Midwives: our unrecognised critical first responders

Today, on International Day of the Midwife, we are paying tribute to the vital role midwives play in times of crisis. This year’s theme ‘midwives: critical in every crisis’ highlights how important midwives are to protecting the health of pregnant women in crisis situations. 

Burnet, in partnership with UNFPA (United Nations Population fund) Asia Pacific Regional Office, is leading a program in the Asia-Pacific to train midwives on identifying heat stress in pregnancy to reduce the risks for pregnant women and their unborn babies. 

Heat stress in pregnancy can lead to preterm births, stillbirths and babies born with a low birth weight. 

The training program provides education for midwives on the dangers of heat stress in pregnancy, how to recognise symptoms and provide clinical care.  

The program also provides midwives with the tools to make workplaces, particularly health centres, safer in extreme heat to ensure the health of both pregnant women and health centre staff. 

Last month, Burnet ran an online training session on heat stress that was attended by more than 300 midwives, healthcare workers and educators from 28 countries across the Pacific region, demonstrating the importance of this training.  

Research midwife Boe Calvert said midwives weren’t often recognised as first responders in times of crisis.  

“Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to any change in the health system due to a crisis or natural disaster and it is midwives who need to respond to these situations,” she said.  

“When you think about first responders, it is often doctors and paramedics who come to mind, but midwives are also at the forefront of any crisis.” 

Midwifery specialist Kara Blackburn said International Midwives Day was about recognising the broad range of circumstances midwives manage in their roles. 

“Midwives are part of the team of first responders when it comes to extreme weather events like floods, earthquakes and heatwaves,” she said.  

“With heatwaves becoming more frequent, training on heat stress is more important than ever. 

“Since the pandemic, midwives have been dealing with more and more complex situations involving pregnant women, particularly in this environment of increasing climate crises, which is why it is important that we recognise their work and shine a spotlight on their importance in the health system on International Day of the Midwife.”