International Day of the Midwife 2026
- Ruth Horrell
- May 4
- 5 min read
I started reflecting recently on why I love photography and what it was that origially captivated me within this medium. A memory of meeting Jillian Edelstein came to mind - my mum had been working with her on the international conference ‘Letters Home’ and she brought me along to meet Jillian in order to choose the photos she had taken from the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Jillian's project 'Truth and Lies'. I remember - at 12 years old - being blown away by how incredibly powerful the images were, the stories they told and the truth they brought to light. In wanting to get back to my 'why' I decided to choose a truth within my own life that needs to be told. This led me to this true passion project - a collision of two of my passions in life - midwifery and photography as an art form.
I put forward my vision of a behind the scenes look at midwifery - a showcase of the midwives and what we do everyday and went to work, making my rounds with consent forms for any of the families we cared for. I did this in my lunch breaks, a quick walk round after I finish my working hours, on the odd day off and captured as many of our midwives in all the areas they work as I possibly could. I asked the midwives on my round taking photos 'What does it mean to be a midwife in 2026?' I wrote down quotes and drew inspiration from these for the spoken word poetry on the video.
Midwifery is a tough career choice - now more than ever. Maternity is often within the news - 'failures within maternity'. However every day I see how incredibly hard my colleagues work, how much of themselves they put into caring for the families that come through the maternity service - in all areas. I also see how morale is affected by short staffing and high acuity.
Risks are ever growing, as are the tasks expected of the midwives. Midwives are often at breaking point - and not because of a lack of resilience - no. The truth is that the system is failing and midwives are caught within it. Having a shift where you are unable to give the care you want to give, the type of care you know is safe, effective and kind is quite honestly incredibly heartbreaking and stressful. Midwives are breaking because they truly care - we know what good care looks like, but there are too many shifts where that care is not able to be provided - this quite literally breaks us.
We came into this job with passion and care. Maternity services are stretched, students are qualifying without the promise of a job - and yet we know that there are shortages every day. Maternity leave for clinical staff is not covered within the NHS - so those midwives still count within the staffing despite not working for up to 12 months. Despite all this midwives come back every day and do the best they possibly can. And I witness it all, and how much of themselves they put into this job.
I could write so much more - but the truth is that a picture can speak a thousand words and that is what I wanted to achieve with this project. I wanted to showcase how hard our midwives work. I wanted to help midwives to feel incredibly proud of the work they do every single day. And I wanted to share some truth of what it means to be a midwife in 2026. Something needs to change...and now breathe.
Full video be watched at the top of the blog or on YouTube - https://youtu.be/lp5WnRkt5gM
Spoken word poetry within the video:
"You ask me what it means to be a midwife
But how, how to describe what I do, how it shapes my life
Can I find the words to express
Both the joy, the magic but also the stress
And now breathe
Every day is so different, there’s similar tasks
More every day, so many more asks
But the families for whom I care
Theirs stories unfold, and me I am there
And now breathe
It is not predictable, and yet I must foresee
Balance the risks, I see more complexity
The face of maternity is changing, we know
Data providing assurance of safety, and so
And now breathe
I anticipate a 12.5 hr shift with the possibility
Of no break, no wonder there might be an issue with civility
I started the day on one ward but I’ve been on 3 by the end
My own health and wellbeing I don’t have time to tend
And now breathe
My mind is so busy but calm my hands must be
I can be that stillness, feel that care from me
I must be resilient, have a bladder of steel
It is so very different to the job I first went into I feel
And now breathe
Its 6pm, so it must be my lunchtime
I take a moment, take a breath, it’s ok, I’m fine
There is always 2 patients I am caring for you see
Even if one hasn’t entered the world yet, how’s the baby you ask me
And now breathe
I go home and hear buzzers and alarms still
My fees are due this month - it’s another bill
I am adaptable but today was hard
I have been vigilant all day, constantly on guard
And now breathe
Did I forget something? I can’t be sure so I call
I am not sure I documented well enough, is this where I fall?
I am building my own family while helping others with theirs
I missed something important for mine, they are caught in the crosshairs
And now breathe
It is my day off but I am always reflecting, can I do more?
Latest research, study days, evolving is at the core
I see my colleagues, their kindness and care
I see them burnt out, off late again this doesn’t seem fair
And now breathe
Maternity is in the news again - have you seen?
My heart breaks hearing those stories, is there something to learn, something to glean?
Am I skilled and competent because I am efficient?
I want to give more, the best care, not just sufficient
And now breathe
I escalate, and again, we are short of midwives
Weren’t we yesterday? We wait and the new shift arrives
I need to document well, but I know the screen is a barrier
I want to be with woman, I am, and this makes me happier
And now breathe
This privilege- wow! It is a piece of magic
How can I describe… the atmosphere in the room- it’s electric!
I witness their story and I was a part of that
I am there, I care deeply and I am an advocate
And now breathe
Fetal medicine and I am the midwife nobody wants to meet
Bereavement care, I will never forget those tiny feet
But I am here to make a difference, to be there
Make this part a little easier, to give all my care
And now breathe
Something indescribable happened today, there’s a small win
And I saw what it meant to them, we all did, goosebumps on my skin
I make those small moments count, I keep them close
I do my best everyday, memories in time froze
And now breathe
Those are the moments I remember I am a midwife
I come back the next day, ride the rollercoaster, I chose this life
More funding, more resources, one million more of us
Yes you heard that right, we need one million more of us
And now breathe, and now breathe
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