Midwives: Critical in Every Crisis

Each year on 5th May, the world celebrates International Day of the Midwife. This is a moment to honour those who walk alongside women and birthing people during some of life’s most vulnerable and powerful moments.

This year’s theme is Midwives: Critical in Every Crisis. This resonates deeply with our Make Birth Better Champions, many of whom have been cared for by midwives during their own transformative and traumatic birth experiences. Some are midwives themselves. All are united in their belief: that compassionate, skilled midwifery care can change – and even save lives.

Here, they share their reflections:

“Midwives are critical not just in emergencies with blood loss or slow heartbeats… but in the quiet, everyday crises that often go unseen.

When trauma is dismissed. When someone doesn’t feel safe or heard. When systems fail to meet people where they are.

We stay. We listen. We advocate. We hold space for stories that are often left out of the notes.”

— Laura

“During a long labour where I felt unheard, unseen and not listened to, it was the amazing midwife who held my hand in theatre who I always remember.

She reassured and comforted me and showed me such kindness, compassion and respect. This was what I truly needed.”

— Claire

“Midwives embody resilience, compassion and strength, holding space for those on the best day of their life but also their darkest. In every crisis, they are a source of calm, strength, and care. Continuing to bring life into the world even when everything else feels uncertain.”

— Jess

We know from research and experience that the long-term health of women and birthing people is shaped not just by the clinical outcomes of birth, but by how they were made to feel.

Did they feel listened to? Did they feel respected? Did they feel like they had choices, agency, dignity?

“Great midwifery care is advocacy,” says Jo. “It upholds self-agency for the birthing people and the midwife, it supports people to internalise their right to bodily autonomy, no matter how pregnancy and birth unfold.”

This level of care has lasting impact. It shapes relationships, mental health, parenting, and even how someone sees themselves within their family or wider community. It can be the difference between trauma and healing.

“Babies continue to be born – day, night, peace, war, rain or shine.

Midwives are critical to ensuring women and birthing people are offered safe, supportive care.

My midwife’s belief in me got me through a long, hard labour. I will be forever grateful.”

— Beth

“Midwives, women, mothers – so often their roles blend into one.

They show us the true meaning of empowerment and advocacy, of standing tall for every voice and holding space for what truly matters.”

— Lily

“Do you know what it means to save a life?

There is so much blame and misinformation against midwives.

But could you save a life whilst fighting to save your own?

I stand with midwives – critical in every crisis. Let’s protect theirs.”

— Leah

At Make Birth Better, we recognise the power of midwifery in every corner of care – not just in hospital emergencies, but in homes, in birth centres, and in communities facing multiple forms of crisis: mental health challenges, poverty, racism, housing insecurity, and underfunded services.

In these contexts, midwives are still there. Holding space. Upholding digity. Protecting autonomy. And making sure that every birthing person knows: you matter.

Today, and every day, we honour midwives; their courage, their advocacy, and their critical role in every birth, in every story, in every crisis.