GETTING to hold newborns like baby Max Thomas is the reason Fiona McDermott still loves her job.

The midwife, a veteran of 25 years and more than 200 births, was one of more than half a dozen colleagues in Roma to celebrate International Day of the Midwife.

Having seen babies she first delivered grow up and ask for her assistance to deliver their own children, Ms McDermott said having the chance to guide a mother through a potentially scary process was the joy of the job.

“I love having that connection with the mother and child – it’s a great job,” she said.

“I’m now delivering my first babies’ babies!”

The achievements made by old-school hospital-trained midwives like Fiona are an inspiration to young university-trained professionals like Wandoan-born Maddie Gunther.

“It’s inspiring to look at how supportive they are for the mother’s needs,” she said.

“It’s an intimate experience in some ways – you build a close professional relationship with both mother and child.

“My first delivery was overwhelming – I did cry a little.”

IDOM is celebrated every year on May 5.