International Day of the Midwife

International Day of the Midwife is upon us again and it has been another year of great change and challenge for us all, during which midwives have once again demonstrated commitment to their profession and shown great adaptability, flexibility and passion.

This year is an important one as it marks the 100th anniversary of the formation of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) whose mission is to advance the profession of midwifery globally. ICM represents more than one million midwives in 120 countries. 

It is the ICM that leads on the International Day of the Midwife and this year the theme is on 100 years of progress. It is fair to say that so much progress has been made to improve midwifery care to mothers and babies and the profession in those 100 years.

I am very conscious of the opportunities and the challenges that the pandemic presented to us all over the past two years, with a combination of modern technology and innovative staff combining to deliver care in new ways. For example, colleagues report that more women are now accessing antenatal education online with evidence-based information available on various platforms allowing women to access it when it suits them.

The cautious lifting of restrictions in maternity care is to be welcomed and we must now ensure we bring with us the positive developments and improvements from the last two years.

The recruitment and retention of midwives remains a significant challenge for us all and one which we must work together to address.

So today do take the time to celebrate our great profession and reward yourself for another year of progress.

Happy International Day of the Midwife.