IDM 2026
The theme for International Day of the Midwife 2026 is One Million More Midwives, in line with the ICM’s campaign.
‘Why One Million More Midwives?
Midwives provide essential sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health services worldwide. They support women and gender diverse people before, during and after birth. Yet globally, there are not enough midwives, and many of the ones we do have are not enabled to work to their full scope of practice.’ Click here to read more
One Million More Midwives, reflects the urgent need for at least one million additional midwives at the global level to meet the sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and adolescent health (SRMNAH) needs of women and gender-diverse people. Using 2019 data, the latest State of the World’s Midwifery Report estimated a global shortage of 900,000 midwives. In the post-pandemic period, this number is certainly higher. The evidence shows that with at least 900,000 more midwives, we could prevent 67% of maternal deaths, 64% of newborn deaths, and 65% of stillbirths annually saving up to 4.3 million lives every year by 2035.
Celebration Guide
Here are some of the ideas that we have compiled for you to consider for your celebrations.
Please do get in touch with your ideas!
- Breast feeding workshop
- Hosting an event? You could use your branch funds to purchase a tea package for your attendees, or perhaps a gift for members.
- Yoga session
- Link with internationally educated midwives
- Bake sale
- Social media video
- Film screening
- Park run
- Hosting a lunch and learn event? The RCM may be able to provide a speaker for a number of different topics. There maybe local specialists, such as your research midwife, local charities and colleagues with particular interests or hobbies.
- Virtual lunch and learn
- Virtual workshop
- Breakfast meeting
- Create an IDM celebration wall/
noticeboard - Light up for IDM To celebrate IDM we are asking all RCM staff, activists, members and supporters to request their local town hall, civic building, landmark or university to be lit up in RCM colours on the 5th May.
We are encouraging RCM branches to utilise branch funds to purchase gifts to support branch activities. There won’t be any IDM specific items on RCM essentials.
There will be a dedicated tile on the RCM home page with further materials to print off and use in your celebration. If you have any ideas for your branch celebration, in the first instance speak to your RCM branch officers and workplace representatives. For further support please contact your RCM organiser who can provide support for your event.
Merchandise
We advise that merchandise is confirmed and ordered at least six weeks prior to your event to take into account any specific print and delivery requirements. Remember your branch will have its own RCM logo that can be added
to products that you may wish to order. For example, badges or stickers that members can wear. Speak to your organiser if you want access to your branch logo.
Design and printing specification are available to access via the website. https://rcm.org.uk/branch-templates/
If you are stuck for ideas or need further assistance, please contact your local RCM national/regional officer or organiser and we can provide additional assistance.
Putting together an event around Caring for You?
What about a staff wellbeing event?
You may know a local specialist (masseur, beautician, yoga teacher) who will come and support an event. Ask your local beauty college to offer support.
This could be an opportunity to work on your local caring for you action plan and sign the Caring for you charter.
Use your social media platforms to:
- Share your IDM
Finally, please do share your pictures using the hashtag #IDM2026 and tag the RCM social media accounts into any posts. - Post your key messages using the hashtags #IDM2026, #Midwives, #Midwifery #MSWs
- Announce your celebration events
- Share live updates, videos and photos from your event or activity
- Post links to IDM articles and coverage
- See, retweet, comment and like what others are saying about #IDM2026
- Follow the account @MidwivesRCM and tag the RCM in your own messages on different platforms
- Follow the ICM’s updates on @world_midwives and share IDM visuals
- Get your followers involved in IDM by asking questions, running polls or starting conversations around the theme of One million more’’ RCM safe staffing campaign
- Share and like RCM’s and local branches’ posts about the day