MIDWIFERY has moved on leaps and bounds since hot water and towels were the main requirements for having a baby.

Today's new mums have an act of Parliament passed 100 years ago to thank for the service they get and they and their midwives will be celebrating the event together this week.

Midwives from the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust will mark the centenary of the Midwives Act of 1902, with each mother who gives birth this week, starting from Mothers' Day, getting a special commemorative certificate.

It is an important landmark for hard working midwives, who now have to undergo a four-year degree course to qualify, and whose role has also expanded to include health promotion.

Christine Hindle, midwifery manager with the trust, said: "It is celebrating 100 years of our profession. It is a big achievement, because we have progressed enormously since then.

"Being a midwife today is really exciting. There are so many things coming in now and so many opportunities for midwives, including getting involved in public health issues."

The certificates have been organised by the Royal College of Midwives and Marks and Spencer and will be given out at labour wards across the country.

The Royal College is also hoping the event will encourage more recruitment into the profession, which in recent years has struggled to attract new recruits.

"We are managing to increase the number of midwives. We have midwives returning to practice after more than 10 years -- two people in Blackburn are doing that with us. We are definitely improving the shortage of midwives," said Christine.