PIMS Case Study: Rebozo (AIMS Journal Vol 37 No 2)
PIMS Case Study: Optimal cord clamping and intact cord resuscitation
PIMS Case Study: Family-friendly/natural/gentle caesarean birth
Evidence submission to the House of Lords' review of Preterm Birth
In 2024 the AIMS Campaigns team sent this evidence submission highlighting, among other things, the importance of optimal cord clamping and kangaroo mother care for pre-term babies .
AIMS Physiology-Informed Maternity Services Poster
AIMS Campaigns Team volunteers presented a poster about our campaign for Physiology-Informed Maternity Services at the 2023 conference of the British Intrapartum Care Society in Cardiff . The poster explains the reasoning behind the campaign, and includes several case studies to illustrate what we mean by “Physiology-Informed Care."
Letter to Jeremy Hunt MP
February 2021:AIMS wrote to Jeremy Hunt MP, in his role as chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee, as a response to the current discussion regarding a so-called 'ideology of normal birth'.We are keen for there to be more clarity and consensus on this issue. AIMS is proud of its continuing role in highlighting the need for physiology-informed maternity care provision. Everyone using the UK's maternity services, whatever their individual needs and preferences, deserves to be supported by health professionals who properly understand birth physiology. Until this is the case, then our maternity services are simply not Better Births compliant.
AIMS guide to giving birth to your baby
AIMS guide to giving birth to your placenta
The Princess & the Poo
Children’s book to encourage and inspire more peaceful births.
Should we expect the maternity services to be competent to facilitate physiological vaginal breech birth where this is women’s choice? (AIMS Journal Vol 38 No 3)
The AIMS Campaigns Team say, Yes they should!
The Fabric of Birth - part two (AIMS Journal Vol 37 No 3)
In part-two of her fascinating article, Nicole Schlögel continues to reflect on how the ‘mechanics of birth’, learned by heart as a student midwife, is at complete odds with the organic dynamics of physiological birth.
AIMS Journal Vol 37 No 2: Women in Labour: Do Not Disturb!
A special edition of the AIMS Journal – all about physiology-informed care and where it is to be found (or not found!) within our maternity services.
The POOL cohort study| AIMS
The AIMS Campaigns team comments on the conclusions and the potential implications of this study that contributes important evidence for the safety of birth in water.
Microbirth Summit: The Microbiome and Why it Matters in Maternity
Midwife and AIMS Campaigns volunteer Catharine Hart reports on the Microbirth Summit, which featured talks on how establishing a healthy microbiome (the community of microorganisms that live on or in the human body) at birth may contribute to long-term health.
An interview with Dr Malika M. Bonapace, D.Psy
Dr Bonapace is a doctor of clinical psychology who now trains health care professionals about physiologic birth and about an approach to non-pharmacological pain management called the Bonapace method.
The Physiology of Trust
Kath Revell, AIMS volunteer, and active birth teacher and doula for over 20 years, explores how "Trust is at the heart of physiological birth" and how trust can be fostered in maternity care.
Pelvic floor health - “I wish I’d known this sooner”
Physiotherapist Lara Watson explains what women need to know about techniques ro prevent and treat pelvic floor problems.
Why does physiological birth matter?
Carolyn Warrington explains why physiology-informed care enhances every birth and protects the well-being of the whole family.
Teaching midwives about physiology-based care: going beyond the core curriculum
Molly O’Brien worked as a clinical midwife in the NHS for 20 years. She is now an associate lecturer, birth preparation teacher and freelance trainer. In the course of her career she developed techniques to diagnose and rectify labour dystocia. She teaches online and travels all over the world teaching her Biomechanics for Birth course.
Physiological birth: a dangerous cult or a scientific fact?
Natalie Meddings is a doula, active birth yoga teacher and mother to three children. She is the author of How to have a Baby and Why Homebirth Matters and presents a podcast with doula colleague Jenna Rutherford called 'Mothers Talking.' She lives in SW London with her husband Danny, two cats and her last sixteen year old baby.
Physiological birth: how it works
Alex is an editor for the AIMS journal, a grandmother and great grandmother, and witness to some truly wonderful physiological births. She has close to half a century’s experience as a childbirth educator.
The International Labour and Birth Research Conference 24th – 26th April 2023
Charlotte Edun is a doula, MNVP lead (Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust), researcher at the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health at Coventry University and AIMS volunteer. Her areas of interest are decision making, health literacy and physiology informed care.
Facilitators and barriers to the implementation of a physiological approach to care in labour
PhD student Florence Darling shares the findings of her study that looks at the facilitators and barriers to the implementation of a physiological approach to care in labour. Florence presented these findings at the international labour and birth research conference in April 2023.
The Art of Giving Birth – Five Key Physiological Principles
Sallyann Beresford is an experienced doula and antenatal educator. She is the award-winning author of 3 books and hosts a weekly podcast. Her recent book The Art of Giving Birth – Five Key Physiological Principles is aimed at helping the reader not only plan but succeed at achieving a physiological birth
Considering the invisible parts of the birth environment
Nicole is a midwife, aromatherapist and yogi and has recently published her first book. ‘7 Secrets Every Pregnant Woman Needs To Hear Before Giving Birth: The New Midwife’s R.O.A.D. To Birth Hypnobirth System’ is available on Amazon.
The Birthkeeper of Bethlehem: A Midwife's Tale
Book review by Mary Newburn, service user researcher and activist, co-founder of the Midwifery Unit Network, and former Head of NCT Research and Information.
British Journal of Midwifery - Physiology-Informed Maternity Services
Carolyn Warrington discusses how improved understanding of the physiology behind birth can improve outcomes and experiences for mothers and birthing people.
Book review: Dynamic Positions in Birth
Reviewed by AIMS volunteers Verina Henchy and Jo Dagustun.
Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering: A Doctor's Guide to Natural Childbirth and Gentle Early Parenting Choices - a review
Reviewed by Sue Boughton, a longstanding AIMS member and massage practitioner and doula from the North-East of England now living in London.
Where is the village?
Beth is a writer on maternity and women’s rights matters. She lives in Southeast England with her husband and children.
Do animals need doulas?
Katie Hickey BVetMed is a former vet, a doula and mother to two girls.
Oxytocin: Love, Birth and Bulldogs
Based in Yorkshire, Tracy Ripley is a pregnancy, birth and postnatal educator, Doula and holistic integrated therapist, specialising in women’s reproductive well-being . She also volunteers for AIMS and Doulas Without Borders.
Physiology Matters: A letter to Doctor Joseph B. DeLee
Céline Lemay PhD, anthropologist by academic background, has been a practicing midwife for more than 30 years. She is also a senior lecturer in midwifery at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, and a current council member of the College of Midwives, Québec (l'Ordre des sage-femmes du Québec).
Protecting Physiology, supporting twin births to avoid unnecessary interventions
Birthing twins – encouraging normal physiology by Chris Warren
Rebozo in an NHS setting
Jude Davis, NHS midwife, encourages those supporting births to increase their confidence.
Undisturbed Birth
Sarah Buckley shows us what is stopping birth working and describes the physiology of undisturbed birth