Verloskundige kampen. Midwifery, an integral component of health care for women throughout many centuries, is the process of helping women prevent, monitor and manage pregnancy, labor and delivery, and post-natal care. It helps to ensure mothers and babies are safe and healthy during pregnancy and childbirth. Through its thoughtful practices, midwifery has helped countless women in myriad ways over the years and continues to do so today.
A Look at Midwifery’s Long History
Midwifery dates back to pre-industrial societies when it was common for experienced midwives to aid with childbirth in the homes of families. In the modern era, studies have shown that midwifery-led deliveries result in more successful pregnancies with fewer complications for both mothers and babies. Currently, midwives provide tests, counseling, treatments, and medication related to childbearing.
Midwives Around the Globe: A Unique Perspective
Midwives often live and work in the communities they serve, getting to know their patients and their families on a personal level. This allows them to provide a unique level of care, tailored to the individual needs and preferences of each woman. For example, midwives may approach their work from a holistic viewpoint, providing assistance with physical and mental wellbeing, and providing advice on nutrition and lifestyle changes to promote overall health.
In some cultures, midwives may even hold beliefs that extend beyond the medical field, such as spiritual healing, massage, and prayer rituals. The diversity of perspectives among midwives around the world helps us gain insight into how various cultures and societies view childbirth and motherhood.
The Benefits of Midwifery Care
In addition to providing a safe and supportive environment during childbirth, midwifery comes with a number of benefits. For instance, midwives typically practice evidence-based care, meaning they use the most current research and evidence to make decisions about diagnoses and treatments. Midwifery care also provides women with more personalized care than an OB-GYN or hospital setting can typically offer.
The care provided by a midwife may be especially beneficial for women who are pregnant for the first time. A midwife can provide education and support regarding childbirth and parenting, helping new mothers feel better informed and more confident.
Equality Matters: Midwives for All Women
Research has revealed that midwives and other healthcare providers who work with pregnant women and their families all too often forget to listen to the voices of marginalized groups. By understanding the unique experiences of each patient, a midwife can ensure that she cares for every woman in the same manner, regardless of her background. Equity should extend beyond providing necessary medical resources and include the whole picture of what makes each woman unique.
Kleinschalige verloskundigenpraktijk means ‘small-scale midwifery practice’ and refers to any center and/or practitioner who specializes in providing midwife-led, culturally competent, and evidence-based prenatal, birth, and postpartum care. Meeting the midwifery needs of all women and their families can greatly benefit those in remote and underserved areas who may not otherwise have access to quality obstetric care.
The 2020s – A Pivotal Decade for Midwifery
At present, midwives around the world continue to play an important role in stabilizing maternal and infant mortality rates. With many countries now facing unprecedented rates of poverty and conflict, midwives represent one of the most effective means of addressing major gaps in the health system. As we look ahead to 2030, midwives will remain essential in achieving the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and ensuring the health of future generations stands strong.
Midwifery is a field of medicine that has been around for centuries, but its importance and relevance in the 21st century cannot be understated. Kleinschalige verloskundigenpraktijk practices provide invaluable services to women and families and help ensure a positive, safe, and empowering experience for mothers and their newborns.