Eva Cignacco

midwife

Eva Cignacco is a pioneering Swiss midwife and nursing scientist known for her significant contributions to the field of childbirth and palliative care. As the first trained midwife in Switzerland, she has assisted in the birth of over 800 children and has been an advocate for the dignity of both mothers and children during the birthing process. Cignacco has emphasized the importance of treating childbirth as a natural event rather than a medical condition, challenging the medicalization of birth that has dominated the field since the mid-20th century. In her career, she has worked to improve practices surrounding neonatal palliative care and has engaged in various initiatives to promote out-of-hospital births. Cignacco's work reflects a deep understanding of the emotional and psychological aspects of both birth and death, making her a respected figure in discussions about the dignity of life and death.