International Day of the Midwife

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

International Day of the Midwife

WHEREAS, May 5 is recognized globally as the International Day of the Midwife, a day dedicated to raising public awareness of the vital contributions midwives make to maternal, infant, and overall health care; and

WHEREAS, the International Confederation of Midwives first proposed the concept of a day to honor midwives at its 1987 conference, with the observance formally recognized in 1992, establishing an annual opportunity to celebrate the profession's essential role in advancing safe, respectful, and evidence-based maternity care; and

WHEREAS, the history of midwifery in the Commonwealth is deeply rooted in the traditions of Black midwives-often known as "granny midwives"-who for generations provided skilled, compassionate, community-based maternity care throughout Virginia, particularly in rural areas where access to physicians was limited; and

WHEREAS, midwives such as Amanda Carey Carter and Susie Carter played vital roles in the development and protection of midwifery in the Commonwealth of Virginia by safeguarding the health of mothers and infants during eras of segregation and systemic inequity, preserving cultural knowledge, supporting families across communities, and laying the foundation for modern midwifery practice; and

WHEREAS, midwives today continue this legacy by playing an essential role in improving maternal and infant health outcomes, providing compassionate, patient-centered care throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, and helping to address maternal mortality rates-particularly among Black women and other historically underserved communities; and

WHEREAS, midwives provide a wide array of health care services that extend beyond childbirth thereby expanding access to high-quality care for women and families; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia is home to Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) licensed through the Virginia Board of Nursing and Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) licensed through the Virginia Board of Medicine, both of whom contribute significantly to the state's maternal health workforce and provide essential services; and

WHEREAS, Virginia's midwives have played a meaningful role in expanding access to maternity care in rural and medically underserved areas, where shortages of obstetric providers have created barriers to timely and equitable prenatal and postpartum care; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia supports continued collaboration among health professionals, educators, policymakers, and community partners to strengthen access to midwifery care and advance initiatives that promote equitable maternal health outcomes for all Virginians; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Abigail D. Spanberger, Governor, do hereby recognize May 5, 2026, as the INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE MIDWIFE in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.