Definition of Midwife and Midwifery:
Midwifery is the profession of midwives and has a unique body of knowledge, skills and professional attitudes drawn from disciplines shared by other health professions such as science and sociology, but practiced by midwives within a professional framework of autonomy, partnership, ethics and accountability. Midwifery care is provided by an autonomous midwife. Midwifery competencies (knowledge, skills and attitudes) are held and practiced by midwives, educated through a pre-service/preregistration. Midwifery is an approach to care of women and their newborn infants whereby midwives:
=> Optimize the normal biological, psychological, social and cultural processes of childbirth and early life of the newborn.
=> Work in partnership with women, respecting the individual circumstances and views of each woman;
=> Promote women’s personal capabilities to care for themselves and their families;
=> Collaborate with midwives and other health professionals as necessary to provide holistic care that meets each woman’s individual needs
In Pakistan, all the graduates will be titled as ‘MIDWIFE’ after successful completion of the undergraduate midwifery degree program. This program and title both are approved by Pakistan Nursing Council.
Scope of Practice:
The midwife is recognized as a responsible and accountable professional who works in partnership with women to give the necessary support, care, and advice during pregnancy, labor and the postpartum period, to conduct births on the midwife’s own responsibility and to provide care for the newborn and the infant. This care includes preventative measures, the promotion of normal birth, the detection of complications in mother and child, the accessing of medical care or other appropriate assistance and the carrying out of emergency measures.
The midwife has an important task in health counseling and education, not only for the woman, but also within the family and the community. This work should involve antenatal education and preparation for parenthood and may extend to women’s health, sexual or reproductive health and childcare. A midwife may practice in any setting including the home, community-based health units/ clinics, hospitals, or basic health units BHUs/ Rural Health Centers/ Taluqa and/or District hospitals.”[1]
[1] Copied from Pakistan Nursing Council Curriculum for BSM – unpublished document – Adapted from ICM 2017
