Giving birth is never an easy experience. At a time of COVID-19, the experience can be even more fraught. Iran's midwives are helping pregnant women, new mothers and their babies - reassuring women, handling difficult deliveries and saving lives. Let's celebrate them and all midwives in this, the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.

To support UNFPA's response to COVID-19, part of our wider work to protect pregnant women and new mothers, and end maternal deaths in Asia-Pacific and globally, visit unfpa.org/donate