The license of 10 midwives working at the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) was approved by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) —Medical Licensing Department, after the completion of the training required in cooperation with the Women’s Wellness and Research Center (WWRC).

PHCC announced that it is working through 10 of its health centers to provide full midwifery services to pregnant women, noting that the number of midwives and health centers that provide this service will be gradually increased in the near future to provide integrated health care to pregnant women in cases of low-risk pregnancies and postpartum.

This service is offered to pregnant women whose doctors confirm during the first weeks of pregnancy that they have low-risk pregnancy, to be referred afterwards to a midwifery clinic where they are followed up starting from weeks 16 to 32 of pregnancy. Pregnant women first have 10 periodic scheduled visits before being referred by their doctors to the hospital to complete the follow-up and delivery.

The midwife’s care during pregnancy includes taking preventive measures, promoting normal births, carrying out physical assessments, offering prenatal health education, and conducting all necessary tests such as blood tests and ultrasound. It also includes prescribing essential dietary supplements, emphasizing the importance of good nutrition, providing a healthy lifestyle for pregnant women, and helping to resolve pregnancy-related issues, which would help pregnant women adapt to mental and physical changes.

This is in addition to monitoring fetal growth and heart rate, preparing pregnant women for delivery, identifying cases of depression, providing awareness of family planning methods, as well as encouraging breastfeeding, while enabling pregnant women to make decisions related to delivery and childcare by providing options supported by scientific information and all recommendations available.

In case of pregnancy complications or health problems such as gestational diabetes, thyroid disease, and high blood pressure, the midwife provides appropriate assistance and cooperates with the family doctor to refer the pregnant woman to the pregnant women clinic to complete her follow-up.

In the postpartum period, the midwife follows up the puerperal patient by assessing the risks to provide integrated care, such as conducting necessary tests, prescribing essential supplements, supporting healthy and balanced nutrition, monitoring the uterus returning to its pre-pregnancy size, advising on family planning, and encouraging exercise. In addition to providing the necessary support to nursing mothers; encouraging breastfeeding and highlighting its benefits and providing the necessary health and mental support.

The 10 midwifery clinics will be launched as of June 12 this year in Al Wakra, Al Thumama, Omar Bin Al Khattab, West Bay, Al Gharafa, Qatar University, Leabaib, Al Waab, Al Wajba, and Abu Bakr Al Siddiq health centers, following the completion of the midwives’ training at WWRC that aimed to upgrade competencies and skills of midwives to be able to provide care for mothers and their unborn babies during and after pregnancy.

The midwife clinic is one of the main pillars that help achieve the national strategic goal "Healthy Women", and therefore, aiming for healthy pregnancies further the goal of the primary health care system.

PHCC seeks to develop its services and reach the highest standards of health care to provide comprehensive and integrated care in its health centers, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.