The midwife's role: Challenges and changes in the post-medical movement towards woman-centred midwifery care

Abstract

The current movement towards woman-centred midwifery care is creating many changes for practicing midwives. In order to address these changes, midwives, particularly those working in the hospital system, need to be clear about their role in the care of childbearing women, and how they can be part of the solution in changing the fractured maternity care currently operating under the medical system. This article examines some of the issues arising for midwives, such as autonomous practice, use of obstetric language, and education for the new generation of midwives.