Midwifery professionals

Definition:
Midwifery professionals plan, manage, provide and evaluate midwifery care services before, during and after pregnancy and childbirth. They provide delivery care for reducing health risks to women and newborn children, working autonomously or in teams with other health care providers.

Tasks include:
(a) planning, providing and evaluating care and support services for women and babies before, during and after pregnancy and childbirth according to the practice and standards of modern midwifery care;
(b) providing advice to women and families and conducting community education on health, nutrition, hygiene, exercise, birth and emergency plans, breastfeeding, infant care, family planning and contraception, lifestyle and other topics related to pregnancy and childbirth;
(c) assessing progress during pregnancy and childbirth, managing complications and recognizing warning signs requiring referral to a medical doctor with specialized skills in obstetrics;
(d) monitoring the health status of newborns, managing complications and recognizing warning signs requiring referral to a medical doctor with specialized skills in neonatology;
(e) monitoring pain and discomfort experienced by women during labour and delivery and alleviating pain using a variety of therapies, including the use of painkilling drugs;
(f) reporting births to government authorities to meet legal and professional requirements;
(g) conducting research on midwifery practices and procedures and disseminating findings such as through scientific papers and reports;
(h) planning and conducting midwifery education activities in clinical and community settings.