Midwive Career

Job Description: Provide prenatal care and childbirth assistance.


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What Midwives do:

  • Assess the status of post-date pregnancies to determine treatments and interventions.
  • Conduct ongoing prenatal health assessments, tracking changes in physical and emotional health.
  • Counsel women regarding the nutritional requirements of pregnancy.
  • Establish and follow emergency or contingency plans for mothers and newborns.
  • Estimate patients' due dates and re-evaluate as necessary based on examination results.
  • Evaluate patients' laboratory and medical records, requesting assistance from other practitioners when necessary.
  • Identify tubal and ectopic pregnancies and refer patients for treatments.
  • Identify, monitor, or treat pregnancy-related problems such as hypertension, gestational diabetes, pre-term labor, or retarded fetal growth.
  • Incorporate research findings into practice as appropriate.
  • Monitor fetal growth and well-being through heartbeat detection, body measurement, and palpation.
  • Obtain complete health and medical histories from patients including medical, surgical, reproductive, or mental health histories.
  • Perform post-partum health assessments of mothers and babies at regular intervals.
  • Provide information about community health and social resources.
  • Provide information about the physical and emotional processes involved in the pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum periods.
  • Provide, or refer patients to other providers for, education or counseling on topics such as genetic testing, newborn care, contraception, or breastfeeding.
  • Recommend the use of vitamin and mineral supplements to enhance the health of patients and children.
  • Refer patients to specialists for procedures such as ultrasounds or biophysical profiles.
  • Test patients' hemoglobin, hematocrit, and blood glucose levels.
  • Collect specimens for use in laboratory tests.
  • Treat patients' symptoms with alternative health care methods such as herbs or hydrotherapy.
  • Develop, implement, or evaluate individualized plans for midwifery care.
  • Assist maternal patients to find physical positions that will facilitate childbirth.
  • Provide comfort and relaxation measures for mothers in labor through interventions such as massage, breathing techniques, hydrotherapy, or music.
  • Monitor maternal condition during labor by checking vital signs, monitoring uterine contractions, or performing physical examinations.
  • Provide patients with contraceptive and family planning information.
  • Maintain documentation of all patients' contacts, reviewing and updating records as necessary.
  • Suture perineal lacerations.
  • Respond to breech birth presentations by applying methods such as exercises or external version.
  • Provide necessary medical care for infants at birth, including emergency care such as resuscitation.
  • Perform annual gynecologic exams, including pap smears and breast exams.
  • Set up or monitor the administration of oxygen or medications.
  • Assess birthing environments to ensure cleanliness, safety, and the availability of appropriate supplies.
  • Inform patients of how to prepare and supply birth sites.
  • Compile and evaluate clinical practice statistics.
  • Complete birth certificates.
  • Collaborate in research studies.

What work activities are most important?

Importance Activities

Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Staffing Organizational Units - Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.

Holland Code Chart for a Midwive