La sage-femme : un acteur incontournable de la périnatalité en France

Abstract

The medical profession in which skills are limited to the practice of physiological obstetrics— midwifery— is underrated. The four-year training is based on alternating between theoretical and clinical teaching. Midwives’ skills are defined by the code of professional conduct. Midwives practise in various activity sectors: public and private hospitalization (prenatal consultations, ultrasound, pathological pregnancy and post-partum period services, preparation for childbirth, birthing room), midwifery schools, mother and infant protection and the private sector. Their role varies according to the structures and, in particular, between the public and private sectors. Because of their skills and broad scope of activities, midwives are key players in perinatal care and can take additional courses, for example university courses, to acquire new skills.