Role of the Midwife in Supporting Breastfeeding Essay

Role of the Midwife in Supporting Breastfeeding - Essay Example Her responsibilities include delivering the newborn and its care during the first weeks of life in addition to offering advice to women during this time of excitement, anxiety and uncertainty in their life.   An overview of the care provided includes ensuring the mother understands the necessary preventative measures taken during pregnancy to increase the odds for a healthy baby, detect atypical circumstances in both mother and baby, react quickly and appropriately during an emergency situation and secure medical assistance if necessary.   A formal description of the qualifications necessary to become a midwife is as follows: â€Å"A midwife is a person who, having been regularly admitted to a midwifery educational programme, duly recognised in the country in which it is located, has successfully completed the prescribed course of studies in midwifery and has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally licensed to practise midwifery† (â€Å"Defin ition of the Midwife†, 2003).   The Role of the Midwife The midwife’s responsibility is commonly thought to be the delivery of babies. Though this may be the main event in the process, the role of a midwife is much broader. They care and provide support not only to women and newborn babies but to husbands and family members as well.   They are available to all parties of the household during the entirety of the pregnancy, birth and as long as needed thereafter.   â€Å"She [the midwife] has an important task in health counseling and education, not only for the women.