What Is a Midwife and What Are Her Roles?

During ancient times, when a woman was about to give birth, a midwife was summoned in order to support her through labor and delivery. There were no doctors yet, and midwives dominated the labor and delivery world. This goes to show that midwifery started even during the ancient times. When people talk about midwives, and when described in books, they are usually depicted as women with capable hands, who are smart and caring. Midwifery is considered an ancient art by those who practice it, and it takes a lot of caring and at the same time experience in order to get it right.

In the ancient times, in order to become a midwife, a woman has to undergo training from a senior who is an expert in dealing with childbirth. In the recent times, women can go to school and learn the different processes of how to guide a pregnant woman during the crucial times of pregnancy, labor, and childbirth. Midwives are very important people especially when it comes to maternity health care as they have more connection with the patients.

People believe that midwifery is an ancient art that focuses on the well-being of the woman. It is a vocation that is believed to be not bound or definable by medical terms. Especially when it comes to traditional midwifery, the practices of midwives are deeply honored and revered. As a form of knowing how to connect with other women, midwives are made to learn everything about the woman's body, the anatomy, the physiology, and the different bodily functions that occur. This makes it easier for midwives to establish a bond between themselves and the women they help.

What are the differences between midwives and doctors? Doctors go to medical school in order to learn everything and are trained to do surgery. They have scientific knowledge of how things go in the woman's body. Midwives also receive training from their superiors and learn important things related to labor and childbirth but they do not go to medical school. Though they do not carry a title, they are still skilled in taking care of pregnant women, so long as there aren't complications.

So then, what is a midwife essentially? Being a midwife entails a lot of focus on the preventive aspect of care during pregnancy. Under the midwifery model of care, labor and childbirth are both considered normal events and not medical ones. Midwives need to understand how things go and what women feel and be able to connect with their patients.