International Midwives’ Day
Doctors and hospitals are a recent development for birthing. In the past, experienced women called midwives kept new mothers and babies safe during birth.
Celebrate and educate audiences on midwifery as a trusted, evidence-based alternative to traditional obstetric care, positioning midwives as essential healthcare professionals.
- Share patient testimonials: 'My midwife made all the difference' — real stories from mothers who chose midwifery care
- Educational deep-dive: Debunk myths about midwifery vs. OB/GYN care with infographics and expert interviews
- Host a virtual workshop featuring practicing midwives discussing prenatal care, labor support, and postpartum recovery
- Appreciation campaign: Encourage followers to tag and thank the midwives who supported their births
The history of Midwifery goes back to prehistory, though there are records all over the world of midwife traditions. These women are those who made a study of the birthing process and the vital role it plays in perpetuating the species and its cultural significance.
While it’s true in ancient days their practices were based heavily in experience and superstition, today’s midwives are just as capable and competent at seeing a woman to term as the more commonly used OB/GYN’s and Obstetricians.
Although there are men who specialize in midwifery, thousands of years of tradition has rendered this field of medicine almost exclusively a woman’s art.
So much so, in fact, that in order to be a midwife in ancient Greece you had to have given birth yourself, making it an exclusively female practice. It is this history that led to the division between Midwifery and Obstetricians, a split that took place in 17th Century Europe.
While the practice of midwifery fell off for a while in the past couple hundred years, there is a rising movement towards home birth that is making this practice more relevant than ever.
The International Day of the Midwife started in 1992 to recognize midwives’ critical role in maternal and newborn health. The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) launched this special day after discussing the idea at a 1987 conference in the Netherlands.
Their goal was clear—highlight the profession’s importance and push for better support, training, and working conditions. Since then, over 50 countries have embraced the occasion, holding events, workshops, and campaigns to celebrate these essential healthcare workers.
There have been a number of different themes over the years for International Midwives’ Day. Typically, a new theme will be set every year. However, there have been some years whereby themes continue onto the next. Some of the themes we have seen so far include these:
Irrespective of the theme for the particular year, these are the three key aims when it comes to International Midwives’ Day:
Learn About Midwives
One of the best ways to celebrate International Midwives’ Day is by learning about Midwifery and the role it plays in home-birthing.
Show Appreciation
If you know a midwife or one helped you give birth to your child, be sure to send them a thank you card or call them and tell them you appreciate them. Midwives tend to care very deeply about the children they help bring into the world, and love updates!
Share with Others
There are a number of other steps that you can take in order to do your part of International Midwives’ Day. Why not look for different ways that you can inform the public about midwives? You could organize a high-visibility event for the day. This includes anything from a marathon to a public performance, march, or a rally. Another option is to create a social media campaign. If you’re savvy with the Internet and you have a good online presence, you can encourage people to join in and share their own experiences regarding midwifery care.
Host a Virtual Midwifery Workshop
Invite midwives to share their experiences and knowledge in an online workshop. Community members can learn about childbirth, prenatal care, and the midwifery profession. This educational event fosters understanding and respect for midwives’ vital work.