Celebrating International Day of the Midwife: recognising care, compassion and research

Today, on International Day of the Midwife, we celebrate the midwives whose skill, compassion and dedication shape the experiences of women, birthing people, babies and families every day.

This year’s global theme, “One Million More Midwives,” highlights the urgent need to invest in, support and grow the midwifery workforce worldwide. The International Confederation of Midwives has called attention to the essential role midwives play across sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health, and the need for health systems to ensure midwives are recognised, resourced and enabled to work to their full scope of practice.

At St George’s, our midwives are central not only to safe, respectful and personalised care, but also to the research that helps improve care for future generations. Research in maternity services depends on trust, communication and partnership — qualities that midwives bring to their work every day.

This International Day of the Midwife is an opportunity to say thank you to all our midwives: for the reassurance they give, the expertise they share, the advocacy they provide, and the many ways they help families feel informed, supported and heard.

It is also a chance to highlight the wide range of maternity and gynaecology research studies currently running at St George’s Hospital, many of which rely on the support and involvement of midwives and clinical teams. These studies span pregnancy, newborn screening, fetal medicine, menopause, induction of labour, ultrasound, vaccines and long-term health.

Among the studies currently open is the Generation Study, which is evaluating the use of genome sequencing to screen newborn babies for a larger number of rare conditions that can be treated in the NHS. The aim is to improve health outcomes and quality of life through earlier diagnosis, timely access to care and treatment.

Other studies include the MAMA Study, exploring biologic medication use in pregnancy for women with inflammatory arthritis; the Mifepristone Outpatient Labour Induction Study, looking at whether mifepristone may be quicker and more effective than standard care for induction of labour; and the AZALEA Study, which is evaluating a treatment for pregnancies at risk of severe haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.

The research portfolio also includes the POPPY Study, which looks at cardiometabolic health before, during and after first pregnancy; the Sono-breech Acceptability Study, exploring the use of handheld scanning by midwives at 36 weeks to improve detection of breech presentation; and a study gathering views on how vaccine information is provided and vaccines are offered during pregnancy.

Alongside these, the AI FAB Study is comparing automated ultrasound measurement of estimated fetal weight with manual measurements by trained clinicians, while the International Congenital Lung Malformation Registry is helping researchers better understand rare congenital lung conditions through international collaboration. The PROMMIS study is also supporting better understanding of quality of life throughout menopause.

Together, these studies show the breadth of innovation taking place across maternity and gynaecology care. They also show how important midwives are to research: helping identify eligible participants, explaining studies clearly, supporting informed choice and ensuring research remains grounded in the needs of patients and families.

On International Day of the Midwife, we are proud to celebrate our midwives as clinicians, advocates, educators, researchers and partners in change. Their contribution reaches far beyond each individual appointment or birth. Through their care and their support for research, midwives help shape safer, kinder and more effective services for the future.

To all our midwives: thank you for everything you do.