Search the journal articles


Choose a journal by date and volume:

Browse all journal articles

Journal Vol. 13, No. 4 — What is normal birth? Time to stop confusing what is common with what is normal

ISSN 0256-5004 (Print)

What is normal birth? - Time to stop confusing what is common with what is normal

"Normal" Birth - Read the research and weep
New research shows that only a quarter of women in the UK truely have a normal birth. AIMS Research Officer Jean Robinson reports on the study's findings.

Getting a normal birth - Whose failure to progress
Janette McCabe wanted a normal birth. But her story reveals the idea that hospital is the 'best' place to give birth is still irrationally strong among both midwives and consultants. Beverley Beech provides commentary to put the story in context.

Naomi Wolf's "Misconceptions" - Is it relevant to the UK?
Misconceptions - Naomi Wolf's expose on US childbirth practices - was received with unusual positivity by the UK press. Why did it take a rich and beautiful - if somewhat confused - media personality writing about birth practices in a foreign country to get the message across in the UK? Anne Mccabe reports

Supporting women after birth - Experience of postnatal illness support in Cumbria
In many areas of the country women with Postnatal Illness are left to struggle alone, and manage as best they can, but in the North West, the charity Postnatal Illness Support (Cumbria) provides a unique support service.

Domestic violence in pregnancy
Midwife Sally Price shines a light on a surprisingly common, but little talked about phenomenon

Research:
Jean Robinson reviews

Book Reviews

Also in this issue:
"Who's on duty"; Blind Prejudice; National Normal Birth Symposium; The Rising Caesarean Rate 2002; Maternal Deaths; Successful home birth despite 'low' iron count

Latest Content

Journal

« »

An interview with Sarah Odling Smee

AIMS Journal, 2025, Vol 37, No 1 Interview by Leslie Altic What first attracted you to being a midwife, tell us a bit about your journey and how you got to where you are…

Read more

Birth Activists Briefing: The lates…

AIMS Journal, 2025, Vol 37, No 1 By the AIMS Campaigns Team In this article we will summarise some of the key points of data about the maternity services that have been p…

Read more

AIMS Physiology-Informed Maternity…

AIMS Journal, 2025, Vol 37, No 1 Art by Sophie Jenna Latest update from the PIMS team! The NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) recently asked the Campa…

Read more

Events

« »

AIMS Workshop: Public Health and th…

This is an invitation to anyone who was ever born... ... to explore our understanding and learn together. It’s part of a short series of interactive discussions around ho…

Read more

AIMS Workshop: The Foundation Stone…

Join us for an interactive online AIMS workshop: " The Foundation Stones for Supporting the Physiological Process in Pregnancy and Birth ". In this workshop discussion we…

Read more

AIMS Workshop: Understanding Twin T…

To coincide with the relaunch of the AIMS Guide to Twin Pregnancy and Birth, Stephanie Ernst, founder of the TAPS Support Foundation, will be explaining the issues that c…

Read more

Latest Campaigns

« »

AIMS Letter to Professor Mary Renfr…

AIMS has written to Professor Mary Renfrew to thank her for taking the lead on reviewing maternity services in Northern Ireland. Her report is the first of its kind to ta…

Read more

MBRRACE-UK Saving Lives Improving M…

By the AIMS Campaigns team This note is intended to offer both a summary and AIMS commentary on the latest annual MBRRACE-UK report. MBRRACE stands for Mothers and Babies…

Read more

PIMS Short Case Study - Optimal Cor…

Optimal cord clamping AIMS supports midwife Amanda Burleigh’s campaign for optimal cord clamping “ Wait for White ”. Optimal cord clamping is a key part of physiological…

Read more