championing them and acknowledging just how important they are to women and families worldwide.
It’s our way of saying ‘THANK YOU’
