"Throughout history and in cultures across the globe a midwife has never been just a technician...She stands at the meeting place of life and death and the crossing point of generations. She works with both the physiological and spiritual aspects of the process of coming into being" 
Shelia Kitzinger, foreword in Page, L (2000), The New Midwifery Edinburgh, Churchill Livingstone.

The midwife is recognised as a responsible and accountable professional who works in partnership with women to give the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period, to conduct births on the midwifes own responsibility and to provide care for the newborn and the infant. This care includes preventative measures, the promotion of normal birth, the detection of complications in mother and child, the accessing of medical care or other appropriate assistance and the carrying out of emergency measures.

The midwife has an important task in health counselling and education, not only for women, but also within their families and the communities. This work should involve antenatal education and preparation for parenthood and may extend to womens health, sexual or reproductive health and child care.

A midwife may practise in any setting including the home, community, hospitals, clinics or health units.

Adopted by the International Confederation of Midwives Council meeting, 19th July, 2005, Brisbane, Australia)