Mothers, Midwives, and Reproductive Labor in Interwar and Wartime Britain

Mothers, Midwives, and Reproductive Labor in Interwar and Wartime Britain is about the experiences of mothers and midwives as they navigated the changing political and social issues surrounding childbirth and motherhood during interwar and wartime Britain. The needs and agency of women as mothers and midwives often conflicted with the ideals of the state. While government officials understood the importance of safe childbirth to the nation, they also chose to allow economic crises and war preparation to take precedence. The interwar plans for a national maternal healthcare system met financial constraints and a lack of political will. As the outbreak of the Second World War appeared imminent, politicians planned for pregnant women and those with small children to evacuate from cities.