Midwifery

Royal College of Nursing (2021) Bladder and bowel care in childbirth: RCN guidance. London: RCN.

• View page

Royal College of Nursing (2017) Clinical nurse specialist in early pregnancy care. London: RCN.

• View page

Royal College of Nursing (2020) Female genital mutilation: RCN guidance for sexual health care. London: RCN.

• View page

Royal College of Nursing (2020) Guidance for nurses and midwives to support those affected by domestic abuse. London: RCN.

• View page

Royal College of Nursing (2021) Multiple births midwife standard: RCN guidance for midwifery and nursing. London: RCN.

• View page

Royal College of Nursing (2019) Nurses in maternity care: RCN report. London: RCN.

• View page

Royal College of Nursing (2020) RCN guidance conscientious objection (termination of pregnancy): position statement. London: RCN.

• View page

Royal College of Nursing (2020) RCN nursing education in termination of pregnancy services. London: RCN.

• View page

Royal College of Nursing (2020) RCN termination of pregnancy (induced abortion) 2013: position statement. London: RCN.

• View page

Royal College of Nursing (2020) Termination of pregnancy: an RCN nursing framework. London: RCN. 

• View page

RCN page on domestic abuse

• View page

RCN page on female genital mutilation

• View page

RCN page on Modern slavery & human trafficking

• View page

Nursing and Midwifery Council (2019) Future midwife. London: NMC.

• Future midwife
• Standards of proficiency for midwives
• Standards for pre-registration midwifery programmes

• View page

Royal College of Nursing (2020) Modern slavery and trafficking: guidance for nurses and midwives. London: RCN.

• View page

Royal College of Nursing (2016) Formula feeds: RCN guidance for nurses caring for infants and mothers. 3rd edn. London: RCN.

• View page

Nursing and Midwifery Council (no date) Standards for competence for registered midwives. London: NMC.

• View page

Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018) The Code: professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates. London: NMC.

• View page

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists: Guidelines

• View page

The Cochrane Library: Browse by topic.

• Systematic reviews from the Cochrane Library. Topics include pregnancy and childbirth.
  View page

We would like to thank the RCN Midwifery member community for their input into the development of this subject guide.

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

• View this eBook

Boyle M (2016) Emergencies around childbirth: a handbook for midwives. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

• Borrow from RCN Library services

Davy L and Houghton D (2013) The midwife’s pocket formulary. 3rd edn. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

• Borrow from RCN Library services

Fleming V and Mander R (2014) Becoming a midwife. 2nd edn. Abingdon: Routledge.

• View this eBook
• Borrow from RCN Library services

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.

• Borrow from RCN Library services

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

• View this eBook

Johnson R and Taylor W (2016) Skills for midwifery practice. Edinburgh: Elsevier.

• Borrow from RCN Library Services

Kenny L and Myers, J (2016) Obstetrics by ten teachers. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

• View this eBook
• Borrow from RCN Library services

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

• Borrow from RCN Library services
• View this eBook

Lomax A (2015) Examination of the newborn: an evidence-based guide. 2nd edn. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley Blackwell.

• View this eBook
• Borrow from RCN Library services

Lumsden H and Holmes D (2010) Care of the newborn by ten teachers. London: Hodder Arnold.

• Borrow from RCN Library services

MacDonald S and MacGill-Cuerden J (2017) Mayes’ midwifery. 15th edn. London: Balliere Tindall.

• Borrow from RCN Library services

Marshall J and Raynow D (2010) Advancing skills in midwifery practice. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

• View this eBook
• Borrow from RCN Library services

Narayan H (2016) Compendium for the antenatal care of high-risk pregnancies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

• Borrow from RCN Library services

Peate I and Hamilton C (eds.) (2013) The student's guide to becoming a midwife. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

• View eBook
• Borrow from RCN Library services

Wilks J (2015) Choices in pregnancy and childbirth : a guide to options for health professionals, midwives and holistic practitioners. London: Singing Dragon.

• View this eBook

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

• Antenatal care
• Neonatal care
• Postnatal care
• Pregnancy
• Reproductive health

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

• Antenatal care
• Antenatal and postnatal depression
• Contraception
• Family planning
• Neonatal care
• Pain relief in labour
• Postnatal care
• Pre-conception care
• Prenatal screening

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

• BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• British Journal of Midwifery
• Evidence based midwifery
• Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing (JOGNN)
• MIDIRS Midwifery Digest
• More midwifery journals

Maternity and Infant Care

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

Leap N (2013) The midwife’s tale: an oral history from handywoman to professional midwife. Great Britain: Scarlet Press.

• Borrow from RCN Library services

McIntosh T (2012) A social history of maternity and childbirth: key themes in maternity care. London: Routledge.

• View this eBook
• Borrow from RCN Library services

Worth J (2008) Call the midwife. Great Britain: Orion Publishing.

• Borrow from RCN Library services

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.

• View book details

Radcliffe W (1967) Milestones in midwifery. Bristol: John Wright

• View book details

Robinson H (1916) The midwives pronouncing dictionary of obstetrical and gynaecological terms. London: Scientific Press.

• View book details

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

• Digitised journal available online.
  View page

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.

• RCN Archive catalogue
• View page