How to become a Maternity Support Worker
An essential layer of person-centred support
Giving birth to a baby is one of the most emotional, vulnerable, intimate moments life has to offer. However, as great as modern healthcare is, there is always an element of risk involved. This is why it’s imperative that all measures are taken to ensure everything goes smoothly.
In addition to the clinical care labouring mothers receive, there is an additional layer of support that is equally important: the reassurance, advice, and encouragement needed to get through a birth with the least amount of physical and emotional trauma.
Who are the heroes who provide this invaluable service? How can those interested become one? What skills does the role require, and how can you gain them?
Join tend as we explore the admirable world of Maternity Support Workers.
What is a Maternity Support Worker?
A Maternity Support Worker (MSW) is a frontline support role within maternity services. They work under the supervision of:
- Midwives
- Maternity nurses
- Obstetric teams
- Neonatal teams (in some settings)
The purpose of an MSW is to provide hands-on, compassionate, practical support to women, babies, families, and clinical staff during pregnancy labour, birth, and postnatal care.
Maternity Support Workers work across:
- Antenatal clinics
- Labour wards
- Postnatal wards
- Birthing centres
- Neonatal units (support roles only)
- Community midwifery
- Home visits
The presence of MSWs is an essential element of safe, person-centred maternity care.
What do Maternity Support Workers actually do?
MSWs are there to support all aspects of birthing children. Their role is intended to make every step of the birth process as safe and comfortable as possible for mothers, babies, and their families, as well as to assist clinical staff with everything they need to deliver exceptional care.
MSWs help with:
- Emotional reassurance
- Practical comfort and care
- Breastfeeding support and advice (under supervision)
- Signposting and advice
- Helping partners understand processes
- Supporting anxiety, fear, or unfamiliar procedures
MSWs also help prepare pregnant patients for labour and birth, including taking basic physiological measurements, like pulse, blood pressure, and temperature. They will also support mobility, positioning and comfort, as well as helping to set up birthing environments.
Preparing the birthing space is a crucial part of ensuring safety and comfort for all involved. MSWs might help with equipment, support hydration, offer reassurance, and contribute to keeping everybody calm. Giving birth can be emotionally charged for everybody in the room. MSWs are there to ease the tension, ask people if they’re okay, and assure them everything is alright. This enables clinical staff to perform their duties and make sure that mother and baby get the care they need.
After the baby arrives, the care support continues. MSWs often support newborn care, bathing, handling and positioning newborn infants to ensure their protection and comfort. They also help parents build their confidence in carrying out these tasks, while also offering advice on safe sleep practices, nappy changing, and feeding cues, as well as maintaining emotional wellbeing through all the change that having a baby can usher in for families.
MSWs may also assist with clinical tasks under supervision, and once they have received appropriate training. This varies between hospitals and clinics, but this kind of supervised assistance might include:
- Recording vital signs
- Weight checks (for both mother and baby)
- Urinalysis
- Maintaining equipment
- Stock management
- Documentation
Documentation is a crucial component within birthing units. MSWs often support with updating maternity records, booking appointments, and coordinating handovers by appraising staff new of the paperwork and care plan.
What skills do Maternity Support Workers need to have?
The key skills MSWs need to have are a combination of so-called ‘soft skills’, paired with practical care skills.
For example:
- Compassion and empathy
- Strong communication skills
- Emotional intelligence
- Resilience
Coupled with:
- Safe newborn handling
- Supporting feeding
- Assisting mobility
- Updating documentation
A good balance of person-centred practice and practical skills will equip an MSW with the skills they need to be effective.
In addition to skills, MSWs need to have a high level of physical stamina. Maternity roles come with long shifts, standing for long periods, and physically supporting mothers during labour, which may involve supporting their weight, and helping to position their bodies for optimum comfort and safe birthing. All of this requires physical strength, and lots of energy.
What routes can professionals take to become Maternity Support Workers?
While there is no single definitive route to take, there are some pathways that will help to maximise opportunities to enter the role.
In the UK, most NHS trusts recruit MSWs through apprenticeships. For example, tend offers a Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker – Maternity Support apprenticeship which a specific to those wishing to pursue an MSW role.
This apprenticeship builds the skills and knowledge to deliver safe, high-quality maternity care, preparing MSWs to support antenatal and newborn care within maternity units, under the supervision of registered healthcare practitioners.
Care professionals can also explore volunteer opportunities to gain valuable experience in the field. These may be found within mother and baby groups, breastfeeding support charities, and family support organisations.
Final thoughts
Maternity Support Workers provide that almost invisible layer of care that enhances the birthing experience for mothers, babies, spouses, and their families. The provide comfort, advice, and assistance, making sure everything runs as smoothly as possible for maximum safety and positive outcomes.
A balance of person-centred and practical skills creates the perfect blend for any aspiring MSWs to deliver excellence within their roles, and create positive impact. Learning programmes such as the tend Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker – Maternity Support apprenticeship serve as a strong pathway into the profession, embedding the skills and knowledge required while gaining real-world experience in the field.
MSWs often receive feedback such as:
- “You made me feel safe.”
- “You helped me through the hardest part.”
- “You were so calm when I was frightened.”
This is the essence of the impact MSWs have. It’s those seemingly small touches that help to make one of the biggest moments of the human experience safe, comfortable, and memorable.
Ready to explore routes into Maternity Support Work? Reach out to our team today. Call 01753 596 004 or hit the button below.
