AIMS welcomes the recent publication of the RCM Clinical Briefing Sheet: ‘freebirth’ or ‘unassisted childbirth’ during the COVID-19 pandemic (www.rcm.org.uk/media/3904/freebirth_draft_23-april-v5-002-mrd-1.pdf). The RCM has noted that an “increased number of women are choosing to have an unassisted birth in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the reduction in birthplace options.” This reflects what AIMS has experienced, recognised and previously reported (www.aims.org.uk/information/item/coronavirus).
We wrote to the RCM on the 6th May to welcome this briefing, but to lodge a few concerns, which can be read in the letter here
We hope that this page is of interest, especially to our colleagues in the maternity services improvement community.
The AIMS Campaigns Team relies on Volunteers to carry out its work. If you would like to collaborate with us, are looking for further information about our work, or would like to join our team, please email campaigns@aims.org.uk.
Please consider supporting us by becoming an AIMS member or making a donation. We are a small charity that accepts no commercial sponsorship, in order to preserve our reputation for providing impartial, evidence-based information.
AIMS supports all maternity service users to navigate the system as it exists, and campaigns for a system which truly meets the needs of all.