Websites for Midwifery
General Sites | Birth | Breastfeeding | Electronic Journals | Full Text Publications | Organisations | Specialist Sites | United Kingdom Government Sites |
- Midwife Archives
'A collection of information about all aspects of pregnancy, birth and well-woman care from midwifery perspective. Compiled and maintained by Ronnie Falcao'.
- MIDwives Information and Resource Service - MIDIRS
'The central source of information on maternity care and childbirth'.
- Midwivesonline.com
'Dedicated to the information needs of clinical midwives, supervisors, researchers, managers and new parents.'
- Obgyn.net
The 'World Wide Web's most comprehensive international resource center for professionals in Obstetrics and Gynecology'.
- Online Birth Center
An American site 'for midwives covering pregnancy and nutrition, high risk situations and and breast feeding issues'.
- Women's Health Information
Information on pregnancy and gynaecology.
- Active Birth Centre
Information on pregnancy, birth and early parenting aimed at the general public.
- BirthChoiceUK
Information for the general public on choosing how and where to give birth.
- Childbirth Solutions
Information under the headings Preconception, Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum.
- Home Birth Reference Site
Information on homebirths by Angela Horn.
- Jane's Breastfeeding and Childbirth Resources
A 'gateway to breastfeeding, pregnancy & childbirth information'.
- Pilot Study of 'Informed Choice' Leaflets on Positions in Labour and Routine Ultrasound
CRD Report Number 7 (December 1996)
- WaterBirth Website
'In-depth information on the use of water for labor, childbirth, and early childhood development. It includes fascinating information from the world's leading waterbirth pioneers, product information ...[and] Waterbirth Resources List'.
- Jane's Breastfeeding and Childbirth Resources
A 'gateway to breastfeeding, pregnancy & childbirth information'.
- ProMoM - Promotion of Mother's Milk Inc
A nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness and public acceptance of breastfeeding.
- UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative
'The Baby Friendly Initiative is a global programme of UNICEF and the World Health Organisation which works with the health services to improve practice so that parents are enabled and supported to make informed choices about how they feed and care for their babies.'
- Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Bulletin
'Updated information about relevant issues in the NHS which will be of specific interest to nurses, midwives and health visitors.'
- Achieving Effective Practice
A Clinical Effectiveness and Research Information Pack for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors.
- Ante- and post-natal home-visiting programmes: a review of reviews (Evidence Briefing Summary)
'Evidence from review-level literature presented in this evidence briefing suggests that home-visiting programmes to parents of young children can be associated with: improvements in parenting; reported improvements in some child behavioural problems; improved cognitive development, especially among some sub-groups of children such as those born prematurely or born with low birth weight; a reduction in accidental injury among children and improved detection and management of post-natal depression.'
- Choice in Maternity Services: Ninth Report of Session 2002-03 (HC 796-I)
PDF version of volume one of the report produced by the House of Commons Health Committee (HC 796-I), which contains the report and formal minutes.
- Complaints about Unfitness to Practise: a Guide for Members of the Public [NMC Publications]
This March 2004 NMC publication replaces 'Complaints about professional conduct'.
- Confidential Enquiry into Stillbirths and Deaths in Infancy [CESDI]: 8th Annual Report
PDF version of the full CESDI report which focuses on stillbirths, European comparisons of perinatal care, paediatric postmortem issues, survival rates of premature babies, Project 27/28.
- Delivering the Best: Midwives Contribution to the NHS Plan
PDF version of the full document.
- Effectiveness of public health interventions to promote the initiation of breastfeeding (Evidence Briefing Summary)
'Evidence shows that breastfeeding has both short- and long-term health benefits, and makes an important contribution towards meeting the new target to reduce infant mortality as a core element in reducing health inequalities. This briefing presents the current evidence from selected good quality systematic reviews and meta-analyses published since 1996. It is intended to inform policy and decision-makers, NHS providers, public health physicians and other public health practitioners.'
- Inequalities in Access to Maternity Services: Eighth Report of Session 2002-03 [HC 696]
PDF version of the report produced by the House of Commons Health Committee (HC 696), which contains the report and formal minutes, together with oral and written evidence.
- IPPF Charter on Sexual and Reproductive Rights
Full text of the 1996 document published by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).
- Making a Difference - Strengthening the Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Contribution to Health and Healthcare
The Government's strategy for nursing, midwifery and health visiting in England.
- MIDIRS Informed Choice Resource
The Informed Choice leaflets provide 'evidence-based information for both consumers and professionals on a range of midwifery and maternity care topics. The leaflets can be viewed online, or downloaded in PDF.'
- Midwives Rules and Standards [NMC Publication]
This version of the booklet (May 2004) is an update on a previous UKCC publication from 1998.
- NMC Guide for Students of Nursing and Midwifery
This guide, published in April 2002, sets out some basic information about the NMC and some guidance for the clinical experience undertaken during nursing and midwifery studies.
- NMC Publications
Download Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) publications free of charge. UKCC publications that remain in force are also freely available.
- NMC Record Keeping Guidance
A Nursing and Midwifery Council Advice Sheet
- Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1997
Full text of the UK Act of Parliament.
- Poverty elimination and the empowerment of women
Strategies for achieving the international development targets published by the Department of International Development in 2000.
- Prevention of low birth weight assessing the effectiveness of smoking cessation and nutritional interventions (Evidence Briefing Summary)
'This briefing presents the current evidence from selected good quality systematic reviews/meta-analyses published since 1996. The review will be updated regularly as new evidence becomes available and can be accessed via This Briefing summary aims to identify smoking cessation and nutrition interventions shown to be effective in preventing low birth weight and is intended to inform policy and decisionmakers, NHS providers, public health physicians and other public health practitioners in the widest sense'.
- Saving Mothers' Lives: Reviewing maternal deaths to make motherhood safer - 2003-2005 [Executive Summary]
Executive summary and Key Findings of The Seventh Report of the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom, published in 2007.
- Saving Mothers' Lives: Reviewing maternal deaths to make motherhood safer - 2003-2005 [Full Report]
Full text of The Seventh Report of the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom, published in 2007.
- Saving Mothers' Lives: Reviewing maternal deaths to make motherhood safer - 2003-2005 [Summary and Key Recommendations for Midwives]
Full text of the Midwifery Summary and Key Findings of The Seventh Report of the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom, published in 2007.
- Securing Good Health for the Whole Population [Wanless Report]
'This report [published in February 2004] provides an update of the challenges in implementing the fully engaged scenario set out in the 2002 Wanless report on long-term health trends.'
- Standards for Medicines Management [NMC publication]
This version of the booklet (August 2007) replaces the 'Guidelines for the Administration of Medicine' published by the Nursing and Midwifery Council in March 2004.
- Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services (AIMS)
AIMS has been 'at the forefront of the childbirth movement for more than forty years'. It is 'working towards normal birth, providing independent support and information about maternity choices [and] raising awareness of current research on childbirth and related issues'.
- Association of Radical Midwives
'Midwives, student midwives and others in the UK committed to improving the maternity care provided by the NHS.'
- BPAS Abortion Care (formerly British Pregnancy Advisory Service)
'bpas is the leading provider of abortion services in the UK, with a national network of consultation centres and clinics. We also provide emergency contraception and services for those who want to be sterilised or have a vasectomy.'
- British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM)
- British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS)
- Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE)
'CHRE is a statutory overarching body, covering all of the United Kingdom and separate from Government, established from April 2003. CHRE promotes best practice and consistency in the regulation of healthcare professionals.'
- Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID)
'The UK's leading cot death charity. Its aims are to prevent unexpected infant death and promote baby health. To fulfil its aims FSID funds research, supports families whose babies have died suddenly and unexpectedly, [and] disseminates information about cot death and baby care among professionals and the public.'
- Foundation of Nursing Studies (FoNS)
'The only UK-based charity whose sole purpose is to help nurses, midwives and health visitors improve patient care by encouraging them to use the most up-to-date methods.'
- Independent Midwives Association
'Independent Midwives are fully qualified midwives who, in order to practice the midwife's role to its fullest extent, have chosen to work outside the NHS, although we support its aims and ideals.'
- Miscarriage Association (The)
'Provides support and information for those suffering the effects of pregnancy loss.'
- Neonatal Nurses Association
- Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)is an organisation set up by Parliament to ensure nurses, midwives and health visitors provide high standards of care to their patients and clients. It maintains a register of qualified nurses, midwives and health visitors; sets standards for education, practice and conduct; provides advice for nurses, midwives and health visitors; considers allegations of misconduct or unfitness to practise due to ill health. The MNC replaced the UKCC on 1 April 2002.
- Perinatal Institute for Maternal and Child Health
- Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG)
- Twins and Multiple Birth Association (TAMBA)
A registered UK charity 'for all parents with twins, triplets, quads, quins, sextuplets or more - to help them meet the challenge of their unique experience!'
- WellBeing of Women (WOW)
A 'charity, which has been funding vital health research to improve the health of women and their babies since 1964...WellBeing of Women is the only national charity to fund research into all aspects of women's reproductive health.'
- Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO)
ALSO runs APLS, ATLS and PALS courses all over the UK and internationally.
- Ante- and post-natal home-visiting programmes: a review of reviews (Evidence Briefing Summary)
'Evidence from review-level literature presented in this evidence briefing suggests that home-visiting programmes to parents of young children can be associated with: improvements in parenting; reported improvements in some child behavioural problems; improved cognitive development, especially among some sub-groups of children such as those born prematurely or born with low birth weight; a reduction in accidental injury among children and improved detection and management of post-natal depression.'
- Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services (AIMS)
AIMS has been 'at the forefront of the childbirth movement for more than forty years'. It is 'working towards normal birth, providing independent support and information about maternity choices [and] raising awareness of current research on childbirth and related issues'.
- BPAS Abortion Care (formerly British Pregnancy Advisory Service)
'bpas is the leading provider of abortion services in the UK, with a national network of consultation centres and clinics. We also provide emergency contraception and services for those who want to be sterilised or have a vasectomy.'
- British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS)
- Cultsock
Cultsock is for the study of communication, cultural and media studies.
- Fetal Development Overview
Annotated colour photographs showing the development of the fetus through three trimesters. Prepared by the Westside Pregnancy Resource Center, Los Angeles, California.
- Medical Images and Illustrations - Gynecology and Obstetrics
Links to sites providing medical images, compiled by the Library of the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Miscarriage Association (The)
'Provides support and information for those suffering the effects of pregnancy loss.'
- Mothers 35 Plus
'The UK's leading website for 'older' mothers.'
- Natural Parenting UK
The 'UK's most comprehensive alternative parenting site' has information on a range of topics including pregnancy, birth, newborn care, feeding and co-sleeping.
- nctpregnancyandbabycare.com (National Childbirth Trust - NCT)
Information on pregnancy, birth, after the birth, babies 3 to 6 months and 6 to 12 months, child development and fatherhood provided by the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), a UK charity 'offering information and support in pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood'.
- Nursing and Midwife History UK
'Links, papers, graphics,references and other valuable information relating to the history of nursing and midwifery in the UK.'
- Prevention of low birth weight assessing the effectiveness of smoking cessation and nutritional interventions (Evidence Briefing Summary)
'This briefing presents the current evidence from selected good quality systematic reviews/meta-analyses published since 1996. The review will be updated regularly as new evidence becomes available and can be accessed via This Briefing summary aims to identify smoking cessation and nutrition interventions shown to be effective in preventing low birth weight and is intended to inform policy and decisionmakers, NHS providers, public health physicians and other public health practitioners in the widest sense'.
- Virtual Training Suite - Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting
'A free, "teach yourself" tutorial that lets you practise your Internet Information Skills' and is 'designed for UK Higher Education'.
- Visembryo
'Use the spiral to navigate through the 40 weeks of pregnancy and preview the unique changes in each stage of human development.'
- Wisdom Centre
Online educational materials to support health professionals in their life-long learning and professional development, including the Wisdom Online Personal Learning Plan (PLP).
United Kingdom Government Sites
- Achieving Effective Practice
A Clinical Effectiveness and Research Information Pack for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors.
- Ante- and post-natal home-visiting programmes: a review of reviews (Evidence Briefing Summary)
'Evidence from review-level literature presented in this evidence briefing suggests that home-visiting programmes to parents of young children can be associated with: improvements in parenting; reported improvements in some child behavioural problems; improved cognitive development, especially among some sub-groups of children such as those born prematurely or born with low birth weight; a reduction in accidental injury among children and improved detection and management of post-natal depression.'
- Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Bulletin
'Updated information about relevant issues in the NHS which will be of specific interest to nurses, midwives and health visitors.'
- Choice in Maternity Services: Ninth Report of Session 2002-03 (HC 796-I)
PDF version of volume one of the report produced by the House of Commons Health Committee (HC 796-I), which contains the report and formal minutes.
- Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH)
- Confidential Enquiry into Stillbirths and Deaths in Infancy [CESDI]: 8th Annual Report
PDF version of the full CESDI report which focuses on stillbirths, European comparisons of perinatal care, paediatric postmortem issues, survival rates of premature babies, Project 27/28.
- Delivering the Best: Midwives Contribution to the NHS Plan
PDF version of the full document.
- Effectiveness of public health interventions to promote the initiation of breastfeeding (Evidence Briefing Summary)
'Evidence shows that breastfeeding has both short- and long-term health benefits, and makes an important contribution towards meeting the new target to reduce infant mortality as a core element in reducing health inequalities. This briefing presents the current evidence from selected good quality systematic reviews and meta-analyses published since 1996. It is intended to inform policy and decision-makers, NHS providers, public health physicians and other public health practitioners.'
- Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)
The website of the 'statutory body which regulates, licenses and collects data on fertility treatments such as IVF and donor insemination, as well as human embryo research, in the UK'.
- Inequalities in Access to Maternity Services: Eighth Report of Session 2002-03 [HC 696]
PDF version of the report produced by the House of Commons Health Committee (HC 696), which contains the report and formal minutes, together with oral and written evidence.
- Making a Difference - Strengthening the Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Contribution to Health and Healthcare
The Government's strategy for nursing, midwifery and health visiting in England.
- NHS Careers
- Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1997
Full text of the UK Act of Parliament.
- Poverty elimination and the empowerment of women
Strategies for achieving the international development targets published by the Department of International Development in 2000.
- Prevention of low birth weight assessing the effectiveness of smoking cessation and nutritional interventions (Evidence Briefing Summary)
'This briefing presents the current evidence from selected good quality systematic reviews/meta-analyses published since 1996. The review will be updated regularly as new evidence becomes available and can be accessed via This Briefing summary aims to identify smoking cessation and nutrition interventions shown to be effective in preventing low birth weight and is intended to inform policy and decisionmakers, NHS providers, public health physicians and other public health practitioners in the widest sense'.
- Saving Mothers' Lives: Reviewing maternal deaths to make motherhood safer - 2003-2005 [Executive Summary]
Executive summary and Key Findings of The Seventh Report of the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom, published in 2007.
- Saving Mothers' Lives: Reviewing maternal deaths to make motherhood safer - 2003-2005 [Full Report]
Full text of The Seventh Report of the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom, published in 2007.
- Saving Mothers' Lives: Reviewing maternal deaths to make motherhood safer - 2003-2005 [Summary and Key Recommendations for Midwives]
Full text of the Midwifery Summary and Key Findings of The Seventh Report of the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom, published in 2007.
- Securing Good Health for the Whole Population [Wanless Report]
'This report [published in February 2004] provides an update of the challenges in implementing the fully engaged scenario set out in the 2002 Wanless report on long-term health trends.'