Ruth Marie Xuereb joins fellow midwives worldwide in celebrations on May 5, saying that the International Day of the Midwife should serve to take on renewed commitments.
On May 5 the Malta Midwives Association will be joining the rest of the world to celebrate the International Day of the Midwife.
After all, in the normal course of life, one’s first contact with the world is a midwife. Our mothers carry us in their wombs but it is the midwife who brings us into this world.
“I’ve always wanted to become a midwife because I did not want a job where I could accomplish my tasks, get paid and head home. I wanted something that could offer me satisfaction and happiness. This is what I found in midwifery,” said the Student Midwives Association’s former president Annabelle Mamo.
“Looking back after a day’s work, although exhausted, the curve on my face never ceases to amaze me,” she said.
But, in reality, one does not actually plan their career. “I am a midwife by destiny or God’s plan, as I had never considered the profession in my youth until the day came to actually enrol at university. Today I feel it was a blessing since I totally love it,” said Pauline Borg, a midwife for the past six years.
“It is truly a vocation and an art and my work gives me great satisfaction. It is a privilege to witness and participate in the miracle of life. There are challenges to work on but this gives us the drive to further ourselves and the care we give to women, babies and their families,” said the midwife, who works at Central Delivery Suite.
The term ‘midwife’ originated from the old meaning ‘with woman’. The role of a midwife encompasses the care of women and their family during pregnancy, labour and post-partum period. The midwife is also responsible for the care of the newborn.
Together with other health professionals, the midwife aims at preventing health problems in pregnancy, the detection of abnormal conditions, the procurement of medical assistance when necessary and the execution of emergency measures in the absence of medical help.
More than 7,300 babies are stillborn every day
A midwife’s tasks include preconception care, family planning, antenatal education, preparation for parenthood and childcare education with both the parents-to-be and the wider family/community.
This year’s theme focuses on the importance of the role of midwives and their impact on the childbearing mother and her family. Therefore, ultimately, a midwife’s role has the power to change the family and the world.
About 800 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth every day, accounting for 289,000 women every year. More than 7,300 babies are stillborn every day, which sums up to 2.6 million every year. About 99 per cent of these deaths take place in developing countries and most can be prevented.
These human beings are denied the right to existence due to social injustices. Most of these deaths would be prevented if there were enough qualified and adequately resourced midwives. The World Health Organisation, UN agencies and other international agencies have identified that midwives are the key to achieving reductions in maternal and newborn death and disabilities globally.
Let us use the occasion as a springboard to raise awareness of the three million infants who never make it. For only when we unite and work together can we strengthen midwifery practice and contribute to a better and safer world for women and their families.
The association will be holding an open day on Friday. Pregnant couples are welcome to attend, meet the midwives and express their concerns. Healthcare professionals will be giving talks on a range of subjects, like minor ailments in children, reading to young children and maternity benefits. This event is free and those attending can have their blood pressure and blood glucose levels read, their BMI calculated and listen to the foetal heart.