International Midwives Day - May 5, 2027

International Midwives Day is observed on May 5 each year, shining a well-deserved light on one of the oldest and most vital professions in human history. Midwives provide skilled, compassionate care to pregnant women, newborns, and families at some of the most vulnerable and transformative moments of their lives. Beyond the delivery room, their work extends into prenatal education, postpartum support, and community health advocacy, making them indispensable to healthcare systems around the world.

International Midwives Day History

Midwifery as a practice encompasses far more than assisting at the moment of birth. At its core, it involves skilled and compassionate support across the entire arc of pregnancy, from the earliest weeks of gestation through labor, delivery, and the postpartum period. Practitioners in this field work to optimize the natural biological, psychological, and sociocultural dimensions of childbirth, while also identifying risks early and connecting patients with additional medical services when needed. Central to the profession is a deep respect for each person's individual circumstances, beliefs, and choices, along with active encouragement of self-care within the family unit.

The idea of establishing a dedicated international observance grew out of a 1987 conference organized by the International Confederation of Midwives, held in the Netherlands. That gathering brought together midwifery professionals from around the world to discuss shared challenges, advocate for greater recognition, and build momentum for systemic change in maternal healthcare. International Midwives Day was formally established in 1992, providing an annual platform to honor the contributions of midwives and to push for stronger governmental commitment to maternity services. By 2014, the observance was being marked in countries as geographically distant as Iran and New Zealand, reflecting the truly global reach of the profession.

Midwives, student midwives, and maternity support workers have consistently demonstrated extraordinary dedication under difficult conditions, often serving communities with limited resources and facing personal risk in the process. Their contributions extend well beyond individual families, strengthening the broader fabric of community health in measurable and lasting ways. This occasion was designed not only to honor that dedication but also to serve as a rallying point for advocates pressing governments to increase investment in midwifery training, staffing, and infrastructure. The gap between the care that exists and the care that is needed remains significant, and this observance keeps that gap visible.

A landmark moment in the history of International Midwives Day came on May 5, 2021, when the State of the World's Midwifery Report, known as SoWMy, was released in conjunction with the celebrations. The report drew on data submitted by 194 countries and examined workforce conditions across the interconnected fields of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Adolescent Health, collectively referred to as S.R.M.N.A.H. It was produced through collaboration among the World Health Organization, the United Nations Population Fund, the International Confederation of Midwives, and Novametrics, and it documented both progress since the inaugural edition in 2011 and the obstacles that continue to obstruct further advancement.

The findings of that report were sobering in their scope. Globally, the shortfall of S.R.M.N.A.H. workers stands at approximately 1.1 million, with midwives alone accounting for more than 900,000 of that deficit. These numbers make clear that celebrating individual practitioners, while meaningful, must be accompanied by structural change and sustained political will. Each year this occasion renews the call to close that gap, framing midwifery not as a supplementary service but as a foundational pillar of any functioning healthcare system.

Why International Midwives Day Matters

A Call for Systemic Action

This observance functions as more than a moment of gratitude; it is a structured reminder to policymakers, health administrators, and funders that midwifery services require sustained, meaningful investment. The annual focus draws attention to staffing shortfalls, inadequate training infrastructure, and the uneven distribution of care across regions and income levels.

Defenders of Women's Rights

Midwives occupy a unique position at the intersection of healthcare and human rights advocacy. They are frequently among the first to identify signs of gender-based violence and are trained to respond with both care and appropriate referrals to protective services. Their role in working to prevent female genital mutilation places them on the front lines of some of the most urgent human rights efforts in maternal health.

Lifesavers Beyond the Delivery Room

The scope of what midwives actually do tends to be vastly underestimated by those who have never needed their care. In addition to guiding women safely through labor and birth, they conduct cervical and breast cancer screenings, provide family planning counseling, and offer mental health support during the postpartum period. These services are often the only professional healthcare contact available to women in rural or under-resourced communities.

How to Observe International Midwives Day

Amplify the Cause

Public awareness is one of the most powerful tools available to advocates, and there are countless creative ways to contribute to it. Organizing or joining a community event, sharing educational content on social media, participating in a fundraising run, or supporting organizations that train and deploy midwives in underserved regions are all effective options.

Reach Out with Gratitude

If a midwife played a role in your own birth experience or that of someone you love, today is an ideal moment to reach out and say so directly. A handwritten note, a small gift, or even a sincere message acknowledging the difference they made carries real weight. These gestures remind practitioners that their work is remembered long after the moment has passed, which matters enormously in a profession that can be both physically and emotionally demanding.

Deepen Your Understanding

Taking time to genuinely learn about what midwifery involves, including its role in home births, birth center deliveries, and hospital settings, is one of the most meaningful ways to mark this occasion. Understanding the clinical and emotional complexity of the work builds the kind of appreciation that goes beyond surface-level recognition. Books, documentaries, and interviews with practicing midwives are all accessible starting points for anyone curious enough to look.

Facts About Midwifery

One of the World's Oldest Professions

References to midwives appear in ancient Egyptian texts and the Bible, placing the practice among the earliest recorded forms of specialized medical care in human civilization.

Midwives Attend Most Births Worldwide

According to the World Health Organization, midwives have the potential to provide around 87 percent of the essential care required by women and newborns globally when fully trained and supported.

The Word Has Ancient Roots

The term "midwife" comes from Old English and translates roughly as "with woman," a description that captures the relational nature of the role as much as its clinical function.

Training Varies Dramatically by Country

In some nations midwives complete university-level degree programs lasting three to four years, while in others practitioners receive only informal apprenticeship training, a disparity that directly affects maternal and infant outcomes.

Midwife-Led Care Shows Strong Outcomes

Multiple large-scale studies have found that midwife-led continuity of care is associated with lower rates of premature birth, fewer interventions during labor, and higher rates of maternal satisfaction compared with other models of maternity care.

International Midwives Day Dates