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ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ (2021) Bladder and bowel care in childbirth: RCN guidance. London: RCN.

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ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ (2023) Clinical nurse specialists in early pregnancy care: standards consensus statement. London: RCN

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ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ (2023) Female genital mutilation: RCN guidance for sexual health care. London: RCN.

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ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ (2020) Guidance for nurses and midwives to support those affected by domestic abuse. London: RCN.

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ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ (2021) Multiple births midwife standard: RCN guidance for midwifery and nursing. London: RCN.

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ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ (2024) Conscientious objection (termination of pregnancy/abortion care): position statement. London: RCN.

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

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

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ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ (2024) Termination of pregnancy and abortion care: clinical guidance. London: RCN.

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RCN: Domestic abuse

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RCN:  Female genital mutilation

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RCN Learn: Modern slavery and human trafficking

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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.

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.

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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.

Baston H and Hall J (2018) Midwifery essentials: antenatal. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Baston H (2020) Midwifery: the basics. Milton: Taylor and Francis.

Crozier K and Hunnard J (2023) Dilemmas and decision making in midwifery: a practice-based approach. St Albans: Critical Publishing.

Davy L and Houghton D (2020) The midwifeÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™s pocket formulary. 4th edn. Amsterdam: Elsevier Health Sciences.

Forrest E (2019) Midwifery at a glance. Newark: Wiley.

Jefford E  and Jomeen J (2020) Empowering decision-making in midwifery: a global perspective. Abingdon: Routledge.

• Access through RCN library

Johnson R and Taylor W (2023) Skills for midwifery practice. 5th edn. Edinburgh: Elsevier.

Kenny L C and McCarthy F (2024) (eds.)  Obstetrics by ten teachers. 21st edn. Milton: Taylor and Francis

Lindsay P, Bagness C and Peate I (2018) Midwifery skills at a glance. Hoboken: Wiley.

Lomax A (2021) Examination of the newborn: an evidence-based guide. 3rd edn. Hoboken: Wiley Blackwell.

MacDonald S and Johnson G (2024) MayesÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™ midwifery. 16th edn. [Edinburgh]: Elsevier.

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

Use these links to see details of books the RCN libraries hold on each topic.

Use these links for details of journal articles on each topic.

Journals of interest for midwifery. Use these links to see details of availability.

Maternity and Infant Care

• A key information resource used by maternity health care professionals and student midwives worldwide to support their research, practice and study. The Maternity and Infant Care database draws together references relating to the midwifery profession, pregnancy, labour, birth, postnatal care and care of the infant up to six weeks. Coverage includes academic journal articles, book chapters, and grey literature including government publications, clinical guidelines, parliamentary proceedings and news items.
  

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: a true story of the East End in the 1950s. Great Britain: Orion Publishing.

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.

Nursing Record/British Journal of Nursing (1888-1956)

• Digitised journal available online.
  

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.

• Using the archives