Search the journal articles


Choose a journal by date and volume:

Browse all journal articles

Journal Vol. 19, No. 4 — Rhetoric and Reality - How do they compare on the ground?

ISSN 0256-5004 (Print)

Editorial - Defining and recording normal birth
AIMS Chair Beverley Lawrence Beech looks for a more accurate definition of normality

Making normal birth a reality
National Childbirth Trust press release 15th November 2007

How to ask the wrong question to get the 'right' answer
Debbie Chippington Derrick questions the Healthcare Commission's Review of Maternity Services 2007

Informed consent
A consent form for women who intend 'delivering' in hospital
Download a pdf of this article

The journey to hospital
Independent Midwife Bridget Sheeran explores the experiences of women travelling long distances from home to hospital in labour

The state of the NHS
Letter to Gordon Brown from AIMS Chair Beverley Beech about the poor state of the Maternity Services, which was also signed by The Independent Midwives Association and Professor Wendy Savage

The Department of Health responded on behalf of Mr Brown...

When normality is forgotten
Independent Midwife Lynn Walcott reflects on what led her to practice outside the NHS system

More cuts?
Gillian Crossley tells of yet another maternity unit threatened with cuts

Birth in Poole
Sandra Ryder describes her experience in a sadly all too frequent story of unheard trauma

Book Reviews:

Also in this issue:

'Lack of Caring in the Care' reported by CEMACH; Royal Colleges call for more staff on maternity wards; More feedback for Journal 19 No 1, Birth Trauma

Latest Content

Journal

« »

Sovereignty of the Body: Birth, Int…

AIMS Journal, 2026, Vol 38, No 2 By Tamara Blakemore The First Breath I’m a birth artist, and apparently I’m here to talk about the sovereignty of the body, which feels s…

Read more

Scottish Maternity Update: Review o…

AIMS Journal, 2026, Vol 38, No 2 By Camille Del Pozo and Anne Glover on behalf of the AIMS Campaigns Team Background AIMS wrote to Neil Gray, the Cabinet Secretary for He…

Read more

The sovereignty of the body in preg…

AIMS Journal, 2026, Vol 38, No 2 By Alex Smith Welcome to the June 2026 edition of the AIMS journal. This issue is about the sovereignty of the body in pregnancy and chil…

Read more

Events

« »

AIMS Workshop: Wellbeing

AIMS is delighted to be hosting a Wellbeing workshop delivered by Ruth Weston , veteran birth activist, AIMS volunteer and author of 'Born Stroppy Make Change Happen'. Th…

Read more

Threads of Protest

Join us for the launch of Threads of Protest A new exhibition at Science Gallery London exploring inequality in maternity care through creative practice, lived experience…

Read more

AIMS Workshop: Focusing on Rights i…

Join us for one of our series of interactive online AIMS workshops, " Focusing on Rights in Pregnancy and Birth ". Emma Ashworth (principal author of "The AIMS Guide to Y…

Read more

Latest Campaigns

« »

Making sense of maternity service r…

By Jo Dagustun, Senior Campaigns Volunteer As readers grapple with the latest set of national recommendations and actions from Donna Ockenden's Nottingham report , Valeri…

Read more

AIMS comments on the 10 Point Plan…

In the light of two recently-published hefty reports on the past and present functionality of the maternity and neonatal services, first in Nottingham and then across Eng…

Read more

Open letter to Michelle Welsh MP, N…

17th June 2026 Dear Michelle The AIMS Campaigns Team, and AIMS more broadly, would like to warmly welcome you to your new role as National Maternity Advisor. We look forw…

Read more