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How do most days as a midwife look like ?
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Dr’s Answer
Hey Tiffanie,
Buckle up because midwifery is like juggling, but instead of balls, you're catching babies, calming nervous dads, and answering texts from moms who swear their water broke (but actually just sneezed too hard). 😅 Your first experience will be something! 🤫
A typical day? Starts early—prenatal checkups, belly measuring, and answering every “Is this normal?” question under the sun. Then, just when you think you have time for lunch—BAM! A baby decides it’s go-time. You could be delivering a baby in a peaceful birthing center, or suddenly sprinting down a hospital hallway like you're in a medical drama.
It’s hands-on: checking vitals, coaching through contractions, and reminding new parents that yes, babies really do look like squishy little aliens at first. The best part? That moment when a baby lets out their first cry, and the whole room melts. The hardest? Sleep is a myth, and your social life? Also a myth.
But if you love unpredictability, human connection, and bringing tiny humans into the world while running on caffeine and passion—this job might just be your calling. Just remember: babies don’t care about your schedule, and neither do exhausted moms.
All the best hope this helps do let me know if you got anything I missed! 🤗
Buckle up because midwifery is like juggling, but instead of balls, you're catching babies, calming nervous dads, and answering texts from moms who swear their water broke (but actually just sneezed too hard). 😅 Your first experience will be something! 🤫
A typical day? Starts early—prenatal checkups, belly measuring, and answering every “Is this normal?” question under the sun. Then, just when you think you have time for lunch—BAM! A baby decides it’s go-time. You could be delivering a baby in a peaceful birthing center, or suddenly sprinting down a hospital hallway like you're in a medical drama.
It’s hands-on: checking vitals, coaching through contractions, and reminding new parents that yes, babies really do look like squishy little aliens at first. The best part? That moment when a baby lets out their first cry, and the whole room melts. The hardest? Sleep is a myth, and your social life? Also a myth.
But if you love unpredictability, human connection, and bringing tiny humans into the world while running on caffeine and passion—this job might just be your calling. Just remember: babies don’t care about your schedule, and neither do exhausted moms.
All the best hope this helps do let me know if you got anything I missed! 🤗
Updated
Susana’s Answer
Hello Tiffanie, thanks for the question
Midwives play a critical role in maternal and newborn care, balancing medical expertise with compassionate support. Let's look at how a typical day for a Certified Midwife working in a hospital, birth center, or home birth setting looks like.
Morning Routine (Start of Shift)
1. Reviewing Patient Cases
a. Midwives typically begin their shift by checking patient charts, reviewing ongoing pregnancies, labor progress, and postpartum cases.
b. If working in a hospital, they receive handover reports from the previous shift.
2. Prenatal Appointments & Consultations
a. Midwives assess pregnant women, check vitals (blood pressure, fetal heart rate, and fundal height), and provide education on nutrition, exercise, and birthing plans.
b. They offer emotional support and answer questions about labor, breastfeeding, and postpartum recovery.
c. Some days include ultrasound referrals and discussing pain management options for labor.
Midday – Attending to Labor & Deliveries
3. Monitoring Labor & Supporting Births
a. Midwives coach and guide women in labor, assisting with breathing techniques and positioning.
b. They check cervical dilation and monitor contractions, ensuring a safe labor progression.
c. If a woman needs pain relief options, they support natural methods or epidurals (if in a hospital setting).
4. Conducting Deliveries
a. Once a woman reaches full dilation (10 cm), midwives guide the pushing stage and help deliver the baby.
b. They provide perineal support to prevent tearing and manage cord clamping.
c. In birth centers or home births, midwives ensure safe, natural deliveries while having emergency protocols in place.
Afternoon – Postpartum & Newborn Care
5. Immediate Newborn Care & Assessments
a. APGAR scoring (checking baby's breathing, reflexes, and skin color).
b. Supporting skin-to-skin contact and early breastfeeding.
c. Monitoring for postpartum bleeding and vital signs of the mother.
6. Teaching New Moms
a. Educating on breastfeeding techniques, newborn care, and postpartum recovery.
b. Discussing mental health concerns, such as postpartum depression.
Evening or End of Shift – Documentation & Follow-Ups
7. Charting & Updating Medical Records
a. Recording labor progress, birth details, and postnatal care.
b. If in a hospital or clinic, midwives update electronic health records (EHRs).
8. Home Visits (If Working in a Birth Center or as a Community Midwife)
a. Some midwives visit new moms at home to check on recovery, breastfeeding, and newborn health.
9. Night Shifts (If On Call)
a. If on night duty, midwives attend to emergency births, overnight labor cases, or urgent postpartum concerns.
Challenges & Rewards of Being a Midwife
Most Fulfilling Part is helping bring new life into the world and seeing mothers empowered and feeling supported.
Biggest Challenges are unpredictable hours – Midwives work long shifts or are on-call.
Handling complicated births that may need C-sections or interventions.
Emotional toll – Supporting women through loss or difficult labors.
In conclusion, a midwife’s day is diverse, challenging, and rewarding. From prenatal checkups to delivering babies and postpartum care, they provide holistic, hands-on care to mothers and newborns.
Midwives play a critical role in maternal and newborn care, balancing medical expertise with compassionate support. Let's look at how a typical day for a Certified Midwife working in a hospital, birth center, or home birth setting looks like.
Morning Routine (Start of Shift)
1. Reviewing Patient Cases
a. Midwives typically begin their shift by checking patient charts, reviewing ongoing pregnancies, labor progress, and postpartum cases.
b. If working in a hospital, they receive handover reports from the previous shift.
2. Prenatal Appointments & Consultations
a. Midwives assess pregnant women, check vitals (blood pressure, fetal heart rate, and fundal height), and provide education on nutrition, exercise, and birthing plans.
b. They offer emotional support and answer questions about labor, breastfeeding, and postpartum recovery.
c. Some days include ultrasound referrals and discussing pain management options for labor.
Midday – Attending to Labor & Deliveries
3. Monitoring Labor & Supporting Births
a. Midwives coach and guide women in labor, assisting with breathing techniques and positioning.
b. They check cervical dilation and monitor contractions, ensuring a safe labor progression.
c. If a woman needs pain relief options, they support natural methods or epidurals (if in a hospital setting).
4. Conducting Deliveries
a. Once a woman reaches full dilation (10 cm), midwives guide the pushing stage and help deliver the baby.
b. They provide perineal support to prevent tearing and manage cord clamping.
c. In birth centers or home births, midwives ensure safe, natural deliveries while having emergency protocols in place.
Afternoon – Postpartum & Newborn Care
5. Immediate Newborn Care & Assessments
a. APGAR scoring (checking baby's breathing, reflexes, and skin color).
b. Supporting skin-to-skin contact and early breastfeeding.
c. Monitoring for postpartum bleeding and vital signs of the mother.
6. Teaching New Moms
a. Educating on breastfeeding techniques, newborn care, and postpartum recovery.
b. Discussing mental health concerns, such as postpartum depression.
Evening or End of Shift – Documentation & Follow-Ups
7. Charting & Updating Medical Records
a. Recording labor progress, birth details, and postnatal care.
b. If in a hospital or clinic, midwives update electronic health records (EHRs).
8. Home Visits (If Working in a Birth Center or as a Community Midwife)
a. Some midwives visit new moms at home to check on recovery, breastfeeding, and newborn health.
9. Night Shifts (If On Call)
a. If on night duty, midwives attend to emergency births, overnight labor cases, or urgent postpartum concerns.
Challenges & Rewards of Being a Midwife
Most Fulfilling Part is helping bring new life into the world and seeing mothers empowered and feeling supported.
Biggest Challenges are unpredictable hours – Midwives work long shifts or are on-call.
Handling complicated births that may need C-sections or interventions.
Emotional toll – Supporting women through loss or difficult labors.
In conclusion, a midwife’s day is diverse, challenging, and rewarding. From prenatal checkups to delivering babies and postpartum care, they provide holistic, hands-on care to mothers and newborns.