A midwife is a trained health professional who supports people through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period, focusing on healthy, normal pregnancy and birth while honoring the individual's goals and choices. They provide ongoing physical assessment, emotional support, education, and collaborative care, and may also offer broader reproductive and well-woman care depending on training and scope. Key roles and activities

• Antenatal care: regular pregnancy checkups, fetal monitoring, screening tests, and health education.
• Labor and birth support: monitoring labor progress, comfort measures, pain relief options, positions to facilitate birth, and helping with the birth of the baby and placenta.
• Postpartum care: newborn assessment, breastfeeding support, recovery checkups for the birthing person, and guidance on newborn care.
• Education and counseling: preparation for labor, parenting, infant care, and family planning.
• Health maintenance across the lifespan: many midwives offer well-woman care, preventive screenings, and vaccinations, depending on their scope of practice and local regulations.

Who can be a midwife

• Midwives may hold different credentials depending on the country, such as certified nurse midwives (CNMs) who have nursing and midwifery training, or direct-entry midwives/-certified professional midwives (CPMs) who enter the profession with midwifery training alone. The exact scope of practice and required certifications vary by jurisdiction, but all share the emphasis on supporting and empowering birthing people and their families.