As providers of culturally sensitive health care, often leaders in their communities and emergency responders in times of crisis, midwives are indispensable.
Across NSW, midwives including Auburn Hospital’s Enass Akkouch, support the birth of almost 100,000 babies each year.
At the centre of celebrations on International Day of the Midwife (May 5) earlier this month, these health professionals put women and the family at the centre of care and at the heart of every decision.
The importance of providing women, their partners and families with compassionate care cannot be underestimated, according to Enass who started at Auburn Hospital as a student in 2017 before becoming qualified in 2020.
Loving her job, she said she couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
“I really enjoy caring for women in their antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal periods,” she said.
“I get such a rush of emotions when I hear the newborn’s first cry and I see the joy on the parents’ faces.
“Delivering life is extremely rewarding and it’s a privilege to be with a woman at such an important time of her life and supporting her positively in every way possible.”
Enass said she would definitely encourage others to pursue the midwifery profession.
“There is the three-year midwifery degree course which I did or if you are a nurse, it’s only a further 12 months of study,” she said.
“It is such a beautiful career for which I’m very grateful.”
To find out more: health.nsw.gov.au
‘International Day of Midwife’ celebrated
IN a world where every two minutes a woman or girl dies during pregnancy, childbirth or its aftermath, the midwife is always the hero of the story.
