Midwifery is the profession of midwives, only midwives practise midwifery.
It has a unique body of knowledge, skills and professional attitudes drawn from disciplines shared by other health professions such as science and sociology,
but practised by midwives within a professional framework of autonomy, partnership, ethics and accountability.
The midwife is recognised as a
responsible and accountable professional who works in partnership with women
to give the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and
the postpartum period, to conduct births on the midwife’s own responsibility
and to provide care for the newborn and the infant.
This care includes
preventative measures, the promotion of normal birth, the detection of
complications in mother and child, the accessing of medical care or other
appropriate assistance and the carrying out of emergency measures.
The midwife has an important
task in health counselling and education, not only for the woman, but also
within the family and the community.
This work should involve antenatal
education and preparation for parenthood and may extend to women’s health,
sexual or reproductive health and child care.
A midwife may practise in any
setting including the home, community, hospitals, clinics or health units.
(ICM, 2017).
