Our Mission: Through networking and education, Midwifery Today’s mission is to return midwifery care to its rightful position in the family; to make midwifery care the norm throughout the world; and to redefine midwifery as a vital partnership with women.
Midwifery Today began solely as a magazine in 1986. Since then, we have grown into a business that publishes a quarterly magazine and produces a biweekly e-mail newsletter. In addition, Midwifery Today has produced and published many books—both print and e-books, offers numerous educational products, and presents domestic and international conferences. No matter what endeavor we undertake, our goal is to actively promote midwifery and optimal birth everywhere in the world.
The name of our business is also our motto: Midwifery is not a thing of the past, but a viable profession and, more than ever, the best choice for birthing mothers today and in the future. We feel compelled to give a voice to midwifery as a profession, to educate the public and to let our communities know that midwives are working for them in a responsible, reliable and loving manner. We also strive to give individual midwives a voice so they can communicate with and support each other, and become a genuine force for positive change in their communities and for society at large.
In addition, we seek to unify all birth practitioners. When we stand together, we form a powerful block. Let’s work together to promote good, safe midwifery care, and to formulate good education strategies for those who aspire to work in birth. Together let’s make midwifery the standard of care in the United States, as it is so successfully in many other countries. Let’s strengthen our ties to midwives around the world!
Midwifery is a profession and calling; it is also a state of mind and a way of life. It takes wisdom, compassion, love, empowerment and trust.
Our beliefs are clear:
- Midwives trust a woman’s power to give birth successfully.
- Midwives are non-interventionists.
- Midwives emphasize good nutrition, beneficial education and useful information, natural birth and breastfeeding for their clients.
- Midwives are the guardians of normal birth.
We know that most midwives uphold these values. Midwifery Today is committed to supporting the Midwives Model of Care and assisting and supporting midwives, whoever they are and wherever they practice.
The past several decades of obstetrics have also taught us how to save lives. Midwives can blend the wise and restrained use of technology with good midwifery skills and be willing to determine when a problem is beyond their abilities and transport to the hospital. Midwives tailor their care to the individual’s own needs and beliefs. They take responsibility for educating clients about their choices and for making these choices as available as possible. Just as knowledge is power for midwives, so it is for the birthing woman. Midwifery Today gives practitioners the information, encouragement and inspiration to meet the needs of families.
How do we do it?
- We strive to provide information and opinions from various belief systems and from related fields.
- We offer “soft but competent” information.
- We share hard facts.
- We provide references, reviews, real stories.
- We gather techniques to help with your practice.
- We bring art and science, emotion and spirit.
- We offer different viewpoints and leave the decisions up to you.
Midwifery Today is both for and by birth practitioners. Your active participation will to help us continue to grow, and in turn, help all midwives grow. We seek suggestions, feedback, written and artistic material. Midwifery Today functions as a network of birth practitioners and educators in the field.
If you would like to submit an article, please see our writer’s guidelines