May 5 is the internationally recognised day for highlighting the work of midwives.
The International Confederation of Midwives established the idea of the 'International Day of the Midwife' following suggestions and discussion among midwives' associations in the late 1980s, then launched the initiative formally in 1992.
The theme for IDM 2017 is "Midwives, Mothers and Families: Partners for Life!".
Midwives everywhere understand that by working in partnership with women and their families they can support them to make better decisions about what they need to have a safe and fulfilling birth.
Midwives – and people with midwifery skills – are the main caregivers for women and their newborns during pregnancy, labour, childbirth and in the post-delivery period.
Skilled midwives are the difference between life and death for hundreds of thousands of women and infants every year. Yet there are massive midwife shortages around the world.
UNFPA works at the global, regional and national level to scale up midwifery services, supporting training efforts and providing supplies and materials to midwifery institutions.
On this International Day of the Midwife, UNFPA celebrates midwives’ contributions towards the miracle of birth – and the countless other things they do every day to contribute to the well-being of mothers and children around the world.
