Ep 95 2025 Virtual International Day of the Midwife (VIDM), a 24-hour FREE ONLINE CONFERENCE wrap up

Ep 95 (http://ibit.ly/Re5V) 2025 Virtual International Day of the Midwife (VIDM), a 24-hour FREE ONLINE CONFERENCE wrap up

@PhDMidwives #research #midwifery @VIDofM #VIDM2025 @ICM 

program  - vidm.org

recordings  - YouTube @VirtualMidwives

The global midwifery community came together in an extraordinary display of connection, solidarity, and knowledge exchange during the Virtual International Day of the Midwife 2025. With participation spanning 57 countries and content delivered continuously over 24 hours, this barrier-breaking event showcased the diversity, resilience, and innovation driving midwifery care worldwide.

At its heart, VIDM2025 celebrated the power of professional relationships.  The evidence was clear – midwives thrive when supported by strong professional networks, with positive ripple effects extending to maternal and newborn outcomes. This theme of connection wove throughout the conference, from Bangladesh's peer mentoring program for midwifery educators to collaborative frameworks addressing workplace abuse.

Cultural responsiveness emerged as a crucial component of effective care, with several presentations examining how midwives navigate cross-cultural interactions.  These presentations confronted uncomfortable truths about racism and cultural misconceptions in healthcare while offering practical pathways toward more equitable care.

The conference showcased remarkable resilience in challenging circumstances, perhaps most powerfully demonstrated by Afghan midwives who've created online education programs in response to Taliban bans on women's higher education. This determination to preserve midwifery knowledge despite extreme adversity spoke volumes about the profession's commitment to women's health against all odds.

Clinical innovation flourished throughout the program, from Ethiopia's successful implementation of midwifery-led pelvic floor training to Ireland's Labour Hopscotch tool that significantly reduced intervention rates. Presentations on artificial intelligence applications, water birth perceptions in Nigeria, and acupressure for labor induction demonstrated midwifery's embrace of both traditional wisdom and cutting-edge approaches.

 Kate Greenstock beautifully captured the conference's spirit with her message about "flourishing in heartbreak and hope." Her insights on staying connected to purpose while facing healthcare challenges resonated deeply, as reflected in the word cloud where "empowered" emerged as participants' strongest feeling when connecting with fellow midwives.

Whether you're seeking evidence-based clinical approaches, strategies for professional sustainability, or inspiration from global midwifery leaders, the recordings available on YouTube (search "Virtual Midwives") from July onwards offer an invaluable resource. Experience the global midwifery community's collective wisdom and discover how connection strengthens our profession worldwide.

Chapters

• 0:00 Conference Introduction and Overview
• 2:25 Midwifery Knowledge and Global Partnerships
• 6:53 Professional Connections and Midwife Wellbeing
• 13:43 Historical Trajectory of Midwifery
• 19:33 Cultural Competence and Migrant Care
• 28:05 Bereavement Care and Education
• 36:55 Neonatal Jaundice and Cultural Beliefs
• 43:33 Leadership and Capacity Building
• 49:27 Online Education in Restricted Environments
• 55:07 Innovative Frameworks and Future Directions