MIDWIVES from University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL) have been extolling the rewards of midwifery as a career to local secondary school students in advance of the International Day of the Midwife on this Friday, May 5.
UMHL will host a special event where midwifery staff will give presentations on their roles. Commemorative birth certificates will be given to the mums of all babies born in UMHL on the International Day of the Midwife.
In the run-up to their annual day of commemoration, midwives from UMHL have been reflecting on their careers, with some participating in the outreach events at local school.
Stephanie Ryan, a Clinical Midwife Manager (CMM1) at UMHL said: “The most enjoyable aspect of my role is the opportunity to care for women at such a crucial stage in their lives, it is an honour and privilege.”
Her colleague, Rachel Hannon (acting CMM2), said: “While my day is very busy, and filled with variety, my favourite part is meeting with the women who attend our hospital. I love to chat with them, and it’s a real privilege to ensure that women always feel safe and feel involved in their care. My priority is always to ensure that every woman feels both safe and heard.”
Director of Midwifery at UL Hospitals Group, Eileen Ronan, said that few things in life are more important than making sure that each woman and new-born baby has access to the best possible care, before, during and after birth.
“A midwife prepares women and their families for the birth of their new baby, and is a vital presence during all stages of pregnancy, labour and the early postnatal period. As a career, midwifery is diverse and progressive, with options available in clinical, management, education and research roles.”
“Midwifery services are increasingly moving from the hospital to the community. This evolving role has given rise to many opportunities for midwives to develop as professional in clinical specialist roles and Advanced Midwifery Practitioners (RAMPs)
Ms Ronan concluded: “It’s appropriate that this year in particular, we use the platform of International Day of the Midwife not just to celebrate our successes and the importance of midwifery, but also to remind women of the midwifery care and services that are ever-present at UMHL throughout the extraordinary times we’re living through as a result of Covid-19.”
