About Midwives

Midwives are specialists in pregnancy and birth. They complete a three-year degree known as the ‘Bachelor of Midwifery’ in order to gain the knowledge, skills and experience they have to provide safe and professional midwifery care.

Midwives practice in different settings. They work in the community and provide birth care at home, in birthing units and in hospitals. Midwives provide free maternity care to all women in New Zealand and over 75% of women today have a midwife as their Lead Maternity carer (LMC).

Midwives work with women throughout the entire childbirth experience from early pregnancy to 4 to 6 weeks after the baby is born.

The New Zealand College of Midwives (NZCOM) sets and actively promotes high standards for midwifery practice. The NZCOM assists midwives to meet these through involvement in midwifery education and the Midwifery Standards Review Process. Midwives practise in different settings and in different ways.

Definition of a Midwife

The New Zealand College of Midwives accepts the World Health Organisation Definition of a midwife, as adopted by the International Confederation of Midwives 2005, and the International Federation of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians 2005, which reads:

A midwife is a person who, having been regularly admitted to a midwifery educational  programme, duly recognised in the country in which it is located, has successfully completed the prescribed course of studies in midwifery and has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally licensed to practise midwifery.

_{Adopted by the International Confederation of Midwives Council meeting, 19^th July, 2005, Brisbane, Australia Supersedes the ICM “Definition of the Midwife” 1972 and its amendments of 1990. You can download a pdf copy of the ICM definition here. ICM Definition of the Midwife.}

Scope of practice of the midwife

The midwife works in partnership with women, on her own professional responsibility, to give women the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period up to six weeks, to facilitate births and to provide care for the newborn.

The midwife understands, promotes and facilitates the physiological processes of pregnancy and childbirth, identifies complications that may arise in mother and baby, accesses appropriate medical assistance, and implements emergency measures as necessary. When women require referral midwives provide midwifery care in collaboration with other health professionals. 

Midwives have an important role in health and wellness promotion and education for the woman, her family and the community. Midwifery practice involves informing and preparing the woman and her family for pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenthood and includes certain aspects of women’s health, family planning and infant well-being.

The midwife may practise in any setting, including the home, the community, hospitals, or in any other maternity service.  In all settings, the midwife remains responsible and accountable for the care she provides.

To practise as a midwife in New Zealand, the midwife must have an annual practising certificate issued by the Midwifery Council of New Zealand.

Midwife means ‘with women’

Midwifery care is the provision of knowledge, advice, care and support to women and their families during pregnancy, labour and birth and the early weeks following birth

Midwives: providing safe outcomes for women and babies

The World Health Organisation states that... ‘the midwife is the most appropriate and cost effective type of health care provider to be assigned to the care of normal pregnancy and normal birth, including risk assessment and the recognition of complications’ (WHO 1996)

Midwives: the ‘experts’ in their field

Pregnancy and labour are seen as normal life events which occur within the life of a family - this is the focus of the midwife’s expertise. 88% of women had ‘normal’ births where the midwife was the lead maternity carer and 86% were still breastfeeding at six weeks (NZCOM 1996).

Midwives: the ‘core’ of the maternity service

All women having babies require midwifery care. Midwives provide the ‘core’ of the care in the maternity service. They work with obstetric specialists as needed

Midwives: enabling women to make informed decisions

Midwives offer a range of information on which women can make decisions about their care. A supportive relationship enables the woman to make decisions that are right for her and her family

Midwives: there to provide one-to-one support and care during labour

Midwives are the primary caregiver for women during labour; providing care that facilitates the natural process of labour whenever possible. Labour support and care are enhanced by the benefits of a relationship established during pregnancy.

Midwives: providing continuity of care

Midwives provide continuity of care from conception to discharge at four - six weeks after the baby is born.

For more information on midwives and how they can help you e-mail nzcom@nzcom.org.nz

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