A book for midwives

Share what you knowShare what you knowAlong with learning from books and teachers, midwives learn much of what theyknow from each other and from the families they care for. And midwives canimprove health by sharing what they know with the community.Share what you know with other health workersand midwivesMidwives can work together to help each other. If one midwife becomes sick orcannot work, another midwife can help the women she was caring for. Midwivescan also learn from and teach each other. In some communities, midwives andother health workers share information with each other, talking honestly abouttheir work. Some midwives come together to meet every few months, compareinformation, and share resources. At midwife meetings you can:• take turns telling stories about births you have attended.Be sure to share the difficultbirths and mistakes.Admitting mistakes isdifficult, but it is a great giftwhen there is an opportunityto learn from them. Othermidwives can explain whatthey would have done thesame or differently. To protectthe mother’s privacy, do notshare her name.Next time I’ll check awoman’s temperature duringlabor. Then I can find aninfection earlier.• ask other health workers to come meet with your group. For example, anherbalist could come talk about local plants that can fight infections. Or amidwives group could talk with nurses from a local maternity center abouthow midwives and nurses can work together.• share educational books (including this one!)with other midwives. If no one has much money,perhaps a group of midwives can put their moneytogether to buy a book to share.A Book for Midwives (2009)3