Internship details
Midwifery internships in Peru provide a privileged opportunity to gain experience assisting at birthing homes and clinics for new and expecting mothers. Interns are placed with local midwives, supporting and assisting them as they work with expecting mothers at various stages of their pregnancies, as well as with new mothers and infants.
This is an in-country internship, with accommodation and meals provided.
Midwives provide immensely valuable support for expectant mothers throughout their pregnancy, as well as in the birthing process and beyond. It is a highly emotional time for mothers, so having an experienced and understanding midwife makes a huge difference in the process. Midwifery interns can learn a lot from shadowing and observing professional and experienced midwives as they work with new and expectant mothers in Peru.
Interns placed in birthing homes help to provide an intimate space for women to connect, gather strength, and deliver babies with love. You’ll help midwives to support women at various stages of their pregnancies, learning about the needs of pregnant women and how best to assist them. Interns also help on outreach visits, accompanying midwives on home visits.
In addition to birthing home placements, midwifery interns can also be placed in maternity clinics around Cusco. As well as assisting midwives, you can help to prepare materials, help with administration and patient records, and take part in home visits to provide support for new and expectant mothers.
Flexibility is a key requirement for this placement as there are no standard business hours for childbirth and no telling when mothers will require help from the midwifery team. Interns are encouraged to purchase a local sim card in-country, so that you can remain in-touch with the senior midwife. Just as there can be busy times, interns must also be aware that babies may not be delivered every week.
The longer you can stay, the greater chance you’ll have to assist with a delivery (if the mother grants her consent). Tasks may typically be related to pre and post-delivery sessions, utero stimulation, Doula assistance, postpartum care, and Waltaska (an ancestral technique that involves newborn care and allows for the speedy recovery of the mother). Not all interns will be able to assist with an actual birth, but those who are able to build a connection with mothers will have a better chance of helping in a delivery suite.
In all tasks, the level of responsibility you’re given will depend on your midwifery experience and Spanish language ability. Advanced Spanish is strongly recommended and the ability to communicate confidently in intermediate Spanish is required. English is not commonly spoken and the ability to communicate effectively with both mothers and midwives is crucial. In some cases, patients may only speak Quechua, so interns should be prepared to encounter language barriers at times.
Cusco is world-renowned as the closest city to Machu Picchu, Peru’s most popular tourist attraction. It’s a city for adventurous travelers that enjoy the outdoors, particularly hiking and photography. There are plenty of world-class walks to explore in your spare time, and Cusco also offers a unique culturally immersive experience that’s perfect for outgoing interns!
Midwifery interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:
- Observing maternity departments and birthing homes
- Shadowing and assisting midwives
- Preparing materials for consultations and births
- Assisting in births
- Support in administrative work: admission of incoming patients and history reports
- Visiting new and expecting mothers in their homes
Professional development opportunities:
- Experience how midwives support expecting and new mothers
- Gain understanding of the needs of mothers at various stages of pregnancies
- Experience how to build relationships with mothers throughout their pregnancies
- Practice and develop Spanish language proficiency within a professional setting
- Gain an insight in the Pervian healthcare systems and culture and differences
- Gain practical skills and boost your employability, with guidance from Intern Abroad HQ’s Experiential Learning Curriculum to support your learning and cultural intelligence
Typical schedule:
- Monday - Friday, 4 hours per day. Interns should be prepared to work odd hours if required
Internship highlights:
- Support expecting mothers throughout their pregnancies
- Work closely with a local midwife, with the opportunity to assist with a birth
- Experience Cusco, one of the world’s most popular tourism cities
Types of host organizations:
- Both private and public clinics
- Birthing homes

Keen to get started?
Taking the first step is easy! It is free to apply and takes just 5 minutes.
Submit an applicationProgram fees
It’s free to apply for this internship. Once we have reviewed your suitability and accepted you onto this program, you’ll need to pay a deposit of US$449 to confirm your place. The remaining balance of your Program Fee (less your initial US$449 deposit payment) will be due no less than 60 days before your internship start date.
Internship Duration | Program Fee (USD) |
---|---|
$994 | |
$1,129 | |
$1,264 | |
$1,399 | |
$1,534 | |
$1,804 | |
$2,074 | |
$2,344 | |
$2,884 | |
$3,424 | |
$3,964 |
Please note: The medical internship programs (Physician’s Assistant, Dentistry, Midwifery, Psychology and Physiotherapy) have an extra surcharge of US$15 per week, for extra supervision, materials and logistics involved. This amount will be included in the Program Fee quoted to you when you apply.
- To convert these prices to your local currency visit the XE currency converter.
- All payments attract a 5% transaction fee to cover international banking fees and currency charges. International wire transfer payments attract a minimum fee of US$75.
- Terms and Conditions apply