Hands That Heal: Honoring Midwives on the Frontlines of Women’s Health
May 5th is International Midwives Day, and here at VPod, we’re raising a glass (of herbal tea, probably) to the caregivers who’ve been helping women bring life into the world for centuries.
But if you’ve ever found yourself wondering: what exactly does a midwife do? You’re not alone. In a world full of OB-GYNs, doulas, and nurses, the role of the midwife can sometimes feel like a mystery.
Let’s clear that up because what midwives do is nothing short of life-changing.
What Is a Midwife?
A midwife is a trained healthcare provider who specializes in pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum recovery, and newborn care. But more than that, midwives offer a personalized, woman-centered approach to care that emphasizes education, trust, and empowerment.
There are different types of midwives, including:
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) – Registered nurses with graduate-level midwifery training, often working in hospitals or birthing centers.
Certified Midwives (CMs) – Not nurses, but trained and certified to provide midwifery care.
Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) – Experts in out-of-hospital births, such as home births or freestanding birth centers.
Traditional or Community Midwives – Often trained through apprenticeship and serving specific cultural or local communities.
How Do Midwives Help During Pregnancy and Birth?
Midwives do so much more than "catch babies." They provide care throughout the entire journey:
During pregnancy:
Monitor baby’s growth and development
Offer nutritional and emotional guidance
Answer the questions you’re afraid to ask your OB
Help you create a birth plan that reflects your needs and values
During labor and birth:
Support you through contractions and positioning
Provide hands-on comfort techniques and emotional reassurance
Recognize and respond to complications if they arise
Collaborate with OBs or hospitals if medical intervention is needed
After birth:
Offer postpartum care for your body and mind
Help with breastfeeding and newborn care
Screen for infections, perineal tears, and healing concerns
Educate you on what’s normal—and what’s not
Midwives bring calm, confidence, and compassion to a process that can feel overwhelming. They’re with you in the intensity of labor, but also in those quiet, raw moments after delivery. They help you gain control of you breath again, feed your baby, and figure out what’s next.
Where Can You Find a Midwife?
Yes, you can find midwives in hospitals! Many midwives, especially Certified Nurse-Midwives, work alongside OBs in traditional hospital settings. You can also find midwives at:
Birthing centers
Women’s health clinics
Home birth practices
Online directories like midwife.org (from the American College of Nurse-Midwives)
If you’re pregnant or planning to be, and you want a more personalized, natural approach to birth (with medical backup if needed), a midwife might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Midwives Deserve Comfort, Too
Midwives give so much of themselves, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, to care for women through birth and beyond. And as they guide new moms through healing, they need tools that make recovery easier, cleaner, and more dignified.
VPod offers gentle, mess-free vulva relief that midwives can confidently recommend as part of a postpartum care plan. Whether it’s soothing perineal discomfort, cooling irritation, or easing inflammation after delivery, VPod helps new moms feel more comfortable in their own bodies, so they can focus on bonding, breastfeeding, and recovery.
How to Celebrate a Midwife Today
💜 Send a thank-you message to the midwife who changed your life
💜 Share this post to help others understand their value
💜 Donate to organizations that train and support midwives around the world
Because midwives don’t just help bring babies into the world. They help bring women into their power.