To the Wise Women and Men of Midwifery: Thank You

May 05, 2017Midwifery is more than clinical services. It ’s a science and an art with deep history.If you ’ve ever been present for a baby’s birth, you know firsthand it’s a magical, transformative moment. With one final push (or surgical procedure), suddenly the number of sentient human beings in the room goes up.You also may know that the presence of someone else —ideally someone skilled and wise—is essential. So much could go wrong, and two lives depend on the mother’s hard and painful work. Her labor and delivery need guidance—and often intervention—by a clinical expert.For too many women and newborns around the world, magic turns to heartbreak. Every day anestimated 830 women die from pregnancy- or childbirth-related complications. Almost all of these deaths are preventable.But we are making progress.Between 1990 and 2015, thematernal mortality ratio declined by 44%—largely thanks to better access to midwives and other skilled birth attendants and to emergency obstetric care.What it means to be a midwife varies by country, and so does what they ’re called. Around the world, midwives, nurse-midwives, midwifery assistants, auxiliary nurse-midwives, and others are on the front lines, guiding women and newborns through safe deliveries and referring emergencies for prompt, specialized care.Yet midwifery is more than just clinical services. It ’s a science and an art with a deep history.Presence& WisdomThe origin of the wordmidwife in English litera...
Source: IntraHealth International - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Source Type: news