VIDM 2025 Programme

Facilitator: Jane Houston 

Join us at this pre-conference event with colleagues from the World Health Organization (WHO) celebrating the worldwide contribution of midwives.

Welcome and introduction from the World Health Organization (WHO) by Frida Berg with video greetings from 

• Chief Nursing Officer:  Dr Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu
• Director General: Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus

We will then explore the following topics: 

1. Evidence to reality in 6 countries, strategic findings  (Clara Fischer and Prof. Lorena Binfa)  
2. Evidence to reality – From STAGE – recommendations on midwifery and how to take this forward  (Justine Le Lez)
3. Essential Childbirth care course and the Interprofessional Midwifery Education Toolkit  (Dr Florence West and Indie Kaur)
4. What’s new in WHO? (Dr Emily McWhirter)

Following a Question and Answer period, Dr Anshu Banerjee will provide closing remarks from WHO. 

Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OAqCOOGfz0

Onwards and upwards. Turning a pandemic into midwifery opportunities

Speaker: Sarah Stewart

Facilitator: Deborah Davis

Fifteen years ago I started the Virtual International Day of the Midwife (VIDM) on my kitchen table. The first year I pretty much spent talking to myself. Who could have guessed all these years later that a global pandemic, which would cause such devastation, would also make virtual conferencing an everyday occurrence. And that the organising committee could leverage COVID-19 into an opportunity to grow the VIDM to an audience of thousands across the world. In this presentation I will be reflecting on the lessons I learned over the years I was facilitating the VIDM about leadership, collaboration and innovation which are critical elements we need to influence and shape midwifery and women/people-centred care as we transition out of the pandemic.

Recording: https://youtu.be/TeuD1XwAEU0

Speaker: Paola Wilkin, Jane Houston, Megan Arbour 

Facilitator: Paloma Terra

Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) remains one of Peru’s leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality, with nearly 20% of maternal deaths caused by PPH in 2019. Early recognition of PPH and prompt treatment remains challenging in low-resource obstetric settings, including among Mestizo midwives in Peru.  Midwives and obstetricians may experience barriers to the timely diagnosis and management of PPH including access to quantitative blood loss measurement methods, and timely haemoglobin blood laboratory tests. In addition, formalized PPH diagnosis and management training may not be available.

PURPOSE/AIM: The purpose of this quality improvement initiative is to increase the accuracy of postpartum blood loss measurement by Mestizo Peruvian midwives through hybrid educational sessions.  

Methods: 3 international midwives collaborated to develop this quality improvement project. Clinically practicing midwives, midwifery interns, and midwifery students were recruited from the 2 main public hospitals in Arequipa, Peru to participate in a web-based training module, and subsequent live skills demonstration regarding how to quantitatively assess postpartum blood loss.  The primary author is a Mestizo Peruvian dentist and midwife, and all materials were developed in a linguistically and culturally safe manner.

After the web-based training module, participants were surveyed on their level of comfort and self-efficacy with quantitative blood loss measurement using google forms, distributed via WhatsApp. 

This quality improvement initiative was deemed exempt by the Frontier Nursing University IRB.

Results: Preliminary results and the next steps will be available and shared during the presentation.

Recording: https://youtu.be/UTrVPckPWUY

Title: Arte de la Partería Indígena: Resistencias, desafíos y continuidades

Speaker: Tania Pariona Tarqui

Facilitator: Paloma Terra

Recording: https://youtu.be/zuIlj3va4E4

Speaker: Susana Ku  

Facilitator: Paola Wilkin

We are a growing transnational collective consisting of members from the Global South and North, including midwives, doulas, scholars, educators, and mothers calling for an expansion of midwifery research to include what we coin “Critical Midwifery Studies”. We envision a Critical Midwifery Studies that uses three principles: 1.engagement and collaboration with rapidly developing fields within critical theory, 2.midwifery-led, 3. self-critical (developing ways to implement critical theory into practice). Systemic injustice is a threat to sexual, reproductive, maternal, and newborn health, hence the application of the art and science of midwifery. The effects of this injustice are reflected in the high maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates in formerly colonized countries of the Global South, in marginalized communities of the Global North, and in underprivileged classes around the world. We aim for an open discussion about midwifery research, education, practice, policy, and regulations, that are largely White and Western-centric, using positivistic and universalist principles of biomedical research. Although we recognize the global struggle for legitimacy that midwives face as they work to make their models of care more accessible, this coincides with pressure to engage with dominant and dominating paradigms, using language and approaches that are valued by regimes of power.

Our presentation will include a summary of our experience launching the first bilingual summer school for Critical Midwifery Studies held on July 2022, with delegates around the world. We will explain how our collective planned this activity including principles of equity and accessibility https://tinyurl.com/yc55dbw6.

Recording: https://youtu.be/TKrSfdmC9nM

Title: Professional Midwifery: Revolutionising Maternal Care in India

Speaker: Indie Kaur

Facilitators: Red Miller and Suman Lata

Research shows that midwife-led care reduces unnecessary interventions, and mothers go on to have better birth experiences. In 2011, Fernandez Hospital piloted an in-house professional midwifery education and training program when such a cadre did not exist in India. Unnecessary interventions like episiotomies and epidurals decreased, and women’s positive feedback increased yearly. Looking at this success, the Government of Telangana and UNICEF partnered with Fernandez Hospital to pilot midwifery training in its public hospitals.

These midwives created a paradigm shift in maternity care, helped increase normal births, and promoted respectful maternity care in the state’s public facilities. This led to the government investing in the need for separate training for midwives in India and launching ‘Guidelines on Midwifery Services’ in 2018. This was a historic moment for midwifery in the country, recognising the need for a separate professional training building on a strong cadre and rolling our midwifery care to women and new-born in the country.

The Foundation has since partnered with The Government of India and Telangana State with the support of The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF to train midwifery educators in India, strengthening midwifery services.

Recording: https://youtu.be/m-SDNI7B7dA

Title: Biomechanics for birth: New learning & insights for practice: The 3 R’s

Speaker:  Molly O’Brien

Facilitator: Linda Wylie

Midwifery work is wide ranging. In essence we are public health practitioners, protecting, maintaining and enhancing the health and wellbeing of women and their families. As skilled practitioners we seek to understand and mitigate myriad factors that contribute to ill health while aiming to support and optimise birth physiology as per our code of proficiency. 

Specifically, the presentation focuses on labour dystocia and the midwifery skill of recognising when birth goes awry using the art and science of watchful attendance. It looks at ways to support physiology to reduce difficulties during the birth process and seeks to resolve mechanical difficulties by optimising physiology including the use of biomechanical techniques.  

This presentation highlights areas of midwifery training and education that hinder understanding of anatomy and physiology in relation to the birth process and the baby’s journey through the pelvis. It examines the impact the dominant biomedical model of care has on midwifery practice, the profession as a whole and the women who use the service. 

Recording: youtube.com/watch?v=FVN63zUtXXI

Speaker: Ginger García Portocarrero 

Facilitator: Susana Ku

El Colegio Regional de Obstetras III Lima – Callao, ha venido desarrollando un voluntariado en ayuda a la Maternidad Segura brindando temas en: consejería, telemedicina y campañas de salud reproductiva para los lugares más precarios de la ciudad. 

Para este 2023, estamos relanzando voluntariado con el nombre de Brigada PRO (Primera Respuesta Obstétrica), que incluye temas de: soporte básico de vida, atención prehospitalaria de emergencias ginecoobstétricas y Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres; para asegurar una buena atención en los lugares menos accesibles de nuestra región. También, pretendemos contagiar y compartir el voluntariado para formar la organización: Obstetras Sin Fronteras.

En esta renovación se les dotará de un traje táctico especial para el trabajo de campo que las pueda identificar y desempeñarse mejor en sus actividades. 

English: 

The Regional College of Midwives III Lima – Callao, has been developing a volunteer program in support of Safe Motherhood providing counseling, telemedicine and reproductive health campaigns for the most precarious places in the city. 

For this 2023, we are relaunching volunteering under the name of “Brigada PRO (First Obstetric Response)”, which includes topics such as: basic life support, pre-hospital care of gynecological and obstetric emergencies and Disaster Risk Management, to ensure good care in the least accessible places in our region. Also, we intend to spread and share volunteering to form the organization: “Midwives Without Borders”.

For this project, midwives will be provided with a special tactical suit for field work that will help them to identify and perform better in their activities. 

Recording: https://youtu.be/zfwrQxweOwA

Speaker: Brenda Araujo Salas 

Facilitator: Paloma Terra

A partir de las ilustraciones elaboradas por Yaquemilsa Matiashi Vicente, una joven madre del pueblo Matsigenka, perteneciente a la amazonía peruana, describiremos las prácticas tradicionales en salud materna que aún se mantienen vigentes en las comunidades más alejadas de la vida moderna. Se describirán las concepciones y prácticas culturales durante la primera menstruación, los cuidados en el embarazo, la atención del parto por parte de la familia y parteras, y los cuidados en el posparto.

Conocer gráficamente las prácticas en salud materna a través de la mirada de una mujer del mismo pueblo, nos permite visualizar detalles significativos que se dan en la los cuidados de las mujeres gestantes y los recién nacidos. La importancia de este material es educativa y en favor de una mejora en la atención del parto para fundar la comprensión y el respeto a las costumbres y participación de las parteras y especialistas tradicionales de salud, ya que, actualmente, gran parte de las comunidades amazónicas tienen acceso a establecimientos de salud, pero estos ofrecen servicios sin pertinencia cultural. Por otro lado, el material también permite el reconocimiento de la importancia de los conocimientos de las mujeres Matsigenka en los niños, niñas y adolescentes.

English:

From the illustrations elaborated by Yaquemilsa Matiashi Vicente, a young mother of the Matsigenka people, belonging to the Peruvian Amazon, we will describe the traditional practices in maternal health that are still in force in the communities farthest away from modern life. We will describe the cultural conceptions and practices during the first menstruation, pregnancy care, childbirth care by the family and midwives, and postpartum care.

The graphic presentation of maternal health practices through the eyes of a woman from the same village allows us to visualize significant details in the care of pregnant women and newborns. The importance of this material is educational and in favor of an improvement in childbirth care, in order to establish understanding and respect for the customs and participation of midwives and traditional health specialists, since, at present, most Amazonian communities have access to health facilities, but these offer services without cultural relevance. On the other hand, the material also allows the recognition of the importance of Matsigenka women’s knowledge in children and adolescents.

Recording: https://youtu.be/voZyHiTevvw

Speaker: Lucia Monetta

Facilitator: Susana Ku

In 2020, our Argentina Midwifery Association  launched a pilot program to develop a committee to strengthen two areas that have been less explored in our profession: research and leadership.

With the group of 4 young midwives, this committee developed a purpose, objetives and structure that will allow argentinian midwives to develop skills that will equip them to make a visible impact on their communities, by positioning midwifery in the Research Health field and to take on leadership roles in the Health Care Systems and organizations that tackle Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal & Newborn Health injustices and inequities. 

From this initiative, several program were born: internships/mentoring program, educational programs in research studies, conferences, seminars and one of the biggest accomplishments: a registered Midwifery Journal. 

The leadership program has grown over the past three years, achieving important leadership roles, mentoring midwives, as well as, more publishing and research opportunities. 

The Midwifery Journal “OBSTETRIX” continues to grow with more collaborations, more midwives publishing their research work from central, Latin America, and more  than two thousand subscribers. 

In this presentation, we want to encourage midwives to initiate this kind of programs and innovation to develop in their countries. We would like to explore the experiences and opportunities and that can be achieved by working with a unique working environment that allows midwives to develop their full potential and the lessons learned throughout this program. 

Recording: https://youtu.be/vC2DOEfLsLQ

Speaker: Patricia Marianella 

Facilitator: Paloma Terra

El objetivo fue comparar los resultados materno-neonatales y costos de la resolución de embarazos, en mujeres obesas y con peso normal pregestacional.

Métodos: Estudio transversal realizado en 60 gestantes con obesidad y 120 con peso normal pregestacional atendidas en un hospital público de Lima durante el 2018, seleccionadas aleatoriamente. Se recolectaron datos sociodemográficos, indicadores maternos (índice de masa corporal pregestacional, controles prenatales, edad gestacional, días de hospitalización), neonatales (Apgar, peso, morbilidad, edad gestacional por examen físico, días de hospitalización) y datos de los costos (medicamentos, procedimientos e insumos). Se utilizó la prueba estadística U de Mann Whitney.

Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias entre mujeres obesas y con peso normal pregestacional en los días de hospitalización materna (3 ±1,2 días vs 2,0 ±1,2 días; p=0,000); en el peso del recién nacido (3 615 ± 518,03 gr vs 3 245 ± 426,25 gr; p=0,000), en el costo de medicamentos ($ 19,78 ±16,47 vs $ 3,21 ±15,57; p=0,000), en el costo de procedimientos ($ 40,65 ±46,78 vs $ 27,67 ±49,47; p=0,001), y en el costo de insumos ($ 54,08 ±29,02 vs $ 9,32 ±28,26; p=0,000).

Conclusión: Las mujeres obesas presentaron recién nacidos con mayor peso, contaron con más días de hospitalización y los costos de medicamentos, procedimientos e insumos fueron superiores en comparación con las mujeres de peso normal.

English: 

The objective was to compare maternal-neonatal outcomes and costs of pregnancy resolution in obese women and women with normal pregestational weight. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted in 60 pregnant women, randomly selected, with obesity and 120 with normal pregestational weight attended in a public hospital in Lima during 2018. Sociodemographic data, maternal indicators (pregestational body mass index, prenatal controls, gestational age, days of hospitalization), neonatal (Apgar, weight, morbidity, gestational age by physical examination, days of hospitalization) and cost data (drugs, procedures and supplies) were collected. The Mann Whitney U statistical test was used. Results: Differences were found between obese and pregestational normal weight women in maternal hospitalization days (3 ±1.2 days vs. 2.0 ±1.2 days; p=0.000); in newborn weight (3 615 ± 518.03 gr vs. 3 245 ± 426.25 gr; p=0.000), in the cost of medications ($ 19.78 ±16.47 vs $ 3.21 ±15.57; p=0.000), in the cost of procedures ($ 40.65 ±46.78 vs $ 27.67 ±49.47; p=0.001), and in the cost of supplies ($ 54.08 ±29.02 vs $ 9.32 ±28.26; p=0.000).Conclusion: Obese women had heavier newborns, more days of hospitalization and the costs of medications, procedures and supplies were higher compared to women of normal weight.

Recording: https://youtu.be/McAV7M1Ub4M

Title: Considering evidence and wisdom in professional reality

Speaker: Céline Lemay

Facilitator: Elisa Segoni

With EBM we also see a proliferation of guidelines and recommendations directed targeting practitioners that are expected to “apply” them and valuing a standardised care. In their daily practice midwives are facing two different important professional orientations: following guidelines/protocols and also providing a woman centered individualized care. How to take the most appropriate decision for the patient then? The reality is complex and often hold ethical tensions. How can we demonstrate a good quality of care? In past years there was a number of publications promoting the importance of more practical wisdom or “phronesis” in health care professional practice. A review of literature on the subject was undertook and 37 papers were selected to answer the main question: how can we understand the meaning of practical wisdom and its place for a good quality of healthcare? Can practical wisdom be learned, taught, developed and cultivated? We will develop the mean findings of our review, highlighting the fundamental place of professional judgement in the profession. It is a question of using discernment and deliberation to decide the best action for the good of a unique person in a context of care.  There is also the valorisation of a reflexive practice in clinical places as well as using narratives of experiences to learn discussion and reflection during undergraduate period. In all context of care practical wisdom can help midwives to use the strengths of EBM AND have a woman centered care. It is seen as a mean to flourish as a professional.

Recording: https://youtu.be/Ir1AJXKZVQs

Title: Changing the course of history – Midwives, Midwifery

Speaker: Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent

Facilitator(s): Cecilia Jevitt

This session describes the impact of midwives as a ripple through generations and the significant contribution midwives make throughout the life course. Listeners will be challenged to reflect on their contribution to childbirth experiences and outcomes within the context of the changing world. Years from now will we throw up our hands or role up our sleeves? The session will end with a call to action.

Recording: https://youtu.be/RNcRroY3U2k

Title:- Essential Midwifery Skills, Experience and Practice in the Face of Disaster

Speaker: Ibu Robin Lim

Facilitator: Linda Wylie

Abstract:

Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Volcanic Eruptions, Fires, Floods, Conflicts, Migrations, Pandemics, Typhoons, Landslides, Liquefaction, Tornadoes… Your midwifery skills and experience are needed more than ever in the era of bigger more frequent disasters driven by the Climate Crisis and global conflicts. My aim in this hour is to help you feel prepared. The times are radical, and we must be ever more responsible. Collaborative care including Midwives ~ Doulas ~ Nurses ~ Doctors, balancing Science with Nature and Spirit is the Grandmother’s sacred way, I invite you to walk with me.

Recording: https://youtu.be/nvFPp9aVF24

The Role of Midwifery in Respectful Maternal Care and Mental Health through the Wellbeing Foundation Africa’s Mamacare360 Program

Speaker: Toyin Saraki

Co-Presenters: Dr. Pragya Vishwakarma, Ms. Eunice AlexGreat Akhigbe

Facilitator(s): Halima Abdul

Abstract:

The Mamacare360 program, implemented by the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA) Midwives, is aligned with Goal 3 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which aims to ensure good health and wellbeing for all. Central to its mission is the enhancement of maternal health through the promotion of Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) for all women throughout the continuum of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period. Recognising the pivotal role of the relationship between pregnant women and their primary healthcare providers in shaping health outcomes for both mother and newborn, WBFA highlights the significance of this connection in fostering postnatal health and wellbeing. 

Respectful maternity care is upheld as a fundamental human right, deserving of every childbearing woman within every healthcare system globally (WRA, 2010). WBFA advocates for this principle, emphasising the inherent dignity and autonomy of women throughout the childbirth process. This ethos is echoed in the Lancet Midwifery Series (2014), which asserts that midwifery is indispensable in addressing the challenges associated with delivering high-quality maternal and newborn care universally. Moreover, it is recognized as an effective strategy for promoting the health and wellbeing of women of reproductive age, newborns, and their families, thereby exerting a significant and sustainable impact on population health outcomes.  Through a grassroots and community-led approach, Mamacare360 not only delivers essential maternal and child health services but also fosters a culture of empowerment and resilience among women.

This presentation will explore the multifaceted impact of Mamacare360, with a particular emphasis on the transformative power of midwifery. By bringing skilled midwives directly to the doorsteps of communities, the program ensures access to quality prenatal, childbirth, and postnatal care, thereby reducing maternal and infant mortality rates. By engaging with local women as advocates and educators, Mamacare360 cultivates a sense of ownership over maternal health, fostering sustainable improvements in healthcare-seeking behaviours.  

The Mamacare360 program also acknowledges the often-overlooked aspect of maternal mental health. Recognising the profound impact of psychological wellbeing on maternal and child outcomes, the program integrates mental health support into its holistic approach. Through counselling, peer support groups, and community outreach initiatives, Mamacare360 addresses the unique challenges faced by mothers, promoting mental resilience and overall wellbeing.

Recording: https://youtu.be/8l4fhB_1C88

Speaker: Romina Gallardo Duarte

Facilitator: Susana Ku

Abstract:

What do Uruguayan women perceive as Obstetric Violence? Do they question the role of informed consent, agency or autonomy? Is legislation enough to protect women at the time of childbirth? What answers do women who initiate a complaint seek? What can midwifery improve or contribute to prevent these experiences? Why is a feminist and reproductive justice vision necessary in the monitoring of these cases? These are some of the questions that I raise and whose answers I will try to give, based on the analysis of 35 cases of women at the stage of reporting obstetric violence in Uruguay. It is a view that starts from legal practice, as a lawyer who accompanies and advises these complaint processes.

Recording: https://youtu.be/iIB-42tZoOg

Speaker: Laura Quevedo

Facilitator: Susana Ku

Abstract: 

Childbirth and midwifery have consistently belonged to and been carried out by women, for women, among women. Anthropological studies posit midwifery as the world’s oldest profession, with midwives, nurses, and healers often facing persecution together. The lack of coincidence in these events lies in the fact that women’s autonomy, freedom, and sexuality have perpetually been perceived as threats by those seeking control. Human childbirth behavior stands in contrast to other primates, as human mothers actively seek assistance during childbirth, primarily from another woman who can provide support and share experiences acquired from predecessors or previous births. Despite centuries of evolution, midwives continue to play a crucial role in human survival and women’s health. The World Health Organization (WHO) includes the care of girls, adolescents, and adult women throughout the pregnancy continuum in its responsibilities. The presence of midwives in perinatal care has proven to significantly reduce rates of cesarean sections and maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. The professionalization and adaptation of midwives to the changing needs of diverse populations have occurred over history. Despite being historically expelled, prohibited, belittled, insulted, devalued, and even persecuted to the point of extermination during the inquisition, midwives currently advocate both nationally and internationally for the recognition of their profession and autonomy. Organizations like the WHO, ICM, and RELACAHUPAN have underscored the importance of midwives’ autonomy. Updating knowledge about the historical struggle for midwives’ autonomy is crucial to grasp the significance of protecting the profession, benefiting both midwives and the women’s sexual health.

Recording: https://youtu.be/iEcjGYL5Qmo

Speaker: Yennifer Márquez-Mosquera  & Pia Rodriguez Garrido

Facilitator: Susana Ku

Abstract:

Background: Counter-hegemonic practices among midwives as a way to carry out their work from a situated position concerned about socio-cultural changes carries a strong social and political commitment. Reaching this point is not an easy road, hence the importance of knowing and analyzing the counter-hegemonic processes of midwifery and its impact on the profession in Chile. Method: Qualitative design within the paradigm of descolonial feminist epistemologies; theoretical/practical/methodological proposal which works with the body, subjectivity, and the territory. Three body maps were developed by the midwives who also acted as authors of this study, and were analyzed via image analysis. Results: The body maps and their narratives indicate processes, stages, people, and key scenarios which let the midwives learn various counter-hegemonic ways to exercise their profession. These processes were not always linear, and we can also observe a continual questioning of traditional, sometimes violent forms, of carrying out midwifery. Discussion: The emergence of critical reflections around the exercise and tasks of midwifery is a phenomenon which has drawn increasing attention. In this sense, the counter-hegemonic practices of Chilean midwives and the critical reflections from midwives in Europe and the Anglo-Saxion nations have important and necessary encounter points, key elements to move towards a midwifery which is concerned with people and their experiences, with greater meaning and socio-political commitment.

Recording not available

Enhancing Obstetric Prehospital Care: Insights from Midwives in Lima, Peru

Speaker: Ginger Garcia

Facilitator(s): Susana Ku

Abstract:

This presentation delves into the experiences of a dedicated group of midwives in Lima, Peru, who possess specialized training to provide prehospital care during natural disasters. Peru’s diverse climate often leads to natural disasters that directly impact communities, underscoring the critical need for immediate attention in such situations. While the overarching approach is holistic, special emphasis is placed on the most vulnerable populations, including women, children, and the elderly. The goal is to deliver swift and timely care, focusing on prevention and support for women amidst crises. Furthermore, sustainability is prioritized, with an emphasis on resource efficiency and waste reduction, promoting natural childbirth, exclusive breastfeeding, and optimal nutrition. Recognizing the adverse effects of climate change on maternal and fetal health, proactive measures are taken to address eventualities swiftly and effectively.

Check the time in your location: https://bit.ly/VIDM24-closing-session

Recording: Not Available