One of the health workers who play an important role in serving the community is the midwife. According to the laws in force in Indonesia, a midwife is defined as a woman who has graduated from midwifery education, registered in accordance with the provisions of the legislation.
A person can become a midwife and provide health services to the community if they have completed a minimum education of Diploma 3 (D3) in Midwifery. Midwives who want to work independently or work in health care facilities must have a Midwife Work Permit (SKIB). In addition, those who wish to conduct independent practice are required to have a Midwife Practice License (SIPB).
Getting to Know the Duties of Midwives
In general, the role of a midwife is as a professional health worker who helps women from pregnancy to childbirth. In more detail, this is what their job looks like:
- Carry out examinations during pregnancy, including monitoring the physical and psychological health of pregnant women.
- Provide consulting services on family planning and pre-pregnancy care.
- Provide advice related to food consumption, sports activities, medicines, and general health to pregnant women.
- Assist pregnant women in planning their birth.
- Provide assistance to strengthen emotions and support the delivery process for pregnant women.
- Provide sufficient knowledge to mothers about pregnancy, birth, and baby care.
- Guiding the birth process
- Make a referral to a doctor if pregnant women need it.
In Indonesia, the noble work of midwives is regulated by law. Clearly, the authority of midwives is to provide health services which include health services for mothers, children and women's reproductive health services and family planning.
For women in general, the health services provided by midwives include the pre-pregnancy period, the gestation period, the delivery period, the postpartum period, the breastfeeding period and the period between two pregnancies. To be more specific, services by midwives can be in the form of:
- Antenatal care in normal pregnancy.
- Counseling services during pregnancy.
- Normal delivery service.
- Normal postpartum mother service.
- Nursing mother services.
- Counseling services in the period between two pregnancies.
Choosing the Right Midwife
Currently, the midwife profession has been widely spread in various regions in Indonesia. Midwives have also begun to be trusted to assist in childbirth because their assistance is focused on individual pregnant women accompanied by minimal medical action.
However, to ensure that the midwife you want to accompany is of good quality, there are several things you should ask before making your choice, including:
- Make sure they have both SKIB and SIPB permits, and have a good reputation.
- Ask the midwife for an explanation regarding the ties she has, whether with hospital health care facilities, maternity clinics, or independent practice.
- Find out how midwives manage pain in patients giving birth.
- Find out what approach the midwife used in the patient's pregnancy and delivery care.
- Inquire from the midwife about how many patients need to have an episiotomy under her care, and under what circumstances the procedure should be performed.
- Ask for a backup plan from the midwife who wants to be a companion in case of an emergency for the patient.
- Ask if the midwife consulted an obstetrician and the possibility of the patient having an appointment with that doctor.
You are also advised to choose a midwife who cooperates with the health insurance provider, and choose a midwife location that is easily accessible and ready to serve at any time, especially when an emergency occurs.
The role of the midwife is very important in maintaining the health and safety of mothers and babies. Therefore, you need to choose a competent midwife to accompany you during pregnancy and assist in delivery.
