The Importance of Lifelong Learning in Midwifery

Midwifery goes back to ancient times—but it’s also a modern healthcare profession that is constantly evolving. To provide the best care for their clients, midwives must be committed not only to their craft but to a mindset of lifelong learning.

Whether it’s staying up to date on emerging research, adapting to changing health guidelines, or deepening skills through continuing education, lifelong learning creates safe, effective, and empowering midwifery care.

Why Lifelong Learning Matters in Midwifery

1. Evidence-Based Care Is Always Evolving

New research in maternal and newborn health is published every year. From updates in gestational diabetes screening to better understanding of postpartum mental health or the microbiome, staying current helps midwives:

• Offer the most accurate information to clients

• Adjust protocols as needed for safety and efficacy

• Build trust and credibility with both clients and collaborating providers

Lifelong learners don’t rely solely on what they were taught decades ago—they’re always seeking the latest evidence to inform their care.

2. Improved Client Outcomes and Satisfaction

When midwives keep learning, they become better at anticipating challenges, personalizing care, and navigating complex situations.

For example:

• A midwife who studies new methods of managing postpartum hemorrhage may feel more confident in an emergency.

• Continuing education in trauma-informed care can make a powerful difference for survivors of birth trauma or abuse.

• Gaining deeper knowledge about lactation support can help a midwife identify and troubleshoot breastfeeding challenges early, reducing stress and improving bonding in the postpartum period.

The result? Safer births, better communication, and more respectful experiences for every family.

3. Meeting Licensure and Certification Requirements

For midwives who are certified or licensed, continuing education isn’t just a good idea—it’s often required. Most certifying bodies, like the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), mandate ongoing education through CEUs (continuing education units) or other approved activities.

This ensures midwives are keeping pace with the profession’s standards and expectations.

4. Supporting Professional Growth and Confidence

Lifelong learning also keeps midwives from becoming stagnant or burned out. Engaging in peer review, taking new workshops, or attending conferences can:

• Reignite passion and purpose

• Introduce new techniques or tools

• Build supportive networks within the midwifery community

Whether it's learning breech birth techniques, advanced suturing, herbal medicine, or practice management skills, continuing education helps midwives grow in ways that support both their clients and their own career satisfaction.

5. Strengthening the Profession as a Whole

The more midwives learn and grow, the stronger the profession becomes.

When midwives are engaged learners:

• They are better prepared to educate the public and policymakers

• They can mentor students and newer midwives with confidence

• They raise the bar for what midwifery care can and should look like

And as midwives share knowledge through peer groups, associations, and advocacy efforts, they contribute to a culture of excellence and accountability in the field.

Ways Midwives Can Stay Engaged in Lifelong Learning

• Attend conferences and workshops (in person or virtual)

• Subscribe to journals like the Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health

• Take online CEU courses through organizations like ICEA, MEAC, or Evidence Based Birth

• Join case study groups or peer review circles

• Mentor students or precept apprentices to keep skills fresh

• Participate in research or quality improvement projects

• Connect with midwifery associations for access to resources and trainings

Lifelong Learning: A Commitment to Families

At its heart, lifelong learning in midwifery is about honoring the responsibility midwives hold—to serve their clients with wisdom, compassion, and up-to-date knowledge. It’s a way to keep showing up, year after year, as a provider who listens, adapts, and evolves.

When midwives keep learning, everyone benefits: the clients, the babies, the communities—and the midwives themselves.