Midwife

OFO No: 222201

Other names for Midwife:

• Certified Midwife
• Community Midwife
• Midwife Practitioner

CLICK HERE

Youtube clip – All about Nursing Careers

For training options in South Africa – scroll down

What is a Midwife?

A Midwife is a specialised nurse who provides help and advice to women during:

• Pregnancy
• Labour
• Postnatal Care

They can work for themselves assisting home births or work in hospitals, communities, clinics or in mobile health units.

Midwives are essential to the health care system worldwide.

Midwives can work in various settings:  including hospitals, homes (old age and youth), community clinics, schools, and general or private practices. 

They can work locally as well as internationally.  

What does a Midwife do?

• meet and greet with mothers-to-be or a woman who is trying to fall pregnant
• provides advice and assistance to the mother and supporting family
• assess progress throughout pregnancy
• manages complications
• recognises warning signs and refers to mother to specialists
• assists with the birthing
• helps with the pain using alternative therapies and pain-killing drugs
• performs examination of baby after birth
• reports births to government authorities
• advises on birth control and contraception
• conducts research in midwifery and keeps up to date with relevant information

Are you . . . ?

• a person caring for mothers and their babies?
• sensitive?
• responsible and dependable?
• able to follow orders carefully?
• able to assume responsibility and a leadership role ?
• able to take the initiative in emergencies ?
• sympathetic?
• good at communicating?
• tolerant, patient and tactful?
• able to deal with people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures ?
• able to work well under pressure?
• emotionally stable?
• physically fit to work long hours or unusual hours?

How do I become a Midwife?

You will need to complete an Advanced Diploma in Midwifery

On successful completion of this qualification, the learner is eligible for registration with the South African Nursing Council as a Midwife.

PATH 1

Advanced Diploma in Midwifery

• Minimum Requirements:

• Appropriate diploma or equivalent qualification in Nursing/ Staff Nurse and/or Professional nurse (General)

•  Register as a Midwife with the South African Nursing Council

• CLICK HERE for more info

PATH 2

Advanced Diploma in Midwifery

• RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) with minimum requirements.

• To work out your credits for minimum requirements CLICK HERE for more info

• Register as a Midwife with the South African Nursing Council

• SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

Approved Nursing Education Institutions:  (note, that these can change without notice)

http://www.sanc.co.za/neis.htm

WARNING

There are a lot of illegal nursing institutions operating in South Africa.

It is very important to make sure that the institution is approved by the Nursing Council AND that the training programme (course) is approved by the Nursing Council.

If not, the Nursing Council will not recognise the training. This means that the student will not be able to practice in South Africa (or elsewhere) after completing the training.  All the time and money will be wasted.

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Audiologist or Social Worker

Is becoming a Midwife the right career choice for me?