May really is a beautiful month. Everything is in full bloom, the days are warm, and on May 5 we midwives celebrate International Day of Midwives. Every year, the International Confederation of Midwives prepares a slogan and promotional materials ICM2018. This year’s slogan is:
“ Midwives are leading the way with quality care.“ or ” Midwives leading the way with quality care.”
Yes Midwives leading the way with quality care is important in highlighting the key role of midwives—not only in ensuring safe pregnancy and birth for women and newborns, but also in providing respectful, high-quality care throughout motherhood, which can create a lifetime of good health and wellbeing beyond the birth continuum.
May 5 is an internationally recognised day to highlight the work of midwives. This day was first discussed in the late 1980s, and the official initiative followed in 1992. Each year on May 5, the world is asked to focus on the role of midwives and midwifery. International Day of Midwives is an opportunity for every individual midwife to reflect on themselves and others in the profession, use the day to build new connections, and spread awareness of the role midwives play around the world. Since 2015, the “International Confederation of Midwives – ICM” has used the general slogan “The world needs midwives now more than ever”, as part of an ongoing campaign to highlight the need for midwives. That’s why May 5 is a truly important day for me. Although I try to use every day as an opportunity to reflect on myself and others in this profession, build new connections, and share and gain new knowledge, on this day I’m especially proud of my profession.
If you also want midwives to have a bigger role during pregnancy and after birth, think of us on May 5. Help us make our voice even stronger and our role in the health of women, children, and families more recognised. Ask for midwifery care for yourself and for your children. Together we can do more. And you are the ones who need to want midwives by your side during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.
Every year, midwifery students also make sure that things happen in May that draw attention to our profession.
- On May 3 at 2:00 PM, the Faculty of Health Sciences is hosting a screening of the documentary film “Microbirth“. It mainly talks about the importance of the microbiome (so it answers why the Golden Hour is important).
- On May 4, we’ll meet at Prešeren Square at 11:00 Midwives’ Day 2018
- And on May 16 at 1:00 PM at the Faculty of Health Sciences, at the Student Midwifery Forum, on this year’s topic “Challenges of the postpartum period” ŠBF 2018
Pregnant women expecting a new family member in the summer months—grab the last available spots for the two-day “Birth and Parenting Preparation“, taking place on June 5 and 7 at 9:00 AM.
ŠBF programme:
As part of the celebration of International Day of Midwives, midwifery students invite you to the 5th Student Midwifery Forum titled CHALLENGES OF THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD.
WHEN? Wednesday, May 16, 2018, starting at 1:00 PM.
WHERE? Faculty of Health Sciences in Ljubljana, lecture hall no. 18.
PLANNED FORUM PROGRAMME:
1:00–1:10 PM Introduction and welcome
1:10–1:40 PM Midwives’ competencies in community nursing (Anita Prelec, RN, MSc (UK))
1:40–2:10 PM Midwife in community nursing services (Mojca Petek, certified midwife)
2:10–2:40 PM Breastfeeding (Asst. Tita Stanek Zidarič, BMid, MSc (UK), IBCLC, lecturer)
2:40–3:10 PM A mother’s personal experience (Maja Tomc)
3:10–4:00 PM Coffee and snack break
4:00–4:30 PM Postpartum complications in women (Assoc. Prof. Miha Lučovnik, MD, specialist in gynaecology and obstetrics)
4:30–5:00 PM Physical recovery after childbirth (Senior Lecturer Darija Šćepanovič, MSc, senior physiotherapist)
5:00–5:30 PM Postpartum complications in newborns (Jani Breznik, MD, paediatrics resident)
5:30–6:00 PM Psychological profile of a woman after childbirth (Tara Henigman, BSc Psych, integrative gestalt psychotherapy trainee)
The forum is intended for students, professionals, and the general public.
Admission is free.
You’re welcome!
‘Babice smo nadnaravna bitja‘ (intervju za prilogo časopisa Večer)
