The full scope of the role of midwives in modern society is difficult to put a definitive definition to. Midwives provide compassionate care and continual support to women throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond. As specialist healthcare providers, many present-day women define midwives as an indispensable part of their prenatal, labor, delivery, and postpartum journey.
Besides skilled training and certification, numerous personal attributes and traits are essential to perform the job well. Here’s a closer look at the most common characteristics of a good midwife.
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A Clear Communicator: Connection and Expression
The ability to be assertive and take on leadership is essential for success in healthcare. Yet, for midwifery especially, interpersonal skills are another critical trait mom-to-be’s seek out. This is why appropriate expression and communication are key. Good verbal, written, and listening skills create a healthy co-partnership along the entirety of the journey.
Midwives maintain a philosophy that centralizes childbirth as a natural event of life. Ergo, they hold a prevalent belief that women are co-facilitators of their own personal and individualized care.
Building a trusting relationship as a respectful care provider necessitates clear and concise explanation and discussion with the patient, their family, and other healthcare professionals in the community.
Detail-Oriented: Attention and Reflection
Besides communicating effectively with many types of people, strong attention to detail is another of the most common characteristics of a good midwife. Midwives must be able to handle diverse situations with ease. Paying close attention to details in certain situations and reflecting on the best approach to address them requires a keen sense of awareness.
Some individualized care situations require more straightforward solutions, while others require sensitivity and thinking outside the box. A flexible attitude is the apex trait that supports the complexity of the midwifery role. Midwives must meet patient needs as thoroughly and consistently as possible.
Resourcefulness: Knowledge and Competence
Practicing midwives know the importance of being resourceful while providing medical care. The ability to think critically and problem-solve effectively stems from this vital resourcefulness. Varying clinical applications require the right level of competence to make quick judgment calls, determine the best course of action, and act decisively.
Even with suitable training and experience, anything can happen. Good midwives must remain calm and act responsively to adjust birth plans. The ability to use professional and technical equipment knowledgeably—including midwifery bag essentials—is the standard for safe labor and delivery.
At the end of the day, midwifery entails a range of responsibilities. Trusting in one’s characteristics and capabilities helps to provide the best possible level of care for a diverse range of women.
