Maria Spernbauer, President of the ICM, has been experiencing over the past few weeks what so many women are familiar with - 'juggling' all the many jobs she has to do and not finding enough time in the day or week!
Maria works as an independent midwife in Schlierbach, Austria, and many of her clients live in remote parts of this region. She is seen in this picture with one of the babies whose birth she attended. The baby is a bit shy, but Maria has the smile of a midwife who has achieved another successful birth at home for a delighted family - happy, maybe a little tired!
Of course Maria also has commitments within her own family, and is often the one to be called for if there is illness among relatives and her caring skills are needed.
Finally, she has her duties as President and in the next few weeks this will include opening the 26th Triennial Congress of the ICM to nearly 2000 midwives and also chairing the meeting of the ICM's International Council. This forum brings together delegates from midwifery associations all over the world and is the Confederation's policy-making body. Facilitating the debates - which are interpreted simultaneously in three languages - among all these midwives will be no easy task. It is a challenge but the outcomes are worthwhile.
Maria looks forward to welcoming so many midwives to her home country of Austria: 'I hope to greet many of them in person during the days of the Congress' she says, 'but I would also like to send greetings and warm wishes to those I will not meet: all the other midwives in the world who are doing the important job - looking after the mothers and babies.
'The theme of the Congress is ´Midwives and women together for the family of the world´. From my own experience, I believe in this partnership, and the strength that comes from it. Midwives at the Congress will be attending around 750 sessions on different aspects of midwifery, but I know that every one of these will have something to offer that supports and enhances the profound and empowering relationship between the midwife and the mother and baby.
'The three years of my term as President of the ICM have been challenging and sometimes exhausting - but always interesting, rewarding and above all enjoyable. I offer my very best wishes to Caroline Weaver who will take over as president - and to all who continue the work of ICM.'