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

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Royal College of Nursing (2023) Clinical nurse specialists in early pregnancy care: standards consensus statement. London: RCN

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Royal College of Nursing (2023) Female genital mutilation: RCN guidance for sexual health care. London: RCN.

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

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

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Royal College of Nursing (2024) Conscientious objection (termination of pregnancy/abortion care): position statement. London: RCN.

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Royal College of Nursing (2023) Midwifery at the RCN: supportive midwives, student midwives and maternity support workers. London: RCN.

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Royal College of Nursing (2023) Modern slavery and trafficking: guidance. London: RCN.

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Royal College of Nursing (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.

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

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

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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

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The Cochrane Library: Browse by topic.

• 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.

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

• Access through RCN library

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

• Access through RCN library

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

• Access through RCN library

Davy L and Houghton D (2020) The midwife’s pocket formulary. 4th edn. Amsterdam: Elsevier Health Sciences.

• Access through RCN library

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

• Access through RCN library

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.

• Access through RCN library

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

• Access through RCN library

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

• Access through RCN library

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

• Access through RCN library

MacDonald S and Johnson G (2024) Mayes’ midwifery. 16th edn. [Edinburgh]: Elsevier.

• Access through RCN library

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

• Access through RCN library

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 depression
• 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
• Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing (JOGNN)
• MIDIRS Midwifery Digest
• More midwifery journals

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.
  Open Maternity and Infant Care
• Video tutorial

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: a true story of the East End in the 1950s. 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.

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

• Borrow from the RCN Library services

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.
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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
• Using the archives