Midwives Matter
March 31, 2020
The Maternity Frontline
There’s been talk over recent days about the need for greater access to PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) for midwives working in the community, and rightly so. A midwife's bubble can easily extend into dozens of homes where women are no doubt anxious already about pregnancy and birth during a time of pandemic.
As the frontline support for mothers and babies during an extraordinary time of both risk and reward, midwives are guardians of a new generation and deserve every protection we can provide. Often overlooked, these hardworking dedicated women can easily go unnoticed until something goes wrong; like now. Professionals with three or more years of obstetrics and nursing training, midwives are an assurance and protection for a healthy young New Zealand.
Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to spend a fews days following different midwives as they went about their daily work here in Canterbury - so forgive me if I wax lyrical.
When you hear a first time mum’s uncertainty around her pregnancy and listen to her reach out for reassurance over what is normal and what’s not, you understand why midwives matter. When you see a mum with her newborn discussing changes in her baby’s weight or behaviour, her concerns over sleep or feeding; you know why midwives matter. When a woman grasps her partner's hand during labour while a strong confident voice tells her to push, rallying, supporting, reassuring; then you know why a midwife matters. When you see a newborn placed in their exhausted mother’s arms for the first time and recognise that child’s vulnerability and need; you know why a midwife matters.
They talk about the first thousand days defining a child's life and clearly that starts with midwives and mums.
The short video above captures a working day for Bex, a midwife in North Canterbury. It was filmed as part of a recent campaign calling for improvements to current employment terms and conditions for midwives as seen below.
Treaty settlements with Maori try to redress past wrongs. In Christchurch, you might think all was fair until you hear the wretched story of Kemp's Purchase.
A sponsored story explaining how water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis works, providing a clear picture of the process and the basic science behind it. New Zealand's first Water Cremation service was opened in 2025 beginning a new era in funeral practices in Aotearoa. This story gives the background.