International Day of the Midwife was first celebrated May 5, 1992, and it has since been observed in over 50 nations around the world.
The concept of having a day to recognize and honor midwives came out of the 1987 International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) conference in the Netherlands.
Each year ICM creates a campaign theme to provide a call to action to get involved and highlight midwifery around the world. On May 5th we ask the world to focus on the role of midwives and midwifery.
The International Day of the Midwife is an occasion for every individual midwife to celebrate the many others in the profession and to widen the knowledge of what midwives do for the world. In addition, it is an opportunity for each of us to express our gratitude to the midwives who have personally served our own families.
We are grateful for all of you and the many ways you serve in your community and in the world.
Join The Virtual International Day of the Midwife Conference!
The Virtual International Day of the Midwife (VIDM) is an annual online FREE conference which celebrates the International Day of the Midwife. It is held on or around May 5th each year to be as close to the International Day of the Midwife as possible.
VIDM runs for 24 hours and covers a wide range of subjects with speakers from around the globe. It uses online conferencing software to bring together people who have an interest in childbirth matters – midwives, students and consumers — all completely free.
The conference was first held in 2009 and was organized by a team of two then working at Otago Polytechnic in New Zealand. By 2020, the organizing committee comprised midwives, midwifery academics, and online education professionals from seven countries across four continents.
Sustainable Midwifery: Caring for Tomorrow’s World is the VIDM 2024 theme.
Sustainable midwifery practices prioritize the well-being of both mother and child while minimizing environmental impact, ensuring a healthier future for generations to come. By caring for the whole person, we reaffirm their right to choose if and when to become pregnant or to continue a pregnancy. By integrating eco-friendly approaches and ethical care, sustainable midwifery embodies a commitment to nurturing not only new life but also the planet we share.
The ancient profession of midwifery must remain sustainable in the contemporary world through innovative practices in education, research, and health policy.
For more information, go to VIDM.org
eBlast emailed May 5, 2024