Underpaid, under-appreciated, understaffed, and burnt out.  Midwives are walking away at time when the world needs them most.  

Midwives are essential to global maternal health, yet burnout, low wages, and emotional trauma are pushing them out of the profession. With an estimated shortage of nearly 1 million midwives worldwide, this article explores the urgent need to address the systemic challenges driving them away—and why supporting midwives is crucial for the future of reproductive healthcare.