Resources & Guidelines
Access the latest resources, information and guidelines for maternity professionals.
Guidelines
Access up-to-date national and international guidelines to support safe, evidence-based care.
WHO guidelines on the prevention of female genital mutilation and clinical management of complications
In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the WHO guidelines on the management of health complications from female genital mutilation. That publication’s main purpose was to provide evidence-informed recommendations on managing health complications associated with FGM.
The current revised guideline has an expanded scope, providing up-to-date recommendations on FGM prevention as well as clinical management of complications.
The process of updating and revising this guideline resulted in eight recommendations relating to training and capacity-building of health workers on FGM prevention and care, including access to capacity-building resources; educational interventions targeting women and girls living with or at risk of FGM as well as men and boys in FGM-affected communities; deinfibulation for women with Type III FGM, including the timing of deinfibulation; mental health interventions for women and girls living with FGM and having symptoms of anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and surgical and non-surgical sexual health interventions.
In addition, three best practice statements are presented on the development and enforcement of laws and policies against FGM, the need for professional codes of conduct for health workers and the importance of counselling and informed consent prior to deinfibulation. Considerations on implementing the recommendations are also discussed. (© World Health Organization 2025)
WHO guideline on preventing early pregnancy and poor reproductive outcomes among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries
The objectives of this guideline are to provide evidence-based normative guidance on interventions to improve adolescent morbidity and mortality by reducing the chances of early pregnancy and its resulting poor health outcomes.
The specific objectives of the guideline were to: 1. identify effective interventions to prevent early pregnancy by influencing factors such as early marriage, coerced sex, unsafe abortion, access to contraceptives and access to maternal health services by adolescents; and 2. provide an analytical framework for policy-makers and programme managers to use when selecting evidence-based interventions to prevent early pregnancy and negative health outcomes when they occur that are most appropriate for the needs of their countries and context.
The recommendations and best practice statements described in this document aim to enable evidence-based decision-making with respect to preventing early pregnancy and poor reproductive outcomes among adolescents in low- and middle-income country contexts.
This guideline updates and replaces the recommendations in the following previous WHO guideline: WHO guidelines on preventing early pregnancy and poor reproductive outcomes among adolescents in developing countries. (© World Health Organization 2025)
WHO recommendations on maternal health: guidelines approved by the WHO guidelines review committee
This document provides a summary of all WHO recommendations on maternal health based on guidelines approved by the WHO Guidelines Review Committee.
The summary includes promotion, prevention and prevention of maternal complications during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal periods as well as management of maternal complications. Each summary includes the recommendations as well as what is not recommended. The summary is a useful resource for policy makers and programme managers. (© World Health Organization 2025)
Using nitrous oxide (gas and air) safely in maternity units
Guidance for maternity units on the safe use of nitrous oxide (gas and air) covering levels of exposure, control measures, monitoring exposure and management systems.
Source: Health & Safety Executive (2025)
Maternity Practice
Explore professional standards, guidelines, and support designed to support maternity professionals in delivering high-quality care.
Measuring and monitoring quality of care to improve maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services
This WHO technical guide focuses primarily on maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health and provides practical guidance on how to select, track and analyse quality of care indicators to guide healthcare improvement. It also outlines key system-level interventions necessary to enable effective measurement, including how to assess and strengthen health information systems to measure and monitor prioritized quality of care indicators, how to assess and improve data quality to strengthen quality improvement results and stakeholder trust, and some approaches to strengthening quality improvement measurement capacity of key actors.
Designed for frontline health workers, program managers, and policymakers, this guide serves as a valuable resource for integrating quality of care measurement into routine health service delivery and data systems. It includes real-world examples from various countries, demonstrating how robust measurement and monitoring can lead to tangible improvements in health services and outcomes. (© Author)
Source: WHO (2025)
The Best Start: Five-Year Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care (Scotland)
The plan, from the Scottish Government, outlines the progress made in fulfilling the recommendations of the Best Start Five-Year Plan published in 2017 (1). Of the 76 recommendations, 55 recommendations have been successfully implemented, 13 were reported as achievable in the relevant timeframe, 10 were reported as achievable with additional support or time, and one was reported as challenging to deliver. The report includes a timeline of implementation and ongoing work as part of national maternal and neonatal services policy.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council: Principles for Advanced Practice
The Nursing and Midwifery Council’s principles for advanced practice aim to bring clarity and consistency to advanced nursing and midwifery practice across the UK: For the public: they will help patents and people who use services to understand the role of an advanced practitioner, including a definition that is clearly understood by members of the public. For professionals: they will help professionals deliver consistent, high quality, safe and effective delivery of care by setting clear expectations for advanced practice nursing and midwifery. For employers: they will help employers to develop and sustain systems in which advanced practice can thrive – for example in workforce, education, support, CPD and governance planning.
We strongly encourage professionals and employers to use the principles to ensure people receive the best possible care. (© The Nursing and Midwifery Council 2025)
Source: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (2025)
Resources for Parents
Find trusted information, support tools, and educational resources to empower expectant and new parents throughout their journey.
A guide to immunisation up to 13 months of age
This report booklet aimed at parents provides information on vaccinations up to one year of age. It provides details of the early vaccines, carried out at 8, 12, and 16 weeks and at one year of age.
Source: NHS (June 2025)
Alcohol and caring for your baby
The Lullaby trust has a resource providing guidance to parents about breastfeeding, sleeping and caring for their babies when alcohol is involved. They advise that a sober adult is always present around babies and young children.
Source: The Lullaby Trust
Baby feeding cues
Perinatal Services BC provide a collection of images with baby feeding signs in all three stages: early, mid and late cues.
Source: Perinatal Services BC (2025)
Birth to Five 2025
This book provides information on becoming a parent, taking care of yourself and your children up to five years old and finding practical help and support.
Source: HSC Public Health Agency (2025)
Hepatitis B: Screening care in pregnancy and protecting your baby
Information on Hepatitis B Infection, screening and care in pregnancy, and the vaccine with protects babies born to women with Hepatitis B.
Source: UK Health Security Agency.
@ Crown copyright.
Maternal and child nutrition: nutrition and weight management in pregnancy, and nutrition in children up to 5 years
NB: This guideline updates and replaces: the NICE guideline on maternal and child nutrition (PH11, 2008) the recommendations on weight management during pregnancy from NICE’s guideline on weight management before, during and after pregnancy (PH27, 2010).
This guideline covers nutrition and weight management in pregnancy for anyone who may become pregnant, is planning to become pregnant or is already pregnant, and nutrition in children up to 5 years. Care of babies and children born preterm or with low birth weight is not covered. The guideline does not give detailed advice on what constitutes a healthy diet. (© Author)
Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2025)
Protecting your baby: screening tests for infectious diseases in pregnancy
The leaflet gives information on the blood tests that are normally offered and recommended at the first antenatal visit. These tests look for possible health problems that could affect the mother’s health and the health of the baby. Only one sample of blood is needed to do all six tests. The tests are done by consent and this leaflet should help pregnant women make their decision. (© Author)
Source: HSC Public Health Agency (2025).
Screening tests for you and your baby
The web page provides information about screening tests offered during and after pregnancy.
Source: NHS England, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (2025)
Supporting your neurodivergent perinatal mental health: a guide by PANDAS and ND birth
This guide is for anyone medically or self-diagnosed as neurodivergent. It aims to provide help with managing the sensory and executive functioning challenges, communicating your needs, and getting support. (© Author)
Source: PANDAS, ND Birth (2025)
The Pregnancy Book 2025: Your complete guide to a healthy pregnancy, labour and childbirth and the first weeks with your new baby
This book provides information on many aspects of pregnancy and a list of useful organisations.
Source: HSC Public Health Agency (2025)
Accessiblity & Equality
Discover guidance and resources aimed at promoting inclusive, equitable maternity care for all individuals, regardless of background or circumstance.
Accessible Healthcare
Still ignored: the fight for accessible healthcare
A report published by RNID and SignHealth highlights that the NHS does not have the appropriate systems in place to ensure the right to accessible healthcare for people who are deaf or have hearing loss.
Source: SignHealth (2025)
Racial bias and ethnic health inequalities
The cost of racism: how ethnic inequalities are standing in the way of growth
Briefing from the NHS Race & Health Observatory examining the human and economic costs of racial health disparities.
Source: NHS Race & Health Observatory (2025)
Translation and interpreting services in maternity and neonatal care
SANDS & Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit briefing paper highlights issues with the provision and quality of translation and interpreting services in maternity care, which, if not used correctly, can lead to poor outcomes and preventable harm. The paper gives recommendations to improve the accessibility and quality of care to women and birthing people whose first language is not English.
Infection
Stay informed with current protocols and best practices for preventing, identifying, and managing infections during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period.
Group B Strep
Group B Strep Support has a web page for maternity professionals to access resources to learn and share information on Group B Streptococcus. This includes training, guidelines, posters, leaflets and more.
Identification and Management of Maternal Sepsis During and Following Pregnancy
The scope of this guideline covers the recognition and management of sepsis in the antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum periods, including post-abortion sepsis. The scope includes bacterial infections arising in the genital tract or elsewhere and influenza and their management in secondary care.
This guideline is for healthcare professionals who care for women, non-binary and trans people suspected of, or diagnosed with, sepsis in primary or secondary healthcare. This guideline excludes mild to moderate illness in primary care. (© Author)
Source: BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (June 2025)
Urinary Tract Infection: Diagnostic Tools for Primary Care
Quick reference materials for primary care on diagnosing and understanding culture results for urinary tract infection (UTI). (© Author)
Source: UK Health Security Agency 2025
Global Majority
Access informed resources and data to support equitable, respectful care for women from global majority communities.
10 Steps to Spot Jaundice in Black & Brown Babies
An infographic showing 10 steps to spotting jaundice in Black and Brown infants, including information on assessing the skin in natural daylight, checking the whites of babies eyes and performing a blanch test.
Source: NHS Race & Health Observatory, Medway NHS Foundation Trust (2025).
The Five X More Black Maternity Experiences Survey: Continuing the Conversation on Black Maternal Care in the UK
The latest report by Five X More captures the lived experiences of Black women across the UK who have been pregnant or given birth in the last four years. It explores the quality of care, communication with professionals, discrimination, and what still needs to change.
The findings are clear. Black women are still facing barriers, and the system must do better.
Copyright @ 2024 Five X More. All Rights Reserved.
The Motherhood Group
The Motherhood Group is a social enterprise that supports the Black maternal experience by delivering community-based events, training workshops, peer-to-peer support, national campaigns (Black Maternal Mental Health Week UK), and culturally sensitive programmes for Black mothers. (© The Motherhood Group 2025)
Health Conditions
See the latest guidance, advice, and information for maternity professionals caring for pregnant women and babies with preexisting or new health conditions.
Care of Late Intrauterine Fetal Death and Stillbirth
This guideline was created to identify evidence-based options for parents and their families who have a late intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) after 24+0 completed weeks of pregnancy of a singleton fetus. It incorporates information on general care before, during and after birth, and care in future pregnancies.
The guideline is primarily intended for obstetricians and midwives but also for women and their families, general practitioners and commissioners of health care. This guideline does not include the management of pregnancies at the current limit of viability (22+0–23+6 weeks), multiple pregnancies with a surviving fetus, fetal death following late feticide, late birth of fetus papyraceous or the management of specific medical conditions associated with increased risk of late IUFD, although many of the principles may be extrapolated to these clinical situations.
Recommendations about the psychological aspects of late IUFD are focused on the main principles of care to provide a framework of practice for maternity clinicians. The section on postmortem examination covers clinical aspects required for obstetricians and midwives caring for women who have suffered a late IUFD. This guideline is for healthcare professionals who care for women, non-binary and trans people. (© Author)
Source: BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (2025)
Lipoedema
Lipoedema is a chronic connective tissue disease that occurs mostly in females. It most commonly presents at puberty, pregnancy, or menopause – times of hormonal change.
Maternity professionals have the ability to support mothers who have lipoedema through recognising and understandings the symptoms. Read about both the physical and psychological impact of lipoedema on individuals through the leaflet below, provided by Lipoedema UK
A new international research study is exploring the experiences of women with Lipoedema before, during, and after pregnancy.
To participate, you must:
• Be 18 years or older, and
• Have had lipedema before pregnancy, during pregnancy, or in the first year after childbirth, and
• Have already given birth (the study is not for those who are currently pregnant).
There is no formal diagnosis required.
To learn more and participate in the survey, or to share the survey with people who may be interested, head to the link below.
Management of Thyroid Disorders in Pregnancy
Thyroid disease is a common endocrine disorder in women of childbearing age. There is variation in clinical practice and approach to thyroid diseases globally, in part influenced by differences in population iodine status. There remains controversy regarding testing for and management of thyroid disorders before conception, during pregnancy and postpartum.
This guideline presents the available evidence for best practice and, where evidence is lacking, consensus opinion by a multidisciplinary, cross-specialty team of authors is presented. This guideline is for healthcare professionals who care for women, non-binary and trans people with thyroid disorders in pregnancy. (© Author)
Source: BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (July 2025)
Regional Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathway
The Regional Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathway has been developed to facilitate the prediction, detection and treatment of mental health problems in women and in the antenatal and postnatal periods. (© Author)
Source: HSC Public Health Agency (2025)
WHO recommendations on the management of sickle-cell disease during pregnancy, childbirth and the interpregnancy period
The guideline will be useful to those directly providing care to women during pregnancy and when giving birth, such as obstetricians, midwives, nurses and general practitioners.
This guideline will also be useful to health-care providers responsible for developing national and local health-care protocols and policies, as well as managers of maternal and child health programmes, and policy-makers in all settings.
Finally, the information in this guideline will be useful for developing clinical tools for pre- and in-service training of health workers and health-system strengthening efforts to enhance their delivery of clinical care. (© World Health Organization 2025)
Source: WHO (2025)