Around the world, there is a shortage of nearly one million midwives. The midwife shortage is not just a workforce issue, it is a human rights and safety issue. Mothers, pregnant people, and babies are experiencing deaths at alarmingly high rates due to improper labor care.
A midwife is a trained healthcare provider that specializes in obstetric and gynecological services. “Midwife” is really an umbrella term used to describe different kinds of birth professionals that assist with labor either in hospitals or home births. Midwives are incredibly important for all stages of reproductive health, assisting during pregnancy, birth, and during the postpartum period.
The shortage of midwives is creating serious gaps in reproductive care. As healthcare systems become stretched beyond their capacity, the remaining midwives are overworked and underpaid. The lack of resources results in rushed and fragmented care for pregnant people and a greater risk of birthing casualties. Access to midwife-delivered care could prevent two-thirds of labor deaths, saving 4.3 million newborns and birthing people annually.
Historically, midwifery has been a gendered profession, with women dominating the field due to the “care” and “nurture” work. Removing the gendered stigma behind midwifery is crucial for filling the profession.
The deficiency of midwives is affecting the pregnant community as a whole, but impacting rural and low-income families the hardest. Working with a midwife is typically a more affordable option for lower income families. Having a midwife come to the home is a more viable option for families that would otherwise have to travel far to a hospital. Removing the ability to choose the best option for labor creates barriers for families who do not have the privilege to afford traditional hospital settings.
To fully fix the shortage of midwives, there needs to be an additional 980,000 midwives across 181 countries. To reach this goal, there needs to be an increase of respect and effort towards midwives and their practice. Governments need to prioritize funding midwifery to replenish the profession in addition to society removing gendered stigma to the career. These actions will put the health of mothers, pregnant people, and newborns first, reducing labor risks globally.
