Certified Nurse Midwife

Midwife should not be mixed up with obstetricians-gynecologists. The latter should recieve a higher medical education. He /she should have knowledges and experience in conducting complex medical manipulations. Midwifes ensure doctors with full-fledged assistance: they prepare the tools, observe compliance with the time terms, and control the nursing staff. Midwifes are in great demand in maternity hospitals, reproductive medicine clinics and other institutions where pregnant women or women who have already given birth are monitored, treated and recovered.

The main duty of midwifes includes psychological and physical preparation of women for childbirth, subsequent support. Doctors can ensure first aid, care about newborns from the first day of life to 1 year old, and conduct simple medical procedures. These specialists are well experienced, and gaining rich experience plays a huge role in their work.

Features of midwife

This profession is a mission. It is chosen only by those who are prepared to devote almost all time to difficult, but significant and answerable service. Midwifes who perform their duties in small clinics to obtain a huge number of responsibilities. Experienced specialists perform the following services:

• monitor women in labor, providing them with all-round support: correct breathing, frequency of contractions, exercises that relieve pain, and others;
• are occupied in clinical examination, control newborns’ health, women in labor, patients with diagnosed gynecological diseases;
• conduct an initial screening, prescribe referrals to narrow specialists for further diagnostics or tests;
• carry out easy childbirth, assist the obstetrician-gynecologist with complicated childbirth;
• ensure emergency care related to obstetric practice;
• take part in the preparation of tools, equipment, medicines necessary for the management of patient admission or operations;
• work as an assistant during surgical interventions;
• take smears for further tests;
• keep medical records, study the results of the simplest tests;
• are engaged in the observation of newborns, provide advice to parents regarding lactation, diet, artificial feeding, childcare and others.

Midwives are indispensable staff who, if necessary, can perform the work of a ward nurse. Specialists should have an excellent knowledge of pediatrics, pharmacy and pharmacology, be distinguished by physical strength and endurance, because they help pregnant women, carry newborns, spend a lot of time on their feet.

Large hospitals, small paramedic centers, private clinics need obstetricians, so the profession will not lose its relevance for many years. This specialization is most often chosen by women, which is associated with the specifics of the work and the need to ensure the psychological comfort of the patients.

Pros and cons of the profession

Pros

• Education, which can be obtained relatively quickly after the end of grades.
• Talented midwifes are in demand not only in small hospitals, but also in large medical centers.
• High popularity of specialists in the labor market.
• Stable average salary, it is possible to receive bonuses.
• Midwives are trained throughout their careers.
• Work can bring pleasure and joy, because midwives are faced with a wonderful event every day – the baby birth.

Cons

• Constant contact with patients, which increases the likelihood of contracting various types of infectious, bacterial, viral diseases.
• Irregular working hours, high physical activity.
• In small towns, midwives are poorly paid.
• Emotional stress, unforeseen situations.

Important personal qualities

The midwife must be a morally stable person who is ready for difficulties. The work cannot be calm, because every day this specialist is responsible for the lives of adults and newborns. In the nature of an obstetrician, the following features must include:

• patience;
• accuracy;
• self-organization;
• adherence to principles;
• attentiveness;
• conscientiousness;
• self-control;
• sense of tact;
• insight;
• initiative.

A midwife should have well-developed critical and logical thinking, correct speech, the ability to objectively extimate the situation. Midwives often have to make big decisions, so a quick response is significant.