The cakes inspired by childbirth that range from cute to downright graphic

We all know midwives are experts in delivering babies into the world but many of them are rather brilliant bakers too.

Each year, to mark International Day of the Midwife, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) challenges its members to design cakes based on the miracle of childbirth.

They are asked to create delicious sponges based on their years of experience of hospital maternity wards and people’s homes across the UK.

And the 2019 offering did not disappoint, with entries ranging from the cute, to the artistic to the downright graphic.

Here are some of our favourites from this year's hotly-contested competition.

Some entries were simply funny

Each year, to mark International Day of the Midwife, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) challenges its members to design cakes based on the miracle of childbirth (RCM)

Each year, to mark International Day of the Midwife, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) challenges its members to design cakes based on the miracle of childbirth (RCM)

This one depicted the birth of HRH Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor (RCM)

While others were educational or highlighted more serious issues

This one labels all the ways midwives defend women's rights (RCM)

And this cake offers a handy visual aid to the different stages of dilation (RCM)

 

These were more unusual

Each year, to mark International Day of the Midwife, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) challenges its members to design cakes based on the miracle of childbirth (RCM)

Each year, to mark International Day of the Midwife, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) challenges its members to design cakes based on the miracle of childbirth (RCM)

Placenta cake, anyone? (RCM)

And some were true works of art

Each year, to mark International Day of the Midwife, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) challenges its members to design cakes based on the miracle of childbirth (RCM)

Each year, to mark International Day of the Midwife, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) challenges its members to design cakes based on the miracle of childbirth (RCM)

This one was crowned the 2019 winner (RCM)

This year's 'Great Midwifery Cake Off 2019' competition was won by student midwife Molly Grimston, from Wolverhampton University, who received a £250 gift voucher.

Molly’s triple-tiered and colourful creation features babies’ feet along with butterflies and flowers. Atop her creation is a sleeping baby enveloped in a lotus flower.

She said: "I've always been a keen baker and regularly bake alongside my midwifery training.

"The RCM bake off event was the perfect opportunity for me to celebrate being a student midwife as well as my love for baking.

"I am so surprised to have won and had such incredible support from all my friends and family. Now it’s time to enjoy some cake.”

Here are the entries from the RCM bake off two years ago

These cakes are inspired by the miracle of childbirth

To see all of the cakes in this year's competition go to https://www.facebook.com/pg/MidwivesRCM/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2165046160245037 .