1. What is the difference between a midwife and a nurse-midwife? A: A midwife is a health professional who provides care to women during pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period. A nurse-midwife is a registered nurse who has additional training and certification in midwifery. 2. What are the benefits of midwifery care for women and their families? A: Midwifery care can offer women and their families personalized, holistic, evidence-based and respectful care that supports their choices, preferences and needs. Midwifery care can also reduce the need for interventions, improve maternal and neonatal outcomes, and enhance satisfaction and empowerment. 3. What are the core competencies of a midwife according to the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM)? A: The core competencies of a midwife according to the ICM are: providing antenatal care, conducting normal deliveries, providing postnatal care, providing newborn care, providing family planning services, managing common complications and emergencies, promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights, collaborating with other health professionals, maintaining professional standards and ethics, and engaging in continuous learning and quality improvement. 4. What are some of the challenges and barriers that midwives face in their practice A: Some of the challenges and barriers that midwives face in their practice are: lack of recognition, respect and support from other health professionals and policy makers, inadequate education and training opportunities, insufficient resources and equipment, poor working conditions and remuneration, high workload and burnout, legal and regulatory constraints, cultural and social norms that limit women's access to midwifery care, and violence and harassment. 5. What are some of the strategies and initiatives that can improve the status and role of midwives in health care systems?