HealthcareHealth associate professionalsISCO 3222
maternity support worker
Maternity support workers work together in a team with midwives and health professionals within the occupational fields of nursing and midwifery. They assist midwives and women in childbirth by providing the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period, assist births and assist in providing care for the new-born.
About maternity support worker
As a maternity support worker, you will be an essential member of the healthcare team providing compassionate care to women and families during one of life's most significant moments. You will work alongside midwives and other health professionals to support women throughout pregnancy, labour, and the postpartum period. Your day-to-day responsibilities include assisting with prenatal examinations, providing emotional support during labour, helping with newborn care, and educating families about health and family planning. You will monitor vital signs, maintain detailed records, and ensure that all care complies with healthcare standards and legislation.
This role requires empathy, attention to detail, and the ability to remain calm under pressure in potentially emergency situations. You will spend time on your feet, often working shifts that include evenings, nights, and weekends. The work is physically demanding but deeply rewarding, as you directly contribute to positive health outcomes for mothers and newborns. In Poland, the healthcare system continues to invest in maternal health services, creating stable employment opportunities with potential for professional development and advancement into midwifery roles.
Key Work Functions
Core areas of responsibility for a maternity support worker.
1
Pregnancy and Prenatal Care Support
- Assist with prenatal examinations and monitoring of mother and fetus
- Provide health education about nutrition, exercise and lifestyle during pregnancy
- Advise on family planning and contraception methods
- Identify and report abnormalities or complications to midwives
2
Labour Support and Assistance
- Provide emotional and physical support to women during labour
- Assist midwives with emergency care situations and first aid procedures
- Monitor and record vital signs and labour progress
- Communicate with nursing staff and update family members on progress
3
Newborn and Postpartum Care
- Examine newborns for abnormalities and ensure proper hygiene
- Provide postnatal care to mothers including wound care and hygiene support
- Educate mothers on breastfeeding, newborn care and infant feeding
- Support family members in bonding with newborn and addressing concerns
4
Health and Safety Compliance
- Maintain strict hygiene standards in healthcare settings
- Comply with healthcare legislation and quality standards
- Properly handle and dispose of medical waste and materials
- Report incidents, complications and concerns to appropriate supervisors
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (30)
hygiene in a health care settinghygiene in a health care settingThe procedures related to maintaining a hygienic environment within a health care setting such as hospitals and clinics. It can range from hand washing to cleaning and disinfection of medical equipmen...childbirthchildbirthThe process of delivering a baby, the symptoms and signs of labour, the expulsion of the baby and all the related steps and procedures, including the ones related to complications and pre-mature birth...pregnancypregnancyThe process related to conception and development of the fetus in the mother`s womb, the symptoms of pregnancy, risks and complications, diseases and timing of childbirth.health educationhealth educationThe factors affecting health and of the educational approach to assisting people to make healthy life choices.human anatomyhuman anatomyThe dynamic relationship of human structure and function and the muscosceletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, reproductive, integumentary and nervous systems; normal and ...examine the new-born infantexamine the new-born infantPerform a neonatal examination to identify any danger signs, to assess the normal adaptations of a newborn after birth and to identify birth defects or birth trauma.empathise with the healthcare userempathise with the healthcare userUnderstand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence...provide basic support to patientsprovide basic support to patientsSupport patients and citizens with activities of daily living, such as hygiene, comfort, mobilisation and feeding needs.provide pre-natal careprovide pre-natal careMonitor the normal progression of pregnancy and development of foetus by prescribing regular check-ups for prevention, detection and treatment of health problems throughout the course of the pregnancy...identify abnormalitiesidentify abnormalitiesIdentify what is normal and abnormal concerning the well-being of patients, through experience and instruction, reporting to the nurses what is abnormal.advise on family planningadvise on family planningProvide advice on the use of birth control and methods of contraception available, on sexual education, prevention and management of sexually transmitted diseases, pre-conception counselling and ferti...empathise with the woman's family during and after pregnancyempathise with the woman's family during and after pregnancyDemonstrate empathy with women and their families during pregancy, childbirth labour and in the post partum period.advise on pregnancyadvise on pregnancyCounsel patients on normal changes occurring in pregnancy, providing advice on nutrition, drug effects and other lifestyle changes.deal with emergency care situationsdeal with emergency care situationsAssess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.support nursessupport nursesSupport nurses with the preparation and delivery of diagnostic and treatment interventions.work under supervision in carework under supervision in careWork under delegation and supervision of nurses to support nursing care and administration.communicate with nursing staffcommunicate with nursing staffCommunicate with nurses and other health professionals ensuring the delivery of quality and safe patient care.provide postnatal careprovide postnatal careProvide care to the mother and the new-born child following birth, ensuring that the new-born and the mother are healthy and that the mother is capable of taking care of her new-born.comply with quality standards related to healthcare practicecomply with quality standards related to healthcare practiceApply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associati...comply with legislation related to health carecomply with legislation related to health careComply with the regional and national health legislation which regulates relations between suppliers, payers, vendors of the healthcare industry and patients, and the delivery of healthcare services.listen activelylisten activelyGive attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of cus...advise on pregnancies at riskadvise on pregnancies at riskIdentify and provide advice on the early signs of risk pregnancies.care for the new-born infantcare for the new-born infantTake care of the newly born baby by performing actions such as feeding him/her at regular hours, checking his/her vital signs and changing diapers.work in a multicultural environment in health carework in a multicultural environment in health careInteract, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.work with nursing staffwork with nursing staffWork together with nurses and other health professionals in supporting the delivery of basic patient care.interact with healthcare usersinteract with healthcare usersCommunicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.ensure safety of healthcare usersensure safety of healthcare usersMake sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing condit...monitor basic patients signsmonitor basic patients signsMonitor and analyse basic patient vital signs as vital signs of heart, respiration, and blood pressure. Take action by reporting them to the nurse.assist on pregnancy abnormalityassist on pregnancy abnormalitySupport the mother in case of abnormality signs during the pregnancy period and call the doctor in emergency cases.work in multidisciplinary health teamswork in multidisciplinary health teamsParticipate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.
Optional (18)
analgesicsanalgesicsThe types of medication used to relief pain in various medical cases.neonatologyneonatologyThe branch of paediatric medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of the new-born.postpartum periodpostpartum periodThe changes and possible problems that can occur in the six week period after birth.preparation for parenthoodpreparation for parenthoodThe changes, such as the psychological aspects, affecting the parents after childbirth.sex educationsex educationPrograms targeting human sexual reproduction, emotional relations between sexual partners, birth control and human sexuality in general.embryologyembryologyThe normal development of the embryo, the aetiology of developmental anomalies such as genetic aspects and organogenesis and the natural history of abnormalities diagnosed before birth.preparation for child deliverypreparation for child deliveryThe procedures to follow for delivering babies and the needed technical equipment in obstetrics.anaestheticsanaestheticsAnaesthetics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.use different communication channelsuse different communication channelsMake use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.assess the course of breast-feeding periodassess the course of breast-feeding periodEvaluate and monitor the breast-feeding activity of a mother to her newly born child.provide health educationprovide health educationProvide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.monitor pregnancymonitor pregnancyCarry out the examinations necessary for the monitoring of normal pregnancy.promote health and safetypromote health and safetyPromote the importance of a safe working environment. Coach and support staff to participate actively in the continuous development of a safe working environment.distribute meals to patientsdistribute meals to patientsProvide meals to patients or residents, following the dietary requirements and medical prescriptions.have computer literacyhave computer literacyUtilise computers, IT equipment and modern day technology in an efficient way.apply context specific clinical competencesapply context specific clinical competencesApply professional and evidence based assessment, goal setting, delivery of intervention and evaluation of clients, taking into account the developmental and contextual history of the clients, within ...use obstetric sonographyuse obstetric sonographyApply medical ultrasonography to obstetrics to show the foetus in the mother`s womb.microbiology-bacteriologymicrobiology-bacteriologyMicrobiology-Bacteriology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
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