The birth of every baby—a new life, a person entering the world—holds the promise of a healthy, productive life well lived; the promise of breaking old cycles of neglect, lack of love, poverty and violence. There is the potential for the growth of love and relationships, of family integrity. The start of a new year reflects this promise of change, the possibility of joy, the idea that things might get better. It is a time for starting afresh and to live life differently; our resolutions range from getting fit and eating healthily to the more profound.
As we start this new year, we cannot help but be aware of events in the world around us. Globally, 2016 was marked by wars, political upheaval, movement to divide, incitement of hatred, greater inequalities, migration and displacement of people at a level never known before. We watch through our virtual windows of television and social media, often feeling helpless to influence and help.
But remember the work of midwives—your work—makes a huge difference to babies being born, women becoming mothers, the wellbeing and connectedness of the father or other parent, and the integrity of the family. You make a real difference to our world. After nearly 5 years as President of the Royal College of Midwives, of being with midwives around the UK and the world, observing you at work, talking with you, sharing information and evidence, hearing about your aspirations, laughing at funny stories and sharing frustration at the lack of understanding of our potential, I want to reflect back to you just how important and inspiring your work is.
To be a midwife is to be at the centre of the world for the woman, her baby and family. Each and every midwife holds the power to contribute to a good start in life, to health and wellbeing, secure bonds of love and family integrity. While this power may be reduced by the organisations in which midwives work, still the individual midwife will make a difference. Our resolutions as midwives, whatever our role, will influence many lives directly. Don't forget that seemingly ‘little’ things count a great deal. Our collaborative resolutions as a profession will have a profound effect.
This is a time in which we should remember the power we hold to influence lives, and think about what our individual and collective contribution should be. My challenge to us all as we enter the new year is this: think how you—whether you are a hands-on practitioner, a leader, a teacher or a policy maker—might ensure that every woman (particularly the disenfranchised and vulnerable) gets consistently respectful care that recognises her personal autonomy and right to choices about where she receives care and gives birth. Think about how we can ensure that every woman receives the highest level of midwifery skill from midwives who are educated and compassionate, working through relation-ship with women. Think about how we might be with women and families in joy and antici pation, working towards optimal well being, rather than in fear and anxiety. Think about how we might reduce the effects of poverty and social inequalities, and the harm of over-intervention. Think about how you can contribute to a culture change and a system change supporting midwives to do their best.
Midwives are uniquely placed not only to improve health and wellbeing and even save the lives of women and their babies, but also to support the best start in life. We have never had a better jumping-off place to ensure we can all give our best. We have developed new or renewed ways of working in all corners of the world, we have good evidence from both low-resource and high-resource countries showing the impact that effective midwifery programmes make, and progress in education has led to a midwifery profession that is committed, creative, skilled and knowledgeable—a profession that is able to transform.
In the UK, policy is leading edge, perhaps more progressive than anywhere else in the world. Better Births, published last year (National Maternity Review, 2016), is leading to a programme of transformation in England, and new policy is expected to be published in Scotland early in the New Year. Internationally, there are examples of the value of midwifery programmes in saving lives and reducing interventions, as well as improving the quality of care.
Wherever you work as a midwife, think about your own approaches, use your skill and knowledge effectively, speak up to help others understand the potential of midwifery, start conversations, and be respectful—not only to women and their families, but to each other. Expect respect for yourself and your work. Work with commitment but care for yourself, take rest, and know that the work you do is of the utmost importance. Your work is powerful, so make that power positive; it will ripple out into the world and down through generations.