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Midwifery

Use this guide to find information resources about midwifery including books, reports and journal articles.

Last updated: 17/09/2024

Key Resources

Publication Cover ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ (2021) Bladder and bowel care in childbirth: RCN guidance. London: RCN.
Publication cover ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ (2023) Clinical nurse specialists in early pregnancy care: standards consensus statement. London: RCN
Publication cover ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ (2023) Female genital mutilation: RCN guidance for sexual health care. London: RCN.
Book Cover ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ (2020) Guidance for nurses and midwives to support those affected by domestic abuse. London: RCN.
Publication Cover ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ (2021) Multiple births midwife standard: RCN guidance for midwifery and nursing. London: RCN.
RCN-conscientious-objection-termination-pregnancy ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ (2024) Conscientious objection (termination of pregnancy/abortion care): position statement. London: RCN.

ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ (2023) Midwifery at the RCN: supportive midwives, student midwives and maternity support workers. London: RCN.

Book cover

ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ (2023) Modern slavery and trafficking: guidance. London: RCN.

RCN-Termination-of-pregnancy-and-abortion-care ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ (2024) Termination of pregnancy and abortion care: clinical guidance. London: RCN.
RCN: Domestic abuse
RCN:  Female genital mutilation
RCN Learn: Modern slavery and human trafficking
Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018) Future nurse: standards of proficiency for midwives. London: NMC.

Nursing and Midwifery Council (2023) Standards for pre-registration midwifery programmes. London: NMC.

Royal College of Midwives (2016) The RCM standards for midwifery services in the UK. London: RCM.
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.
  • Systematic reviews from the Cochrane Library. Topics include pregnancy and childbirth.
We would like to thank the RCN Midwifery member community for their input into the development of this subject guide.

Books

Book cover Baston H and Hall J (2018) Midwifery essentials: antenatal. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Book cover Baston H (2020) Midwifery: the basics. Milton: Taylor and Francis.
Book cover Crozier K and Hunnard J (2023) Dilemmas and decision making in midwifery: a practice-based approach. St Albans: Critical Publishing.
Book Cover Davy L and Houghton D (2020) The midwifeÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™s pocket formulary. 4th edn. Amsterdam: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Book cover Forrest E (2019) Midwifery at a glance. Newark: Wiley.
Book cover Jefford E  and Jomeen J (2020) Empowering decision-making in midwifery: a global perspective. Abingdon: Routledge.
Skills for Midwifery Practice. Ruth Johnson. Johnson R and Taylor W (2023) Skills for midwifery practice. 5th edn. Edinburgh: Elsevier.
Book Cover Kenny L C and McCarthy F (2024) (eds.)  Obstetrics by ten teachers. 21st edn. Milton: Taylor and Francis
Book cover Lindsay P, Bagness C and Peate I (2018) Midwifery skills at a glance. Hoboken: Wiley.
Book Cover Lomax A (2021) Examination of the newborn: an evidence-based guide. 3rd edn. Hoboken: Wiley Blackwell.
Book Cover MacDonald S and Johnson G (2024) MayesÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™ midwifery. 16th edn. [Edinburgh]: Elsevier.
Image of the book cover of Fundamentals of nursing and midwifery research

McKenna L and Copnell B (2024) Fundamentals of nursing and midwifery research: a practical guide for evidence-based practice. 2nd edn. Abingdon: Routledge.

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

British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Journals of interest for midwifery. Use these links to see details of availability.

Databases

Maternity and Infant Care
  • Search for online journal articles and print references on midwifery, pregnancy, labour and early infant care.

Nursing History Collection

Book Cover Leap N (2013) The midwife’s tale: an oral history from handywoman to professional midwife. Great Britain: Scarlet Press.
Book Cover McIntosh T (2012) A social history of maternity and childbirth: key themes in maternity care. London: Routledge.
Book Cover Worth J (2008) Call the midwife: a true story of the East End in the 1950s. 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.

Carter G B (1939) The midwife's dictionary and encyclopaedia. 6th edn. London: Faber and Faber.

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)
  • Digitised journal available online.

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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Page last updated - 17/09/2024