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This is a great subject suggested by ARM member Jeannine. Should we be defined by birth? We all do so much more. Is birth central to our role, or should birth be seen (perhaps) as part of a wider role that is more about the relationship between the midwife and woman as the woman goes through the childbirth journey? What do you think?
Hi Nicky and everyone,
Thanks for posting this topic, during the ‘normal’ v ‘physiological’ debate that pervaded the #SoMe airways in August, it struck me that midwives we being defined by one aspect of what they do professionaly.
As a midwife with a disability which restricts where I can work, I work in antenatal care permanently, in an clinic setting. This allows me to continue my passion of supporting women however there have been many times where I have seen myself as a lesser midwife because I haven’t birthed a baby in so long now.
I felt this even more during this debate.
Whats are others thougths on this? 🙂Hi Jeanine, it’s a fantastic question! don’t give up on getting answers, you’ve probably realised we haven’t really got going with the forum yet! Please stick with us and hopefully we can address this and other questions.
Regarding the question itself … In my opinion you’re quite right that to focus just on birth is very limiting and also completely untrue.’midwife’ means ‘with woman’ and the activity of being with woman happens in so many settings, not just the birthing room … I guess birth is central in one way as all our activities lead up to or away from, or revolve around, birth! But in my opinion you can be a midwife in many ways and embody the spirit of being truly ‘with woman’ whether at a birth or in an antenatal clinic, or after the birth.
I agree wholeheartedly,I often feel the most skillful part of my job is facilitating decision making and exploring ideas with women in the antenatal period – indeed it is often the skill that women really appreciate. It is lovely attending a birth however I don’t think it should be looked upon as the main part of our role.
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