The midwife accompanies the woman throughout her pregnancy. What is his role ? What study to become a midwife? What is the difference with a gynecologist?
The midwife accompanies the woman throughout her pregnancy. In France, there are more than 28,000 midwives trained in 35 specialized schools. The profession is largely invested by women who represent more than 96% of midwives. If the occupation is open to men since 1982, the profession does not seem to attract them too much since they are only 2.6% in France, i.e. around 760. They are however 8 to 10% to follow the course of study, but some of them do additional training to become an echographer or join a laboratory. What is a midwife? What is his role ? What studies follow ? What is the salary of a midwife? What is the difference with a gynecologist?
Definition: what is a midwife?
The midwife, also called maieutician Or maieutician (borrowed from the Greek maieutikos : “who knows how to give birth to women”), is the health professional who accompanies the woman throughout her pregnancy, from his diagnosis tochildbirth and until the 7th day of the baby’s life. The term “woman” refers to the pregnant woman and not to the sex of the practitioner, who can also be a man since 1982. Men who practice the profession are also called midwives, since this name literally means “the one who knows the woman, wise coming from the Latin word “sapiens”. The profession has evolved a lot since 2009, with the “Hospital, patients, health and territory” law. This law gave them a power of diagnosis and prescription (contraception, mamography, pap smears, etc.) and enabled them to provide medical follow-up and monitoring of pregnancy (obstetric ultrasound, vaccination, perineo-sphincteric rehabilitation), tasks that had until then been reserved for doctors and obstetricians.
What is the role of a midwife?
The primary role of the midwife is normal pregnancy monitoringduring which she practices consultations and obstetric ultrasounds. “She prepares for childbirth, provides birth preparation classes and can prescribe examinations and treatments related to pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. During childbirth, she accompanies labor, supports theepisiotomy and stitches, always in close collaboration with the obstetrician-gynecologist who intervenes as soon as the slightest anomaly appears” says Sandrine Brame, midwife and treasurer of the National Council of the General Order of Midwives. Midwives also play an important role in prevention as the specialist points out “tobacco, alcohol, environmental factors (products or situations to avoid), but also in the information of pregnant women and their health education”. Supervision of mother and baby after childbirth is also part of its attributions: “She provides the follow-up of the woman and her baby after childbirth by advising the mother on how to feed her baby (feeding with milk, feeding bottle). She supports the perineal rehabilitation and the contraceptive method. She is one of the first people to be able spot the signs of baby blues of the mother” adds Sandrine Brame. Finally, beyond her role during pregnancy, the midwife is likely toensure the gynecological follow-up of the woman, perform ultrasound procedures and prescribe birth control for life.
What is the difference between a gynecologist and a midwife?
“When the midwife detects a pathology, she must refer to a gynecologist with whom she will be able to work in tandeme“explains Sandrine Brame. Finally, beyond her role during pregnancy, the midwife is likely to ensure the gynecological follow-up of the woman, perform ultrasound procedures and prescribe a means of contraception throughout her pregnancy. his life.
What is the salary of a midwife?
The gross monthly salary of a midwife practicing in a hospital setting is approximately 2000 euro early in his career and around €3,800 at the end of their career. The average monthly income of practicing midwives is approximately 2,400 euros charges deducted.
What study to become a midwife?
Birth centers managed by liberal midwives are developing all over France
To become a midwife, university course lasts 5 years, of which the PACES (First Year common to Health Studies) common to students in medicine, dental surgery and pharmacy, followed by four years of study in a school of midwifery. The conditions for admission to midwifery school are obtaining the baccalaureate (recommended scientist) and the success of the competition at the end of the PACES. Until now, a joint decree of the Ministries of Health and Higher Education determines the number of students admitted to midwifery schools each year, this is called the numerus clausus. This numerus clausus will be abolished at the start of the 2020 school year as part of the health plan presented by President Emmanuel Macron in 2018, in order to respond to the lack of practitioners in France. Upon entering school, training is divided into two phases of two years each, during which the student follows theoretical, practical and clinical lessons. These two years alternate teaching theoretical (courses) and practical (internships) and give students the basics of obstetric, gynecological and pediatric physiology. This first cycle is sanctioned by continuous monitoring and review, allowing access to the next two years. It also gives students the degree of license to the Diplomas of General Training in Maieutic Sciences. The second cycle gives students the Advanced Training Diploma in Maieutic Sciences. These two years are devoted to learning about diagnosis and knowledge of obstetrical, gynecological and pediatric pathology. They include a professional internship of 6 months. At the end of these two years, students will have to present a memoir and will be awarded the State Diploma of Midwifery.
What is the professional status of a midwife?
The midwife can be public sector employee (Hospitals), from the private sector (clinics) or within the Maternal and Child Protection services (PMI). But the midwife can also work as a freelancer for replacements, assignments or collaborations. About 20% of midwives practice their profession as a liberal. They must first adhere to one or more contracts relating to the nature of their professional practice. Contracts can be:
- Of replacement when a midwife is temporarily unable to practice her profession,
- To participate in public service missions of a health facility
- From association to liberal to form an liberal midwifery practice
- Of sale of office between midwife
- For a SCM (medium civil society)
Her functions are the same as the salaried midwife: Medical monitoring of pregnancy, birth preparation and parenthood, contraception, gynecology, breastfeeding support, perineal rehabilitation, mother-baby home monitoring, etc. “Birthing centers managed by liberal midwives are developing everywhere in France. They offer to pregnant women less technical follow-up of pregnancy, childbirth and childbirth, and are appended to maternities in case of complications” says Sandrine Brame.
Thanks to Sandrine Brame, midwife and treasurer of the National Council of the General Order of Midwives.