Reflections from ICM Bali 2023: back “Together again”

At the end of the International Confederation of Midwives triennial congress in Bali, Dianne Garland, freelance midwifery expert, and steering group member, shares some of her experience of attending the event.

 

Reflections from ICM Bali 2023: back “Together again”

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Its 6 years since we were able to get together for the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) congress in Bali, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Over 2500 Midwives from over 120 countries met at this amazing country and venue. As you would expect, it was extremely moving to greet and hug each other, and try to replace some of the trauma of Covid-19 behind us. The congress title was “Together again: from evidence to reality”. After a beautiful multi faith ceremony, with welcomes from Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Moslem faith leaders, we were given a flavour of Balinese culture of dancing and song. This theme continued for the 1300 midwives and partners who joined together at Bali night- midwives do love a chance to dance!

Birth centre visit learning about Bumi Sehat and their wonderful work.

At the ICM opening ceremony retiring president Franka Cadee spoke. As she retires and a new team takes up the reins, her words were amazing for us all: “Choose courage over comfort, Know when to lead and when to leave “. As always Franka’s words will rebound and travel around the world having been the ICM president through some of the most turbulent years for midwives, natural and manmade turmoil.

This leads into two of the most amazing speakers at the “Last health professional standing” plenary on Tuesday morning. Firstly, Vira Tselyk from Ukraine who has been supporting mothers and babies give birth throughout the war in her country. Second to speak, was Jeffanie Mathurin from Haiti who has worked through the natural weather disasters to hit her country. Shared between these two speakers were issues of support to mothers and babies, lack of resources, temporary accommodation weaved with political and power issues. Both speakers received the longest standing ovation I have even known in any ICM I have ever attended (my first was 1990 Kobe Japan.)

I posted a short blog about my thoughts for these and other midwives working in vastly different conditions to us in the UK.

Flags welcoming ICM countries.

In this image (below) I am with Dr Vijaya Krishnan – colleagues and friends for many years. Vijaya presented data from her birth centre “Sanctum” in Hyderabad India. She shared amazing statistics, often with mothers having complex histories and needs.

I had a poster accepted about a woman who was supported during the Covid-19 pandemic, having a home waterbirth following a previous 4th degree tear. Emma’s story has been published here: “Waterbirth after fourth-degree tear? Online article 1. TPM November p 36- 38 “ (Fisher, Garland, Williams,2021)

I was extremely pleased to maintain the value of the use of water and discussed the posters with many colleagues from around the world (USA, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Burundi and Chile to name a few!)

There were so many sessions to attend: I chose enabling birth environments, midwife led units in low and middle income countries, India’s midwifery journey and physiological birth.

Research, education, birth stories and statistics were spread through the 3 days giving a true flavour of the ICM congress title “ Together again : from evidence to reality”

2026 will see us in Lisbon Portugal – see you there.

ICM conference reel from Narrowcast Media Group on Vimeo.

Dianne Garland Freelance Midwife.

June 2023