As midwifery continues to evolve, staying informed about the latest research is essential for providing evidence-based, compassionate, and culturally competent care. In 2025, several key studies and global initiatives have emerged that every midwife should be aware of to enhance practice, advocate for equity, and support families effectively.
1. Systemic Racism in Maternity Care
A recent UK parliamentary report revealed that Black women in England are more than twice as likely to die in childbirth compared to white women, with their babies facing higher risks of stillbirth. Contributing factors include racial bias, stereotyping, and lack of accountability within the healthcare system. The report emphasized the need for mandatory cultural competency training for NHS maternity staff and improved ethnic data collection across NHS trusts to address these disparities. Read more
2. WHO’s Global Guide on Respectful Maternal and Newborn Care
In August 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners launched a global implementation guide to advance respectful maternal and newborn care. This compendium provides strategies to eliminate mistreatment and ensure that women are treated with dignity and respect throughout maternity services. It emphasizes the importance of midwifery models of care in achieving these goals. Read more
3. Midwifery Models of Care Expansion
The WHO has called for the global expansion of midwifery models of care, where midwives serve as the main care provider for women and babies throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period. This approach has been shown to improve health outcomes and ensure respectful care for women and newborns. The guidance provides practical tools and real-life examples to help countries adopt and expand these models. Read more
4. Maternal Immunization Recommendations
The American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) has updated its recommendations on maternal immunization, emphasizing the importance of vaccinating individuals who are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or postpartum to protect themselves and their babies from serious illness. The Tdap vaccine is recommended during every pregnancy, ideally between 27 and 36 weeks gestation, to provide critical protection against whooping cough (pertussis), which can be life-threatening for newborns. Read more
5. Midwifery Workforce Study
A recent study by the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) identified policy changes needed to expand the midwifery workforce to optimum capacity in the United States. The study highlights the need for at least 22,000 midwives to meet the World Health Organization’s goal of a minimum of 6 midwives per 1,000 live births, indicating a significant gap in the current workforce. Read more
6. Midwifery Autonomy and Independence
Research published in 2025 emphasizes that midwifery autonomy and independence are essential for high-quality maternal and neonatal care. The study highlights that many health systems support autonomy in theory but fail to ensure midwives can practice independently in reality. Advancing midwifery requires system-wide structural investment in regulation, education, association, practice, research, and leadership to support both autonomy and independence. Read more
7. Integration of Perinatal Mental Health into MNCH Systems
A recent publication discusses the integration of perinatal mental health into maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) systems. The study highlights the importance of addressing mental health during the perinatal period to improve overall health outcomes for mothers and babies. It provides strategies for integrating mental health services into existing MNCH programs, particularly in low-resource settings. Read more
Staying informed about the latest research is crucial for midwives to provide safe, respectful, and evidence-based care. By integrating these findings into practice, midwives can advocate for equity, enhance maternal and newborn health outcomes, and continue to support families effectively in 2025 and beyond.
