Conference on the important current topics in obstetrics

A woman standing behind a wooden lectern in a lecture hall. She is dressed in a light blue shirt and has light-colored hair. She is standing in front of a computer and a microphone. A projection screen with partially readable text is visible in the background. In the foreground, to the right, is a poster showing a woman's face with a white cap with a red stripe on it.

“Obstetrics without borders” is a unique conference organized on the occasion of the International Day of the Midwife. It gives a voice to students of this course, who share their research results and discuss the most important topics related to the role of the midwife in caring for women of all ages.

A student-led initiative

The event was organized on the initiative of the students from the Ethics Student Research Club and the Midwives Student Research Club, with support from the academic teachers of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Didactics. This year’s edition, already the 12th one, took place on May 8, exactly on the birthday of Stanisława Leszczyńska, the patroness of midwives.

“I’m taking my hat off to our students, persistent and determined in pursuing their goal when organizing this conference,” said Grażyna Bączek, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Didactics, at the beginning of the event.

Also Justyna Teliga-Czajkowska, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences for Obstetrics, congratulated the students on their idea and persistence in pursuing it.

“It is uncommon for this kind of event to be a grassroots initiative started by students, and we greatly appreciate it,” emphasized the Vice Dean. “On this occasion, I would also like to wish everyone here the ability to build good relationships and best practices already as students.”

The midwife is a unique profession

And it plays a significant role in the healthcare system. This was emphasized by Professor Agnieszka Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska, Vice Rector for Clinical Affairs and Investments, adding that it combined reliable medical knowledge with great mindfulness and the ability to be close to another person.

“For me, this conference also proves that the student community is mature, ready to talk about difficult topics, which we, as teachers, adults, are not always able to discuss with simplicity, empathy, and courage. As a university, we want to support you in pursuing academic research, and encourage you to ask difficult questions and seek answers, because you will be the ones charting new territories in caring for women, children, and entire families,” said Professor Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska.

Łukasz Czyżewski, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences for Nursing, argued that studying obstetrics was the best possible choice.

“I would like to congratulate you on the excellent idea for how to live your life. This is one of the most wonderful paths you could imagine and choose to pursue. And you have done just that. I hope that every day at the Medical University of Warsaw serves as a confirmation for you, and reinforces the choice you’ve made,” he emphasized.

Honoring the little lives

Two midwives from Belgium, Ms. Sabrina Chebchoubi and Ms. Mona Billiau, had been invited to deliver the keynote speech. Both are volunteers with “Boven De Wolken vzw”, an organization that supports parents affected by stillbirth. They shared their experiences related to how their organization helps deal with loss. They talked about photo sessions they carry out as the organization’s volunteers, or other forms of commemorating children that both help process grief, and also break the taboo around stillbirth.

Presentations by students and midwives

The program included a session for presentations by students from the Ethics SRC, one for students from the Midwives SRC, a session on midwives mentoring midwives, and a poster session. The topics discussed were varied, just as the field itself is diverse: it does not only cover caring for women when they plan their families, during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period, but also for menopausal and postmenopausal women, as well as infants of both sexes, girls, and teens. It covers medical, social, as well as cultural aspects.

The conference included presentations on topics such as factors that influence women’s decisions not to get pregnant again after first childbirth, how AI supports diagnostics and treatment in obstetrics and gynecology, and about the international standards for perinatal care.

Website with the program, with titles of all presentations and names of speakers

Exhibition about the patroness of midwives

The conference was accompanied by an exhibition that presented the biography and activity of Stanisława Leszczyńska, a midwife imprisoned at the Auschwitz concentration camp, where she delivered 3,000 children despite the Nazi ban. Polish midwives have chosen her as their patroness owing to her steadfast approach to protecting the life of every child.

To the left, three people are sitting at a table with documents, pens and white sheets of paper in front of them. To the right are several people holding blue bags and talking to each other. A corridor is visible in the background, with other people moving in different directions.

A woman standing at a lectern in brown. The woman is dressed in a red jacket. There are two microphones on the lectern. In the background, to the right, two people are sitting at a table with a computer. The computer screen shows a portion of the presentation.

Four women in the conference room. One stands at the brown lectern. She has light hair, wears glasses, and is dressed in a green and white dress. She is speaking into a microphone. Behind her can be seen three other women.In the background is a projection screen with four logos.

To the left, a woman is standing at a bronze lectern. She is dressed in a dark dress, has glasses and dark hair. Behind the lectern is a projection screen. To the right are two women sitting at a conference desk that holds a computer and water bottles. In the background, on the projection screen, four logos of various organizations or institutions are visible.

On the left stands a man. He is dressed in a navy blue jacket and white shirt, and has dark hair. He stands behind the lectern and speaks. On the right stands a woman who is wearing a red jacket. A dark curtain is visible in the background.

A group of young women sitting in red auditorium chairs. They are wearing everyday clothes such as sweaters and jackets. They have expressions of concentration on their faces. They are looking ahead.

Two young women standing behind a bronze lectern. The woman on the left has curly hair and a black blouse, while the woman on the right has long straight hair, a black blouse and a necklace. Behind them is a projection screen with text.

On the left is a woman person standing at the lectern. She has light hair, glasses, and is wearing a light blue T-shirt. Next to her behind the conference lectern sit two women. Behind them, a projection screen displays a slide of a presentation with the title “Factors influencing women's decisions to forgo another pregnancy after their first childbirth: analysis of causes and support options.”

A bright high corridor with a group of people on the left in the distance. On the right you can see a part of the exhibition - a large board with texts and black and white photographs about Stanislava Leszczynska.