Midwifery
'Midwives work at the heart of the community, as the primary co-ordinator of care for all pregnant, labouring and postnatal women. They support, guide and care for mother, baby and family through the months of pregnancy, during the birth itself, and afterwards in the postnatal period.’ (RCN, 2015, Become a midwife). Use this guide to find information resources about midwifery including books, reports and journal articles.
Last updated:
02/08/2022
Key Resources
Royal College of Nursing (2021) Bladder and bowel care in childbirth: RCN guidance. London: RCN.
Royal College of Nursing (2017) Clinical nurse specialist in early pregnancy care. London: RCN.
Royal College of Nursing (2020) Female genital mutilation: RCN guidance for sexual health care. London: RCN.
Royal College of Nursing (2020) Guidance for nurses and midwives to support those affected by domestic abuse. London: RCN.
Royal College of Nursing (2021) Multiple births midwife standard: RCN guidance for midwifery and nursing. London: RCN.
Royal College of Nursing (2019) Nurses in maternity care: RCN report. London: RCN.
Royal College of Nursing (2020) RCN guidance conscientious objection (termination of pregnancy): position statement. London: RCN.
Royal College of Nursing (2020) RCN nursing education in termination of pregnancy services. London: RCN.
Royal College of Nursing (2020) RCN termination of pregnancy (induced abortion) 2013: position statement. London: RCN.
Royal College of Nursing (2020) Termination of pregnancy: an RCN nursing framework. London: RCN.
RCN page on domestic abuse
RCN page on female genital mutilation
RCN page on Modern slavery & human trafficking
Nursing and Midwifery Council (2019) Future midwife. London: NMC.
Royal College of Midwives (2016) The RCM standards for midwifery services in the UK. London: RCM.
Royal College of Nursing (2020) Modern slavery and trafficking: guidance for nurses and midwives. London: RCN.
Royal College of Nursing (2016) Formula feeds: RCN guidance for nurses caring for infants and mothers. 3rd edn. London: RCN.
Nursing and Midwifery Council (no date) Standards for competence for registered midwives. London: NMC.
Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018) The Code: professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates. London: NMC.
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists: Guidelines
The Cochrane Library: Browse by topic.
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Systematic reviews from the Cochrane Library. Topics include pregnancy and childbirth.
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We would like to thank the RCN Midwifery member community for their input into the development of this subject guide.
Books
Baston, H & Hall, J. (2018) Midwifery essentials: antenatal. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Boyle M (2016) Emergencies around childbirth: a handbook for midwives. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Davy L and Houghton D (2013) The midwife’s pocket formulary. 3rd edn. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Fleming V and Mander R (2014) Becoming a midwife. 2nd edn. Abingdon: Routledge.
Hunter A, Schott J, Henley A and Kohner N (2016) Pregnancy loss and the death of a baby: guidelines for professionals. 4th edn. Coventry: Tantamount.
Jefford E and Jomeen J (2020) Empowering decision-making in midwifery: a global perspective. Abingdon: Routledge.
Johnson R and Taylor W (2016) Skills for midwifery practice. Edinburgh: Elsevier.
Kenny L and Myers, J (2016) Obstetrics by ten teachers. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Lindsay P, Bagness C and Peate I (2018) Midwifery Skills at a glance. Hoboken: Wiley.
Lomax A (2015) Examination of the newborn: an evidence-based guide. 2nd edn. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley Blackwell.
Lumsden H and Holmes D (2010) Care of the newborn by ten teachers. London: Hodder Arnold.
MacDonald S and MacGill-Cuerden J (2017) Mayes’ midwifery. 15th edn. London: Balliere Tindall.
Marshall J and Raynow D (2010) Advancing skills in midwifery practice. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Narayan H (2016) Compendium for the antenatal care of high-risk pregnancies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Peate I and Hamilton C (eds.) (2013) The student's guide to becoming a midwife. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
Wilks J (2015) Choices in pregnancy and childbirth : a guide to options for health professionals, midwives and holistic practitioners. London: Singing Dragon.
Book subject searches
Use these links to see details of books the RCN libraries hold on each topic.
Journal articles
Use these links for details of journal articles on each topic.
Journals
Journals of interest for midwifery. Use these links to see details of availability.
Databases
Maternity and Infant Care
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Search for online journal articles and print references on midwifery, pregnancy, labour and early infant care.
Open Maternity and Infant Care
Nursing History Collection
Leap N (2013) The midwife’s tale: an oral history from handywoman to professional midwife. Great Britain: Scarlet Press.
McIntosh T (2012) A social history of maternity and childbirth: key themes in maternity care. London: Routledge.
Worth J (2008) Call the midwife. Great Britain: Orion Publishing.
Special collections
Our Permanent Collection consists of nursing specific core items and rare items. It is viewable by appointment at the RCN Library and Heritage Centre. Here is a small selection of items from our collection.
Pritchard E (1934) The new-born baby a manual for the use of midwives and maternity nurses. London: Henry Kimton.
Radcliffe W (1967) Milestones in midwifery. Bristol: John Wright
Robinson H (1916) The midwives pronouncing dictionary of obstetrical and gynaecological terms. London: Scientific Press.
Historical journals
Nursing Record/British Journal of Nursing (1888-1956)
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Digitised journal available online.
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Archives
The RCN Archive contains many references to midwifery within the personal papers collections. One of the most significant midwifery collections in our archive is that of midwifery tutor Gertrude Baker. Mrs Baker collected material for a museum of midwifery, the papers of which have been donated to the RCN. These include research and career information of not only Mrs Baker, but many individual midwives who gave her their own collections towards her work, including certificates, badges and photographs. For more details search the Archive catalogue for RefNo C502.
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Caroline Lynch
Editor of this guide
RCN Library and Archive Service
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Page last updated - 02/08/2022
