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

« »

What has the AIMS Campaigns Team be…

AIMS Journal, 2026, Vol 38, No 1 By The AIMS Campaigns Team Published written outputs: 8th November: AIMS Response to the NHS 10 Year Workforce Plan Consultation 11th Nov…

Read more

Antenatal Education in Imaginary Hi…

AIMS Journal, 2026, Vol 38, No 1 An Editorial foreword: As an antenatal educator I would often invite the expectant parents to imagine that their baby had safely arrived…

Read more

Editorial: What is there to learn?…

AIMS Journal, 2026, Vol 38, No 1 By Alex Smith Welcome to the March edition of the AIMS journal. This issue explores the question of antenatal education. Antenatal educat…

Read more

Events

« »

AIMS Workshop: Focusing on Inductio…

Join us for one of our series of interactive online AIMS workshops, " Focusing on Induction of Labour ". Nadia Higson (principal author of "The AIMS Guide to Induction of…

Read more

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

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

« »

Continuity of Carer - Speaking note…

London, Wednesday 4th March 2026 A key component of ensuring maternity service provision that is safe, personalised and equitable, is the provision of a robust and sustai…

Read more

Rebirth Festival, Athens, April 202…

Background: AIMS is a member of ENCA - the European Network of Childbirth Associations 1 . Each year, one of the member associations hosts a two day gathering of birth ac…

Read more

AIMS responds to Woman’s Hour Cover…

The National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, led by Valerie Amos, published an interim report on February 26, 2026. This was covered on the BBC’s Woman’s Hour progr…

Read more