A midwife is a trained professional who is qualified to offer specialist care to a woman and her baby during pregnancy, labour and after the baby is born.

Facts about midwives

• In the UK the midwife is the senior professional attendant at over 75% of births.
• Midwives may work in private practice or NHS or settings.
• Midwives do not need to be nurses to become midwives, though many midwives also have nursing qualifications as well as their midwifery registration.
• Midwifery is the only profession which focuses completely on maternity care. Legally the only other professionals who can support births are doctors, however they need not have specialist training in maternity care.
• Midwives are qualified to recognise potential or actual problems that can occur in pregnancy. They are also legally obliged to consult with an appropriate professional in these circumstances. Midwives are qualified to look after women without a doctor’s supervision. Most births in the UK do not involve doctors unless complications arise.
• Midwives can give advice on common pregnancy problems and teach parent education classes.