Midwives

This article is the product of knitting together the collective knowledge of women in outport Newfoundland to gain a deeper understanding of the history of women healers. Highlights the special role of the midwife. 

Presents a body of knowledge to inform and accelerate the availability of quality midwifery services for women and newborns throughout the world. Aims to make a valuable contribution both to strengthening the midwifery workforce around the world and to the critical planning that is needed to achieve the health Millennium Development Goals. Focused on 58 countries with high rates of maternal, foetal and newborn mortality.

This report resulted from the collaborative efforts of 30 agencies and organizations and hundreds of individuals working at national, subnational, regional and global levels. It is a response to the ‘Global Call to Action’ issued at the Symposium on Strengthening Midwifery at Women Deliver in Washington, DC in June 2010.

The Network speaks with health advocate Shirley Tagalik about why her northern town is fighting to bring maternity care back to their community.

Explores concerns about the state of maternity care. 

Describes midwives and what they do, why we need midwifery, midwives as primary health care providers, their scope of practice, and the midwifery contribution to primary health care renewal.

Provides evidence-based arguments for midwives as safe and effective caregivers for women with low-risk pregnancies.

Presents the International Confederation of Midwives' position statement regarding the role of midwives in the care of newborns.

Presents the International Confederation of Midwives' position statement regarding midwives' role in the care of women post abortion.