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Editorial AIMS journal editor, Alex Smith, reminds us how our choice of words and phrases have an impact, and makes a timely plea for improvements in how we express ‘risk’ in labour and birth
Obstetric Violence – What is it? The abusive encounters experienced by birthing people are discussed in this article by Gemma McKenzie about what is meant by obstetric violence
Newborn resuscitation without violence UK Resuscitation Council Newborn Life Support Instructor, Joanne Foster, talks about newborn life support, reflecting on her own practice - and her own birth!
Guilty First time mum Helen describes her complex feelings after feeling diminished when giving birth, starting with a birthing centre that was ‘closed’ on the day
Birth Without Violence: a reflection Midwifery student Antonita Kirubanathan was surprised when she came across Frédérick Leboyer’s 1974 still-revolutionary book Birth Without Violence, with his emphasis on the baby’s experience. Here she shares her response
Obstetric Violence: Where is the Law? Dr Camilla Pickles and Olivia Verity speak inspiringly and with authority about how far the law goes in recognising obstetric violence, and call for collective condemnation
Emotional Freedom Techniques for Obstetric Violence What help is available to people who have persistent problems following trauma giving birth? Julia and Pat, both experienced practitioners, outline the value of EFT and advocate for its inclusion as a mainstream therapy
The Ritual of Body Shaming How big is body-shaming of women in our culture and how does this impact pregnancy and childbirth? Beth Whitehead demystifies BMI and tells us how we might take a more helpful and well-informed approach that isn’t based on an outdated and unevidenced measure
Interview with Mara Ricoy: Campaigning against obstetric violence Mara used her knowledge of variations in maternity experiences between the UK and Spain to create an international movement to tackle obstetric violence: The Roses Revolution. Here she reflects on the campaign’s progress and the barriers that remain
Respectful Vaginal Examinations Project - Co-Production in Action Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is running the Respectful Vaginal Examinations Project to improve practice and educate pregnant people about their rights. Deputy Consultant Midwife Kelly Sawyer explains the project and its aims
Book Review - Maternal Journal This book review makes clear the very positive use of Laura Godfrey-Isaacs and Samantha McGowan’s interactive book during pregnancy and after birth
Continuing to Push for Midwifery Continuity of Carer: Research Update Further concerns about the continuity of carer principle are expressed by AIMS Volunteer Georgia Clancy as she reports on researchers at King's College London who have been exploring the implementation of continuity since Better Births and trying to identify where further research is still needed
Placing the Ockenden Report in context In this piece, Cyril Chantler - deputy chair of NHS-England’s Maternity Transformation Programme’s Stakeholder Council - offers his immediate reflections on the Ockenden Report, usefully highlighting the broader context of ongoing maternity transform
AIMS Journal, 2026, Vol 38, No 2 By Tamara Blakemore The First Breath I’m a birth artist, and apparently I’m here to talk about the sovereignty of the body, which feels s…
AIMS Journal, 2026, Vol 38, No 2 By Camille Del Pozo and Anne Glover on behalf of the AIMS Campaigns Team Background AIMS wrote to Neil Gray, the Cabinet Secretary for He…
AIMS Journal, 2026, Vol 38, No 2 By Alex Smith Welcome to the June 2026 edition of the AIMS journal. This issue is about the sovereignty of the body in pregnancy and chil…
Join us for one of our series of interactive online AIMS workshops, " Focusing on Rights in Pregnancy and Birth ". Emma Ashworth (principal author of "The AIMS Guide to Y…
Join us for one of our series of interactive online AIMS workshops, " Focusing on Induction of Labour ". Nadia Higson (principal author of "The AIMS Guide to Induction of…
Stephanie Ernst, founder of the TAPS Support Foundation, will be explaining the issues that can arise in different types of twin pregnancies, and what twins parents need…
In this piece, a month following the publication of the ‘Amos Report’, the AIMS Campaigns Team sets out some high-level perspectives on the report. The team is now busy a…
AIMS has written to welcome the Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP on her appointment as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Our letter offers our thoughts on key conside…
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (the NMC) has been consulting on proposed changes to its education standards, including “whether education standards for midwives could…