Editorial
Avril Nicoll express her renewed hope for the Birth Centre movement
Seeing the opportunities
Three years on from the publication of her book 'Birth Centres: A Social Model for Maternity Care' AIMS asked Mavis Kirkham what she would do differently with the book if she were putting it together now...
On the campaign trail
Free-standing birth centres seem reliant on campaigns, both to start them up and to keep them going. AIMS talks to a number of activists to find out what drives them and, most importantly, what works.
Around the UK and Ireland
Report of the current situation with birth centre in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Holding up a mirror: the impact of user involvement
While user involvement is enshrined in government policy across the UK, its patchy practice reflects the anxiety many professionals feel about the process. But here Phyllis Winters, midwifery team leader at Montrose Community Maternity Unit, explains how real user involvement can be a transforming experience for midwives, women and birth centres.
Everything I'd hoped for
In spite of a difficult first birth, Caroline Rosen chose to have her second son at Aboyne Community Maternity Unit. She explained why at a seminar organised by the Save Aboyne Maternity campaign.
Birthing Utopia
The past 18 months have been difficult for many free-standing birth centres and their supporters. In spite of this Avril Nicoll sees signs that a free-standing birth centre Utopia is within our grasp - and that it will make a real difference.
Focusing In
Looking at free-standing birth centres around the UK; Brent, Caerphilly, Dover, Lichfield, Perth, Powys and Chorley
Research:
AIMS asks Denis Walsh what papers he considers are essential reading for people who want to be informed about free-standing birth centres.
AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 4 Editor’s note: AIMS is honoured to present Mariamni’s research study in which she interviews 10 women who gave birth without a healthcare…
AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 4 Interview by Alex Smith Hello Rebecca, thank you for agreeing to answer some questions about your work with Make Birth Better. I wonder i…
AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 4 Editor’s note: This is a fictional account of the state of mind of a mother suffering postnatal illness. As such, it is a powerful and di…
At this one day virtual conference we will present the findings of the: MBRRACE-UK confidential enquiry into baby deaths, exploring the impact of ethnicity on care and ou…
‘The Foundation Stones for Supporting the Physiological Process in Pregnancy and Birth’ is led by Alex Smith (AIMS Journal Editor and Helpline volunteer) supported by Deb…
Join us for another in our new series of interactive online AIMS workshops, " Focusing on Rights in Pregnancy and Birth ". Emma Ashworth (principal author of "The AIMS Gu…
AIMS Campaigns Team volunteers are presenting a poster about our campaign for Physiology-Informed Maternity Services at the 2023 conference of the British Intrapartum Car…
This is a review of the paper (https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1004259%20 ) published on July 20, 2023 by researchers at St George’…
The evidence on whether there is a benefit in inducing labour if a pregnancy would otherwise last beyond 41 or 42 weeks is far from clear. 1 The SWEPIS study 2 , publishe…