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.
You are welcome to quote from or link to this article in your own work to improve maternity services but please credit AIMS as the source. If you are using a quote please include the following words: “Quote from the AIMS article {URL}. AIMS is a charity that works towards better births for all by campaigning and information sharing, protecting human rights in childbirth and helping maternity service users to know their rights, whatever birth they want, and wherever they want it. See www.aims.org.uk
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