Bethlehem Birthing Centre is celebrating the crucial role of midwives in the community, as this Saturday marks International Day of the Midwife.

International Day of the Midwife was established by the International Confederation of Midwives to highlight the work of midwives.

Birthing Centre Ltd CEO Chloe Wright says this year's theme, ‘Midwives leading the way with quality care', is indicative of the importance of the profession.

Chloe says International Day of the Midwife is an opportunity to pause, reflect and say thank you to midwives for their work.

'At Birthing Centre we are committed to advocating for midwifery recognition, and support the midwifery-led care system in New Zealand,” says Chloe.

'Midwives practice autonomously while fostering collegial team ethos in the community. They work hard physically and emotionally, and are connected to their mothers' want and needs. Their clinical skills are balanced with their empathetic qualities.

'Midwifery offers an opportunity for personal growth. Midwives advocate for women - being the experts in primary care, they empower women. Through a relationship forged in trust, women relate to their midwife years after the birth - they can tell their stories and share the growth of their children.”

Midwives – both LMCs and staff midwives – play a crucial role in the service provided at Birthing Centre.

'Our centres could not provide this service without the continued support we receive from LMCs. Community-led midwives provide a great service to mothers and families in New Zealand and a high level of care,” says Chloe.

'The LMC model of midwifery care in New Zealand is fantastic for women and their families. It enables a trusting relationship and one-to-one care from early pregnancy through to six weeks post-natal.”

Midwives work in partnership with women, to give women the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period up to six weeks, to facilitate births and to provide care for the newborn.

Midwives work collaboratively with other health professionals when necessary to meet any additional medical, health or social needs of mothers and their babies.

Birthing Centre supports the New Zealand College of Midwives' stance that 'The midwife understands, promotes and facilitates the physiological processes of pregnancy and childbirth.”

Chloe says International Day of the Midwife is also a chance to recognise the staff midwives who work in New Zealand's birthing centres and maternity wards.

'The staff midwives working in our centres fulfil a crucial role in supporting women, both during their birth, and also in the days immediately afterwards, as they get to grips with motherhood.

'Our midwives do everything from supporting women to breastfeed, to teaching them babycare skills and guiding fathers and partners in their crucial role of support.”

'Our birthing centres offer another option for midwives choosing to work in primary care. LMCs report feeling supported and cared for in a primary birthing environment.”

In addition to operating Bethlehem Birthing Centre, the social enterprise Birthing Centre Ltd also operates Te Papaioea Birthing Centre in Palmerston North.

Melling Birthing Centre, servicing the Wellington region, will open in July, and Nga Hau Mangere Birthing Centre in South Auckland next summer. The primary birthing centres are for women whose pregnancy is considered low-risk primary care.