Midwifery Records

[hunkyhywel]

My 3x gt grandmother was a midwife and monthly nurse in the Cwmbran area of South Wales. I know this by the census data but I want to know more about the profession then and in particular, more about her.
Are there any records which may list her as practising or working?
Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks,
Hywel

[stanmapstone]

It was not until 1902 when the Midwives Act (2 Edw.VII,c.1 7) created the Central Midwives Board with responsibility for the registration of midwives, rules for their training and examination, and the regulation of their practice; limited the use of the term "midwife"; and made the councils of the counties and county boroughs the local supervising authorities.

The National Archives; DV7 Records of the Central Midwives Board Covering dates 1872-1983
Physical description 117 volume(s)
Scope and Content
This series contains the Midwives Roll, which was compiled annually by the secretary of the Central Midwives Board in accordance with the provisions of the Midwives Act 1902. The Midwives Roll comprises the notification (to the Central Midwives Board) by certified midwives of their intention to practice.

In 1869 a report of a survey, by the London Obstetrical Society, found that the majority of working class confinements were attended by untrained, ignorant and incompetent midwives.
Stan

[hunkyhywel]

Thank you very much for the info! I've heard similarly regarding people just calling themselves 'midwives'. I wouldn't be surprised to find that to be the case here as she changed from 'midwife' to 'monthly nurse' sometimes.

[petercr49]

Hi, In the 1911 census my GGGrandmother Elisabeth Ann Preston aged 66 was living in North Shields, Northumberland and her occupation recorded as "Registered Midwife".  I presume she achieved registration as a result of experience by helping other members of her community.  Do you know if there is any information eg local registration lists available without having to go to the National Archives?
regards
Peter

[stanmapstone]

  I presume she achieved registration as a result of experience by helping other members of her community.

One of the first tasks of the Central Midwives Board,  set up under the 1902 Midwives Act, was to establish the Roll of Midwives. The criteria for entry to the Roll were that the midwife should:
a) be in possession of a recognised qualification in midwifery, the certificate of the London Obstetrical Society being one of the acceptable qualifications; or
b) have been in bona fide (genuine) practice as a midwife for one year and be of good character; or
c) meet the requirements of the CMB for training and examinations.    
The Law and the Midwife  By Shirley R. Jones, Rosemary Jenkins   

Stan                                                                                               

[iolaus]

The Nursing and Midwifery Council hold the old registers from the Central Midwives Board (this only applies to those practising after 1902 though), I doubt there would be local records

If she was practising around the time the profession was regulated then the book The Midwives Tale by Leap and Hunter is a fantastic read to find out about the way they worked (goes up to the start of the NHS)

[petercr49]

Many thanks Stan and Iolaus for such speedy responses.  Thanks for the information and I will follow those suggestions up.

regards
Peter