International Day of the Midwife

Midwives celebrated International Day of the Midwife yesterday (Tuesday 5 May). 

International Day of the Midwife is a global celebration which was founded in 1992 to celebrate the role of midwives in providing vital care to mothers and newborns. It also aims to motivate decision-makers to support midwives.   

This year’s theme was ‘celebrate, demonstrate, mobilise, unite – our time is NOW!’ The day focuses on how midwives and women can work together to achieve gender equality.

Midwives Natasha Richards and Jane Payne had organised a range of celebrations, including a walk from Le Fregate Café to St Aubin’s and back and a celebratory lunch, but these have had to be put on hold.  

Sharon Summers-Ma, Head of Midwifery and Associate Chief Nurse, said: “While we’re disappointed that we had to postpone our planned celebrations due to COVID-19, we hope to be able to run them at a later date. 

“In the meantime, I’d like to thank all the midwives in Jersey who have responded to the changes in maternity care caused by COVID-19 with resilience, patience, and empathy.”

Locally, there have been some changes to the Island’s maternity services. Expectant mothers are being asked to attend their antenatal appointments and scans on their own, with the option for their partners to join clinic appointments virtually. 

At the end of scan appointments, women can now take a short recording of their scan to share with their partner at home. 

For more information on maternity services during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit the Government of Jersey website.