This website is intended for healthcare professionals

Neonatal herpes simplex virus

I had never considered myself a very maternal person, so when I fell pregnant unexpectedly I was shocked by the sudden array of unconditional love and overwhelming sense of protectiveness I suddenly...

Using the Valsalva technique during the second stage of labour

The Valsalva technique of directed pushing during the second stage of labour is a childbirth intervention that has long been common practice in Western culture (Petersen and Besuner, 1997; O'Connell...

Cell-free DNA fetal blood group testing for RhD-negative pregnant women: Implications for midwifery

Red cell (D) allo-immunisation is a complication of pregnancy that can occur when a pregnant woman does not have the D antigen on her red blood cells (RhD negative) but her fetus does (RhD positive)...

Common skin complaints in neonates

Alongside the midwife's role in antenatal care and during birth, responsibilities extend to some care of the newborn in the first few weeks of life, during which time a variety of skin problems may...

Skin-to-skin contact after elective caesarean section: Investigating the effect on breastfeeding rates

Numerous policy documents from the Department of Health (2009a; 2009b; 2011; 2012a; 2012b; 2013) recognise that breastfeeding is associated with overwhelming health benefits and large potential cost...

Older mothers' experiences of postnatal depression

Postnatal depression (PND) is under-diagnosed worldwide, with fewer than 40% of depressed mothers seeking help (Haynes, 2007) In the UK, the most commonly used assessment tool for PND is the Edinburgh...

Talking about smoking cessation with pregnant women: Exploring midwives' accounts

It is estimated that 11% of women in the UK smoke during pregnancy (Office for National Statistics, 2014) Smoking is recognised as a significant predictor for adverse outcomes in pregnancy, increased...

Post-caesarean peer support

I am a 34-year-old ‘career’ mother of two My daughter was born in 2013 at 44 weeks I went into labour but after ‘failure to progress’ I was admitted to the local maternity ward and induced After 9...

Part 1: A model for evidence-based decision-making in midwifery care

Decision-making in midwifery care differs from that of many other areas of health care Midwives work with primarily healthy women who are going through a normal physiological process, but also a...

Body image and pregnancy

According to Skouteris (2012: 664), citing a survey of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ‘body image concerns are largely ignored by physicians working with pregnant women’...

The role of midwifery in women's health

The chief medical officer's (CMO's) latest Annual Report, published in December, focused on women's health (Davies, 2015). Media coverage of the report has focused on the key message that obesity is...

Maternity care for undocumented migrant women: The impact of charging for care

Migrant access to public welfare, including health care, has become increasingly contested throughout Europe In the UK, public services in particular, but also private citizens and civil society...

Why choose British Journal of Midwifery?

BJM supports midwives by sharing expertise and advice to help you build confidence, grow professionally and improve care.

What's included

  • Evidence-based best practice

  • Peer-reviewed research

  • Practical guidance

  • CPD support

Subscriptions start:

From £12.75 GBP