AIMS Publications

You can mail-order any of these items, using the printable order form.

Paypal is new for us, so please be aware that you can only order certain publications at present. We would welcome feedback, please email publications@aims.org.uk

AIMS Journal

The AIMS Journal, published quarterly, spearheads discussions about change and development in the maternity services. It is highly regarded both by parents - who find it an excellent source of information and support - and by workers in maternity care.

When you join AIMS you automatically get the AIMS Journal sent to you quarterly. You are also welcome to subscribe to the Journal without becoming a member of AIMS

Back issues can be purchased; please see list of available back issues with details of how to order.

The content of the journal issues can be view by: journal issues, article subject index or research review subject index. The full text of some of articles and reviews are available on-site. There is also an on-site search facility

There are also some additional website articles that are available solely on-site

Books and Booklets
Breech Birth - What are my options?

Written by Jane Evans, published April 2005
One of the most experienced midwives in assisting women to give birth to their breech babies has written this informative and empowering book to inform women about the choices they have and help them decide what is right for them. £8.00

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Birth After Caesarean

Written by Jenny Lesley, published June 2004
This booklet aims to provide information about choices, suggest ways in which a vaginal birth after caesarean can be made more likely and inform women about their rights and where to find support. Vaginal birth after caesarean is commonly known as VBAC. Women's experiences are an important element of this book. £8.00


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Induction - Do I Really Need It?

Written by Sara Wickham, published 2004
We know from talking to women who contact AIMS that there are complex emotional and social reasons why women feel they would like their baby induced, but we are also aware that sometimes women are manipulated into making a decision to induce, by staff, particularly if they are having private obstetric care. Sara answers your questions in this wonderful book. £5.00

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Am I Allowed?

Written by Beverley Lawrence Beech, published October 2003
Beverley is an expert in women's rights in maternity care, based on her 25 years experience in advising parents about their rights. This book sets out to lay out the options and rights through all stages of pregnancy and birth. It is a must for any pregnant woman who wants to exercise informed consent and be more in control of her pregnancy and labour. £8.00


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Vitamin K and the newborn

Written by Sara Wickham, published April 2003
Does my baby need Vitamin K? Should I agree to an injection, an oral dose or not? Can I postpone my decision? Which babies are at risk? Sara is a practising midwife who has written this very informative booklet designed to help you make a decision about this routine treatment. £5.00

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What's Right For Me? Making decisions in pregnancy and birth

Written by Sara Wickham, published August 2002
Making the right choice of maternity care is not just a question of choosing from a menu of what is on offer. The right choice for you is the one that reflects who you are and what your individual needs are. This practical booklet can help women think through their needs and feelings in advance and to help them make the process of decision making less daunting. See further details. £5.00


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Ultrasound? Unsound

Written by Beverley Lawrence Beech and Jean Robinson.

A review and evaluation of current ultrasound research and a discussion of AIMS' concerns about the widespread routine use of ultrasound in pregnancy and childbirth. One of AIMS' most popular booklets. £5.00

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Birthing Your Baby: The Second Stage

Written by Nadine Pilley Edwards and Beverley Lawrence Beech.
Why hurry this stage of labour? This booklet details the physiology of the 'pushing' stage of labour and considers the advantages, for mother and baby, of a more relaxed approach to the birth of your baby. Further details.£5.00


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Delivering Your Placenta: The Third Stage

Written by Nadine Pilley Edwards
An eye-opening discussion which considers the merits and disadvantages of both a 'managed' third Stage, where the mother is given an oxytocic drug to expel her placenta, and a more natural third stage where the woman births her placenta in her own time.
The introduction is available online as an article, Managing the Third Stage.
68 pages, fully revised in 1999, containing the most up to date research on the third stage currently available. £5.00

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Choosing a Waterbirth

Written by Beverley Lawrence Beech.
This booklet advises women on how to arrange a waterbirth. It covers pool rental, lists those hospitals which have pools and helps women to overcome any obstacles they encounter in choosing this type of birth.

Updated edition due later this year
Books
Birthing Autonomy: Women's Experiences of Planning Home Births

Written by Nadine Pilley Edwards, AIMS Vice Chair
Is home birth dangerous for women and babies? Shouldn't women decide where to have their babies? This book brings some balance to difficult arguments about home birth by focusing on women's views and their experiences of planning them. Invaluable for expectant mothers and professionals alike. RRP £22.99

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Currently not available from AIMS
Find this book on Amazon
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Your Birth Rights

Written by Pat Thomas, a previous editor of the AIMS Journal.
This updated edition (previously titled Every Woman's Birthrights) is a highly recommended, no-nonsence guide to women's rights and choices in pregnancy and childbirth. Wide ranging, fully referenced and written in clear, accessible language. £11.50


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Home Birth - A Practical Guide (4th Edition)

Written by Nicky Wesson
AIMS has replaced Choosing a Home Birth with this fully revised and updated edition of Home Birth by Nicky Wesson. Nicky tells us what the research says, what midwives think, what mothers want, what babies need. Every sentence is packed with interest. Read it, even if you are not planning a home birth - it is very relevant to everyone who is pregnant. £8.99

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AIMS Journal - Back Issues
Vol 20, No 2 - Birth in Europe
In this Journal - Beverley Lawrence Beech highlights the similarities and differences in maternity care across Europe. Reports from chidbirth groups on maternity issues in Ireland, Luxembourg, Hungary, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Spain, Holland, Bosnia & Hercegovina and Poland.

For further details of the content of this journal see the articles page

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AIMS membership or subscription to obtain a copy of the current Journal
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Journal Vol 20, No 1 - The Value of Mothering
In this Journal - Gina Lowdon explores the implications of cultural perspectives on mothering; Tamara Parnay looks sharing of our birth stories; Midwife Kate Simpson looks at PTSD and Emily Cox considers why policy on breastfeeding conflicts?
£3.50
For further details of the content of this journal see the articles page


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Journal Vol 19, No 4 - Rhetoric and Reality
In this Journal - Normal birth: Beverley Beech looks for a more accurate definition and the NCT press release on the consensus statement; Debbie Chippington Derrick questions the HCC's Review of Maternity Services 2007. A proposed consent form for 'delivering' in hospital; Bridget Sheeran on women travelling long distances in labour; Beverley Beech's Letter to Gordon Brown about Maternity Services; Lynn Walcott on practising outside the NHS and Gillian Crossley on more threats of maternity unit cuts.
£3.50
For further details of the content of this journal see the articles page

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Journal Vol 19, No 3 - Where is the Support?
In this Journal - Jean Robinson on women's thoughts of hurting their baby; Magda Sachs discusses the new WHO Growth Charts; Beverley Beech clarifies the situation of birthing without a midwife and discusses two reports about Sure Start; Gill Boden reports on the launch of the NICE Intrapartum Care Guideline and Michelle Barnes on a national survey of women’s experience of maternity care and home birth in the News.
£3.00
For further details of the content of this journal see the articles page


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Journal Vol 19, No 2 - Listen With Mother
In this Journal - Beverley Beech and AIMS founder Sally Willington discuss the changes in almost 50 years of campaigning, Charlotte Williamson explores the emancipation of patients, Caroline Hollins Martin the difficulties midwives face providing choice and control and Julie Trottier the difficulties for women challenging maternity services.
£3.00
For further details of the content of this journal see the articles page

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Journal Vol 19, No 1 - Birth Trauma

In this Journal - Guest Editors Michelle Barnes and Sarah Stenson introduce this issue, Jean Robinson asks 'Where do we go from here?', Michelle talks about her PTSD after childbirth and her emotionally healing second birth, and Sarah tells us why 'disappointment' trivialises the impact of traumatic birth, whilst Mavis Kirkham in 'Traumatised Midwives' discusses why mothers are not the only casualties of the system
£3.00
For further details of the content of this journal see the articles page


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Journal Volume 18, No 4 - Consultations

In this Journal - Gina Lowdon explores the customer consultation process for the VBAC Guidelines, Gill Bowden reviews the All Wales Clinical Pathway for Normal Labour, Beverley Lawrence Beech looks at Safer Childbirth: Minimum Standards for Service Provision and Care in Labour, and Nadine Edwards guides us through the new 'easy to negotiate' NHS
£3.00
For further details of the content of this journal see the articles page

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Journal Vol 18, No 3 - Birth Centres

In this Journal - Guest Editor Avril Nicoll express her renewed hope for the Birth Centre movement, We report on the current situation with birth centres in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as focusing in on some units around the UK. Find out what drives some birth centre activists and what they have found works, as well as considering the impact of user involvement.
£3.00
For further details of the content of this journal see the articles page


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Journal Vol 18, No 2 - Breastfeeding

In this Journal - Beverley Beech reviews the uphill battle to breastfeed in a modern society, we report on Nestlé exit from the Perrier Award for Comedy, and their involvement with Body shop and Jean Walker questions whether our society undermines women's ability to breastfeed by promoting early weaning, additional feeding with artificial milk and over emphasises weight.
£3.00
For further details of the content of this journal see the articles page

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Journal Vol 18, No 1 - Homebirth

In this Journal - Nadine Edwards challenges us to think about why it is still so difficult for women to choose to give birth at home, A review of what AIMS has been doing over the last few months and Beverley Beech recounts the long consumer battle to ensure that a woman in labour at home could expect a midwife to attend her when called.
£3.00
For further details of the content of this journal see the articles page


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We are also able to supply copies of earlier AIMS Journals; please contact the publications secretary (publications@aims.org.uk) for details

Other items
T-shirts
This is your chance to show some attitude - everyone wants to know where they stand - now you can tell them!
Quality 100% white cotton T-shirts printed with "Don't Mess With Me! I am an AIMS Member." For campaigning or for during your pregnancy.

£15.00 each

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Size


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My Baby's Ultrasound Record

Ultrasound is an unevaluated technology and a baby's exposure to ultrasound is often not properly recorded in a woman's case notes. Make sure this form is attached to your case notes and properly filled in. FREE

What is AIMS?

A leaflet describing the activities of AIMS, the campaigns it has fought and the campaigns it is currently conducting (includes membership form). Help us by ordering extra copies to distribute in your area FREE

A Charter For Ethical Research in Maternity Care

Women are approached to take part in research antenatally and even when they are in labour. Occasionally they are asked to give permission for their babies to take part. This Charter, written by AIMS and the National Childbirth Trust, sets out professional guidelines to help women make informed choices about participating in medical research. £1

Maternity Statistics Questionnaire

If you want answers, ask the right questions. Any woman wanting information about local maternity unit practices can send this comprehensive questionnaire to her local unit, or if they are uncooperative, here local Community Health Council. They have a statutory right to the information and should get the details for you, if they have not already got them. Also useful for Maternity Service Liaison Committees(MSLC). £1

Do Not Disturb - Bonding in Progress

Mothers and babies need time to get to know each other. Ensure others get the message with this simple but effective sign which can be hung on doors or beds. £1

AIMS Envelope Labels

Environmentally friendly sticky labels for re-using envelopes. 100 for £2

Publications Pamphlet

Details of all AIMS publications with order form. FREE


Occasional Papers

These papers are fully referenced and can help mothers, and care providers, think through some of the most complex issues of maternity care. Each paper costs £2.50.

The Benefits and Hazards of Obstetric Care

Beverley Beech outlines the ways in which obstetric care can often lead to poor outcomes for mothers and babies. £2.50

Birth is a Normal Process - A Mother's Perspective

This paper discusses women's perceptions of normal childbirth and the way in which technology and centralised hospital birth have undermined this process.
Presented to the World Health Organisation Conference in Brazil on Appropriate Technology for Birth. £2.50

Procedure related to adverse clinical incidents and outcomes in medical care.

AIMS' response to the House of Commons' Health Committee, pointing out the problems with the current complaints procedures which often fails to investigate or respond properly to serious complaints about maternity care. £2.50

Drugs in Labour - What Effect Do They Have 20 years Hence?

A comprehensive paper in which AIMS UK Chair Beverley Beech discusses the potential long-term adverse effects, for the baby, of the many drugs used in labour. £2.50

The Pregnant Woman's Need for Information: Medicine Use in Pregnancy and Birth

Childbirth campaigner and director of AIMS America, Doris Haire discusses drug usage in pregnancy and birth, and the amount of information and advice given to women.
Presented to the 13th European Symposium on Clinical Pharmacology Evaluation in Drug Control. £2.50

A Consumer Review of the Work of the Health Service Commissioner

A peper submitted to the Cabinet Office, at their request, outlining the reasons for consumer dissatisfaction with the work of the current health Service Commissioner. £2.50

Pain Relief in Labour - Women's Perspectives

A paper which discusses the way in which hospitalised birth, and the routines and interventions it relies upon, have resulted in women needing drugs for pain relief.
This paper was presented to the Maternity Alliance's Conference: Pain Relief in Labour - The Benefits and Risks. £2.50

The Mirage of Choice

The word "choice" often masks an agenda which aims to get as many women as possible to give birth in hospital, in spite of evidence which shows this is not always the safest option. This paper examines the risks women take, for themselves and their babies, in deciding to give birth in a hospital. £2.50

Ultrasound - Weighing the Propaganda Against the Facts

A paper which questions the value of routine ultrasound screening. Based on research evidence which has been published since Ultrasound? Unsound! was published. £2.50

Risks of Caesarean Sections

A collection of summaries of research papers relating to the risks of caesarean sections. These summaries may be used as a basis for further research into the subject. £2.50

Caesarean and VBAC - Articles by Gina Lowdon and Debbie Chippington Derrick

A good starting point for women seeking more information on vaginal birth after caesarean. A collection of articles by Gina and Debbie who have written widely on the subject of caesarean birth and vaginal birth after caesarean. £2.50

History of AIMS - 1960-1990

A short resumé of the activities of AIMS and the campaigns it has undertaken over the last thirty years. £2.50

AIMS' Comments on the NHS Complaints Procedures

A critique of the NHS complaints procedures, the problems complainants have with: the informal meetings, the hospital clinical complaints procedures, the Independent Professional Review, access to case notes, locums, time limits and, finally, an explanation of the needs of the complainant. October, 1993 £2.50

Making a complaint?

If you are thinking about making a complaint about maternity care this guide will give you an idea of the proceedure involved. £2.50

To mail-order any of these items, please use the printable order form.

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