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Mark your calendars for May 5 and get ready to celebrate International Midwives Day! This special day was created in 1992 to honor the invaluable work of midwives around the world who help mothers give birth safely and provide essential care throughout pregnancy and childbirth. It's a great opportunity to show appreciation for these hardworking professionals, who often go unrecognized but provide invaluable support to families during this important life event. Let's take some time on May 5 to recognize these amazing individuals and celebrate their dedication and commitment to women's health!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1800s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Midwifery Becomes a Profession</div><div class='timeline-text'>In the 1800s, midwifery began to emerge as a recognized profession, with training schools and formal certificates being introduced in several countries.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1952</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Foundation of ICM</div><div class='timeline-text'>The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) was established to promote the professional education and standing of midwives worldwide.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1991</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Midwives' Day Proposal</div><div class='timeline-text'>The idea for an international day to celebrate midwives was proposed by the ICM at the International Congress of Midwives in the Netherlands.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1992</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First International Midwives Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>The first International Midwives Day was officially observed on May 5, following endorsement from the World Health Organization and UNICEF.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2001</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Midwifery Promoted</div><div class='timeline-text'>UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, started significant promotion of midwifery globally, recognizing midwives as key to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2020</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Year of the Nurse and Midwife</div><div class='timeline-text'>The World Health Organization declared 2020 the Year of the Nurse and Midwife to further highlight the pivotal role these professionals play in global health.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Volunteer at a community health center</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Midwives play an important role in providing care to pregnant women and are often underfunded or lack resources. Volunteering your time at a local health center is a great way to show your appreciation for midwives.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Donate to a midwifery organization</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Donate money or supplies to a midwifery organization in your area to help support their mission and ensure that midwives have the tools they need to continue providing quality healthcare.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Attend an event</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>See if there are any events in your area celebrating International Midwives Day and attend them to show your support. Most events include speakers, activities and more.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Write a letter of appreciation</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take time to write a letter of appreciation to your local midwife or midwifery organization thanking them for their hard work and dedication.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Share your story</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Share your experiences with midwives on social media or through blog posts so that others can learn about the invaluable role that midwives play in healthcare.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Midwives provide crucial support throughout pregnancy</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Midwives play an integral role in ensuring a healthy and safe pregnancy for mothers. From conducting prenatal visits, to providing nutritional advice and monitoring labor and delivery, midwives are dedicated professionals who work hard to ensure the best possible outcome for both mother and baby.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Midwives are advocates of informed decision making</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Midwives believe in giving families the knowledge they need to make well-informed decisions about their care. They view childbirth as a normal physiological process, not a medical event that requires unnecessary interventions or treatments. Midwives also strive to empower women by involving them in every step of their pregnancy so that they can feel knowledgeable and secure throughout the process.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Midwives strive to promote better birth outcomes</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Studies have shown that midwife attendance during labor results in fewer cesarean sections, lower rates of assisted deliveries (using forceps or vacuum) and better Apgar scores for newborns. Because midwives focus on individualized care tailored to each patient’s needs, women under their care often report higher satisfaction with their birthing experience than those attended by other healthcare providers.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Midwives Care Extends Beyond Birth</h3><p class='facts-content'>Midwives don’t just deliver babies, their care extends to physical examinations, counseling, family planning, gynecological checks, and menopause management, making their role diverse and multi-faceted.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Midwives Promote Natural Childbirth</h3><p class='facts-content'>Midwives are strong advocates for natural childbirth and aim to minimize unnecessary technological interventions which can make birth safer for both mother and baby.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>There are Different Types of Midwives</h3><p class='facts-content'>You may be surprised to learn there are several types of midwives including Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs), Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), and Direct-Entry Midwives (DEMs) each of which have different training and credentialing.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Midwives often Work in Teams</h3><p class='facts-content'>Many midwives work as part of maternity teams alongside obstetricians and nurses. This collaborative model helps to provide a comprehensive care plan tailored to the needs of the individual.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Midwives Can Lower Healthcare Costs</h3><p class='facts-content'>Research has shown that midwife-attended births tend to be less expensive than physician-attended ones, largely due to the lower rates of c-sections and medical interventions.</p></div></div>
International Midwives Day is celebrated on May 5 every year. In 2024 International Midwives Day will occur on a Sunday.
2023
May 5
Friday
2024
May 5
Sunday
2025
May 5
Monday
2026
May 5
Tuesday
2027
May 5
Wednesday
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