Midwives are among the most essential yet often under-recognized professionals in every health system. They provide critical services, trusted guidance and continuous support to pregnant women, newborns, families and communities, often serving as the first and sometimes the only point of care throughout pregnancy and birth.
Twenty-six-year-old midwife Asmat reflects on the path that led her to this profession: “When I decided to study midwifery, I was deeply fascinated by the process of physiological childbirth,” she recalls.
At the time, she admits, she did not fully know what lay ahead. She had enrolled in the nursing and midwifery bachelor’s programme at Tbilisi State Medical University, driven more by curiosity than certainty. But the moment she witnessed her first birth, something shifted.
“When I began working and saw childbirth in real life, I realized this was exactly the profession I wanted to pursue. I was moved by the experience.”
The unseen backbone of care
According to WHO, there are approximately 29 million nurses and 2.2 million midwives globally. However, by 2030, the world could face a combined shortage of nearly 4.8 million of them. These gaps are most severe in regions where health-care systems are already under pressure.
Midwives occupy a unique position in health care. They are not only skilled health professionals, but also trusted members of their communities, supporting women and families at a meaningful time in their lives. They understand cultural nuances, family dynamics and the unspoken fears that rarely make it onto clinical charts. That closeness allows them to shape care in ways that are both medically sound and profoundly human.
During delivery, Asmat’s responsibilities extend far beyond the dramatic moment of childbirth.
“We manage natural childbirth, receive the newborn, assess their vital signs, recognize emergencies and involve doctors as needed,” she explains. But what she emphasizes most is not the technical aspects – it is the emotional, human elements.
“Childbirth is a rare emotional experience for every woman, which is why psychological support is profoundly important.”
More than the moment of birth
This is where midwives quietly transform outcomes. They reassure, guide and stay present with pregnant women and their families throughout pregnancy and birth. Afterwards, they continue the support through breastfeeding assistance, recovery monitoring and helping new parents to navigate the fragile first days and years of their child’s life. Midwives play a crucial role in protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding by providing education, hands-on assistance and emotional reassurance.
Global evidence shows that investing in midwives leads to healthier children, families and more resilient communities. Their work reduces maternal and newborn mortality, improves quality of care and builds trust in health-care systems.
The unpredictability of midwifery is what keeps Asmat interested and engaged day after day. As she explains, it is not just the science involved, but also the humanity of those moments that cannot be standardized or scripted: “The beauty of this profession is that no two births are ever the same and that is what makes it such a meaningful challenge for me.”
A global effort rooted locally
In countries like Georgia, midwives are also part of a broader transformation. Through a partnership between WHO and the European Union, health systems in the Eastern Partnership countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine – are being strengthened.
The Health Resilience in the Eastern Partnership initiative focuses on building a more resilient health workforce, improving education, attracting and retaining professionals and ensuring that midwives like Asmat are equipped not just with skills, but with support. This approach puts people and professionalism at the centre.
WHO had contributed to strengthening Georgia’s health workforce by supporting the development of registration systems, educational and professional standards and sustainable continuing education frameworks. Alongside the country’s legislative reforms, the project has supported new laws to regulate nursing and midwifery in line with European standards.
A future to invest in
Despite its tangible impact, midwifery remains under-recognized in many places. “In Georgia, midwifery is not yet a popular profession, but I hope it becomes more recognized and valued,” notes Asmat. Her words echo a global reality. Even though midwives save lives every day, their profession often lacks the visibility, investment and respect it deserves.
Midwives are central to the health of all children and mothers. They are caregivers, educators, first responders and advocates. They support not just births, but the beginnings of families, healthy lives and new possibilities. Investing in them is not a symbolic gesture. It is a practical, proven path towards stronger health systems and healthier future generations, because in the end, every safe birth, every reassured mother, every healthy newborn and every thriving family starts with someone like Asmat, standing quietly at the bedside, ready.
WHO’s guidance for governments to make this a reality
WHO is working with Member States to enhance the role of midwives in maternity and newborn care and improving the overall experience of care for women globally. Studies have shown that empowering midwives as primary health care providers during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period optimizes outcomes for women and newborns with minimal use of unnecessary interventions. When integrated into broader health-care teams and enabled to work to their full scope of practice, midwives provide cost–effective, high-quality and respectful care that women and newborns need and value.
Midwifery Models of Care (MMoC) are evidence-based service delivery approaches designed to improve maternal, newborn and adolescent health outcomes. These models emphasize continuity of care, community involvement and integration of midwifery services into national health systems. Research highlights MMoC’s effectiveness in lowering maternal and newborn mortality rates, reducing unnecessary medical interventions and offering a personalized, improved person-centred experience. This integrated approach ensures an accessible, efficient health system that prioritizes women and newborns, making MMoC vital for advancing maternal and newborn health and achieving universal health coverage.
Guidance on transitioning to community-based MMoC is now available in 4 of the official WHO languages: Arabic, English, French and Spanish