Job File: Midwife

At the heart of one of life's most important moments, the midwife accompanies expectant mothers on their journey from pregnancy to birth. More than just a medical profession, this job demands a unique balance between technical expertise and human qualities. Together, let's take a look at the details of this life-sustaining profession.

What is a midwife?

Definition of a midwife

A midwife is a healthcare professional specializing in pregnancy, childbirth and post-natal care. Supporting the profession of gynecologist, she provides medical supervision of normal pregnancy, childbirth and its aftermath. Her role also extends to women's gynecological health throughout their lives, from adolescence to menopause.

Role and main responsibilities

The midwife occupies a central position in the maternity process. She is authorized to carry out pregnancy monitoring consultations, perform screening ultrasounds, prescribe the necessary tests and detect any complications requiring medical attention. She also plays a crucial role in health education and preparation for parenthood. The role of the midwife is similar to that of a pediatrician or general practitioner.

The skills and qualities required to be a midwife

Midwifery is a highly sensitive field. It therefore requires specific qualities, which are highly prized by midwifery job offers, and which we can group together as follows:

Medical and technical skills

• Mastery of anatomy and physiology: to understand the pregnancy process and detect abnormalities.
• Expertise in fetal monitoring: to follow the baby's development and prevent complications.
• Emergency skills: to react quickly to critical situations during childbirth.
• Knowledge of obstetrical drugs: to manage pain and complications appropriately.
• Mastery of medical equipment: to carry out examinations and monitor vital signs.

Interpersonal skills

• Empathy : to understand and emotionally support expectant mothers.
• Pedagogy: to clearly explain medical procedures and reassure patients.
• Clear communication : to effectively convey information to parents and the medical team.
• Active listening: to identify patients' needs and concerns.
• Patience : to serenely accompany the pregnancy and childbirth process.

Situation management skills

• Composure
• Ability to make quick decisions
• Organization
• Adaptability
• Teamwork skills

Training to become a midwife

The midwifery curriculum

Midwifery training lasts five years after the baccalauréat. It begins with a first year in PASS or L.AS, followed by four years in a maieutic school. The curriculum alternates between in-depth theoretical instruction and periods of practical training. Students acquire in-depth medical knowledge and learn the technical skills essential to the profession.

If you'd like to find out more about this aspect of the profession, take a look at our midwifery studies fact sheet.

Diplomas and possible specializations

Training leads to a state diploma in midwifery. Professionals can then enrich their practice by specializing in ultrasound, acupuncture or homeopathy. Additional training courses can also be taken to develop specific skills, depending on the professional direction chosen.

The tasks of a midwife

• Pregnancy monitoring: midwives provide monthly prenatal consultations, during which they monitor fetal development, carry out clinical examinations and detect any complications. She is empowered to prescribe necessary examinations such as blood tests, ultrasounds and screening tests. An important part of her role is to lead birth preparation sessions, where she informs and prepares future parents. She also provides essential advice on nutrition, hygiene and lifestyle during pregnancy.
• Support during childbirth : at the heart of her profession, the midwife supervises labor by carefully monitoring contractions and the fetal heartbeat. She accompanies the woman throughout the birth, providing both emotional support and medical safety. Pain management is an integral part of her skills, which she offers through both natural and medical methods. She coordinates the care team and recognizes situations requiring medical intervention.
• Post-natal care: after birth, the midwife monitors the post-natal period and provides first aid to the newborn. She plays a crucial role in supporting breastfeeding, providing technical advice and support in the face of any difficulties encountered. Perineal re-education is also part of her remit. She can make home visits to monitor the progress of both mother and baby.
• Prevention and education: in addition to pregnancy monitoring, the midwife provides gynecological consultations for prevention and contraception. She performs screening tests such as Pap smears, and helps to detect pathologies at an early stage. Her educational role extends to providing information on sexuality and contraception. She also accompanies new parents as they learn to care for their newborns, and supports them in their new role.

Working conditions and career prospects

A midwife's working hours and schedule

The midwifery profession is characterized by a particularly demanding work schedule, requiring a strong capacity for adaptation. Midwives work twelve- or twenty-four-hour shifts, depending on the hospital and the type of practice chosen. Since births are unpredictable, midwives' shifts involve regular night work, as well as weekends and public holidays.

The organization of working hours varies considerably from one setting to another. In hospitals, midwives generally alternate between 12-hour days (day or night) and recovery periods. The schedule is generally drawn up several weeks in advance, but can be modified according to the needs of the department. As a self-employed midwife, you have more control over your schedule, but you still have to be available to your patients, especially for home births and birth centers.

Midwifery therefore requires excellent management of biological rhythms, as night shifts are particularly demanding. Midwives need to keep their vigilance and decision-making skills intact, even after several hours' work. What's more, dealing with the unexpected is an integral part of the job: childbirth can occur at any time, requiring rapid reorganization of the schedule.

To find out more, take a look at our midwife timetable.

Practice settings: hospital, private practice, clinic

Midwives can work in a variety of professional settings, each with its own specific features:

• Public or private maternity units : in hospitals and clinics, midwives work in a highly medicalized environment, in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams (obstetricians, anesthetists, pediatricians, nursery assistants). They benefit from a complete technical platform and the security of a team in the event of complications. Maternity units are classified into three levels according to their ability to handle pregnancies of varying degrees of risk, offering a variety of working environments.
• Private practice: private practice offers greater autonomy and personalized patient care. Midwives mainly provide prenatal consultations, birth preparation, postnatal care and perineal rehabilitation. Some also offer home births, a practice that remains relatively rare in France, but which meets a growing demand.
• Maternal and child protection centers (PMI): in these preventive structures, midwives play a crucial role with vulnerable populations. They provide preventive care, health education and medical and social follow-up. The midwives work in close collaboration with the social services, providing a comprehensive approach to maternal and child health.
• Birth centers: these more recent structures in France offer a less medicalized setting for physiological childbirth. Midwives work autonomously, but are attached to a partner maternity hospital. They provide comprehensive care, from pregnancy to post-partum, with a physiological approach.
• Training establishments: some midwives choose to pass on their expertise by becoming teachers in maieutic schools. They participate in the theoretical and practical training of future professionals, while often maintaining a partial clinical activity.

Career development and specialization

Midwives have a wide range of career development opportunities, depending on their interests:

• Setting up in private practice: this requires prior experience in a hospital environment and management skills. It enables them to develop a more autonomous practice and build a special relationship with patients over the long term. Freelance midwives can also specialize in certain fields, such as perineal re-education or holistic support.
• Specialization in ultrasound, acupuncture or homeopathy: these complementary training courses enable midwives to broaden their skills and offer a more diversified range of care.
• Teaching in maieutic schools: this type of training often requires an additional university degree. Teachers are involved in the initial training of students, as well as in the continuing education of professionals.
• Team coordination in a healthcare establishment : experience and management skills can lead to positions as midwife coordinator or midwifery manager. These positions involve team management, departmental organization and participation in facility projects. In some cases, these positions can evolve into care management positions.
• Perinatal research: the development of research in midwifery is opening up new perspectives. Midwives can become involved in clinical research projects, take part in multicenter studies or develop their own lines of research, thus contributing to the evolution of professional practices.

As you can see, a career in midwifery is much more than just a medical profession. It's a commitment to women and families, requiring both technical expertise and exceptional human qualities. This constantly evolving profession offers many opportunities for professional and personal fulfillment.

Did you like this article and would like to learn more? Check out our midwife ultrasound technician salary sheet.