Midwife

A midwife is a professional who specializes in pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Midwives provide prenatal care, support during labor and birth, and postpartum care for mothers and newborns. They may also offer family planning, gynecological care, and lactation support. Midwives work in hospitals, birth centers, or homes and may collaborate with obstetricians, family physicians, and pediatricians to ensure safe outcomes, particularly for healthy, low-risk pregnancies.

Training and certification vary by country. In many places, midwives complete accredited education and obtain licensure or certification. Examples include certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives in the United States, both requiring nursing education plus specialized midwifery training. Direct-entry or autonomous midwives may enter the profession without a nursing background. In other regions, traditional birth attendants or lay midwives practice within communities, sometimes with informal training and different regulatory status.

Scope of practice: Midwives generally care for uncomplicated pregnancies and births, monitor maternal and fetal health, identify risk factors, and refer to obstetricians when needed. They provide birth support and pain management options and offer postpartum and newborn care, including breastfeeding support. Licensing and scopes of practice are defined by national or state regulations; in many health systems, midwives work under formal collaboration with medical professionals.

History and outcomes: The midwife role is ancient and culturally diverse. Modern midwifery developed with formal education and professional regulation in the 20th century. Research often associates midwifery-led care with high satisfaction and lower intervention rates for low-risk pregnancies when access to emergency services is available.