Midwives are trained to be experts in normal childbirth. We are also, as we are all very well aware, expected to refer any deviations from the norm to a medical practitioner. This is all very straightforward, apparently. However, as new ways of working and new responsibilities develop for midwives, e.g. the introduction of the lead professional, there must surely be some serious discussion on this topic — for the question ‘what is normality?’ has yet to be posed and debated.