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2026, Vol. 38, No. 3 (Bottoms Down!)
2026, Vol. 38, No. 2 (The sovereignty of the body in pregnancy and childbirth)
2026, Vol. 38, No. 1 (Antenatal Education: What is there to learn? Different perspectives on preparing for birth)
2025, Vol. 37, No. 4 (Improving maternity care for all)
2025, Vol. 37, No. 3 (Thinking about breastfeeding)
2025, Vol. 37, No. 2 (Women in labour: Do not disturb!)
2025, Vol. 37, No. 1 (Listen with Grandmother)
2024, Vol. 36, No. 4 (The deafness loop: a cycle of inequality)
2024, Vol. 36, No. 3 (A Matter of Trust)
2024, Vol. 36, No. 2 (When the Mother is Unwell)
2024, Vol. 36, No. 1 (I am writing to complain)
2023, Vol. 35, No. 4 (Mixed Feelings)
2023, Vol. 35, No. 3 (We were there)
2023, Vol. 35, No. 2 (Where will the baby come out? Birthplace dreams, instincts and lived experience)
2023, Vol. 35, No. 1 (Dare we say it? Physiological birth)
2022, Vol. 34, No. 4 (Picturing Birth)
2022, Vol. 34, No. 3 (Once Upon a Birth)
2022, Vol. 34, No. 2 (The Sound of Violence)
2022, Vol. 34, No. 1 (Induction: love's labours lost?)
2021, Vol. 33, No. 4 (Birth of a pandemic: How we coped)
2021, Vol. 33, No. 3 (Decision-making and consent)
2021, Vol. 33, No. 2 (A Plurality of Births: Languages, Places, Communities)
2021, Vol. 33, No. 1 (Salutogenesis - Putting the Health Back Into Healthcare)
2020, Vol. 32, No. 4 (The Use of Social Media in Pregnancy and Early Parenthood)
2020, Vol. 32, No. 3 (AIMS at 60 - Making a difference past and future)
2020, Vol. 32, No. 2 (Pandemic birth: Women's own stories during Covid-19)
2020, Vol. 32, No. 1 (Breaking Down the Barriers to VBAC)
2019, Vol. 31, No. 4 (Raging Hormones - The Power of Birth)
2019, Vol. 31, No. 3 (Resolution: Finding Closure Following Birth)
2019, Vol. 31, No. 2 (Everyone's an Individual (I'm not!))
2019, Vol. 31, No. 1 (To Induce or Not To Induce - At Least Ask the Question?)
2019, Vol. 30, No. 4 (When Birth Becomes Trauma)
2018-19, Vol. 30, No. 3 (The Politics of Infant Feeding)
2018, Vol. 30, No. 2 (Implementing Better Births Part 2)
2018, Vol. 30, No. 1 (Implementing Better Births Part 1)
2017, Vol. 29, No. 4 (Twins and Multiples: More Babies, More Decisions, Same Rights)
2017, Vol. 29, No. 3 (Making Decisions)
2017, Vol. 29, No. 2 (Changing Language)
2017, Vol. 29, No. 1 (Focus on what makes a difference)
2016, Vol. 28, No. 4 (Reforming maternity)
2016, Vol. 28, No. 3 (Creating Continuity)
2016, Vol. 28, No. 2 (Back to the Future)
2016, Vol. 28, No. 1 (Caring for Midwives)
2015–16, Vol. 27, No. 4 (Birthplace Matters)
2015–16, Vol. 27, No. 3 (Stillbirth)
2015–16, Vol. 27, No. 2 (Ensuring good births for all)
2015–16, Vol. 27, No. 1 (Human Rights and the maternity jigsaw)
2014–15, Vol. 26, No. 4 (Supporting Birth)
2014–15, Vol. 26, No. 3 (State of the NHS)
2014–15, Vol. 26, No. 2 (Long-term Impact)
2014–15, Vol. 26, No. 1 (What about the evidence?)
2013–14, Vol. 25, No. 4 (Freedom of choice - When women really get to choose)
2013–14, Vol. 25, No. 3 (Breastfeeding and Biology - Supporting access to breastmilk?)
2013–14, Vol. 25, No. 2 (Remembering Women - What happens when women are not part of the decision chain?)
2013–14, Vol. 25, No. 1 (Policing Pregnancy - Who is really in charge?)
2012–13, Vol. 24, No. 4 (Commissioning Care - Building women-centred choice)
2012–13, Vol. 24, No. 3 (Are you asking? considering consent)
2012–13, Vol. 24, No. 2 (Place of Birth - why women don't have a real choice)
2012–13, Vol. 24, No. 1 ('Please treat me normally' Women share their thoughts on care)
2011–12, Vol. 23, No. 4 ('High Risk' When does a label become a self-fulfilling prophecy?)
2011–12, Vol. 23, No. 3 (International Witch Hunt - the campaign against midwifery)
2011–12, Vol. 23, No. 2 (Challenging the medicalisation of birth)
2011–12, Vol. 23, No. 1 (Normality)
2010–11, Vol. 22, No. 4 (Campaigning for 50 years 1960 - 2010)
2010–11, Vol. 22, No. 3 (The persecution of woman centred care)
2010–11, Vol. 22, No. 2 (Caesarean Birth)
2010–11, Vol. 22, No. 1 (Is anyone listening?)
2009–10, Vol. 21, No. 4 (Good Care)
2009–10, Vol. 21, No. 3 (Midwifery under Threat)
2009–10, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Social Services - The secrecy of forced adoption)
2009–10, Vol. 21, No. 1 (Campaigning, Complaining and Caring)
2008–9, Vol. 20, No. 4 (Midwifery Focus - Looking at supporting normal birth)
2008–9, Vol. 20, No. 3 (Home Birth, in search of normality)
2008–9, Vol. 20, No. 2 (Birth in Europe - Is there unity in the EU?)
2008–9, Vol. 20, No. 1 (The Value of Mothering - Are mothers let down when Culture can't care?)
2007–8, Vol. 19, No. 4 (Rhetoric and Reality - How do they compare on the ground?)
2007–8, Vol. 19, No. 3 (Where is the Support? Just how medicalised, institutionalised and fragmented are maternity services? )
2007–8, Vol. 19, No. 2 (Listen with Mother - Considering our options for the future of maternity care )
2007–8, Vol. 19, No. 1 (Birth Trauma - What makes birth traumatic and how can we help? )
2006–7, Vol. 18, No. 4 (Consultation Conundrums)
2006–7, Vol. 18, No. 3 (Free-standing and Proud)
2006–7, Vol. 18, No. 2 (Breastfeeding - Supporting Success)
2006–7, Vol. 18, No. 1 (Homebirth - why is it still hard labour?)
2005–6, Vol. 17, No. 4 (Choice - an abused concept)
2005–6, Vol. 17, No. 3 (Do Women Want Midwives or Obstetric Nurses? The AIMS conference poses the question)
2005–6, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Help us to save our Birthing Units!)
2005–6, Vol. 17, No. 1 (Hands off that breech!)
2004-5, Vol. 16, No. 4 (Why are more mothers dying?)
2004-5, Vol. 16, No. 3 (Health Visitors or Health Police?)
2004-5, Vol. 16, No. 2 (NICE guidelines for caesarean section)
2004-5, Vol. 16, No. 1 (Is it murder to refuse a caesarean?)
2003-4, Vol. 15, No. 4 (The politics of cot death)
2003-4, Vol. 15, No. 3 (Challenging the illusion of choice)
2003-4, Vol. 15, No. 2 (Premature babies: Avoidable deaths)
2003-4, Vol. 15, No. 1 (Shaken baby syndrome: Caused by hospital care)
2002-3, Vol. 14, No. 4 (Failure in expectations: it's all your fault!)
2002-3, Vol. 14, No. 3 (Money running out for convenience caesareans)
2002-3, Vol. 14, No. 2 (State-sanctioned kidnapping: Violation of a baby's human rights)
2002-3, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Caesarean section or vaginal birth - What difference does it make?)
2001-2, Vol. 13, No. 4 (What is normal birth? Time to stop confusing what is common with what is normal)
2001-2, Vol. 13, No. 3 (Misoprostol for induction of labour - Untested, Unapproved and Unnecessary)
2001-2, Vol. 13, No. 2 (What Happens When a Woman Needs a Caesarean?)
2001-2, Vol. 13, No. 1 (Supporting the Mother - Where are the midwife advocates?)
2000-1, Vol. 12, No. 4 (Under-motivated, Under-skilled and Under Threat)
2000-1, Vol. 12, No. 3 (A Nail in the Coffin for Home Birth)
2000-1, Vol. 12, No. 2 (Waterbirth - Time to Move forward)
2000-1, Vol. 12, No. 1 (Responding To Women's Needs)
1999-2000, Vol. 11, No. 4 (The Safety of Hospital Birth - The myth versus the reality)
1999-2000, Vol. 11, No. 3 (Where's the Good News?)
1999-2000, Vol. 11, No. 2 (The Witch Hunt)
1999-2000, Vol. 11, No. 1 (Midwifery - Will Higher Level Equal Lower Skill?)
1998-9, Vol. 10, No. 4 (Miscarriage - The Loss of A Baby)
1998-9, Vol. 10, No. 3 (Breech Presentation)
1998-9, Vol. 10, No. 2 (Active Management of Labour)
1998-9, Vol. 10, No. 1 (Is Labour Just a Pain?)
1997-8, Vol. 9, No. 3 (Maternity Madness)
1997, Vol. 9, No. 2 (Normal Birth - A Movement Standing Still)
1995, Vol. 7, No. 4 (Shackled Women)
1990, Vol. 2, No. 2 (Caesareans ...Something must be wrong)
Browse all journal articles
2026 , Vol. 38, No. 3
2026 , Vol. 38, No. 2
2026 , Vol. 38, No. 1
2025 , Vol. 37, No. 4
2025 , Vol. 37, No. 3
2025 , Vol. 37, No. 2
2025 , Vol. 37, No. 1
2024 , Vol. 36, No. 4
2024 , Vol. 36, No. 3
2024 , Vol. 36, No. 2
2024 , Vol. 36, No. 1
2023 , Vol. 35, No. 4
2023 , Vol. 35, No. 3
2023 , Vol. 35, No. 2
2023 , Vol. 35, No. 1
2022 , Vol. 34, No. 4
2022 , Vol. 34, No. 3
2022 , Vol. 34, No. 2
2022 , Vol. 34, No. 1
2021 , Vol. 33, No. 4
2021 , Vol. 33, No. 3
2021 , Vol. 33, No. 2
2021 , Vol. 33, No. 1
2020 , Vol. 32, No. 4
2020 , Vol. 32, No. 3
2020 , Vol. 32, No. 2
2020 , Vol. 32, No. 1
2019 , Vol. 31, No. 4
2019 , Vol. 31, No. 3
2019 , Vol. 31, No. 2
2019 , Vol. 31, No. 1
2019 , Vol. 30, No. 4
2018-19 , Vol. 30, No. 3
2018 , Vol. 30, No. 2
2018 , Vol. 30, No. 1
2017 , Vol. 29, No. 4
2017 , Vol. 29, No. 3
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2017 , Vol. 29, No. 1
2016 , Vol. 28, No. 4
2016 , Vol. 28, No. 3
2016 , Vol. 28, No. 2
2016 , Vol. 28, No. 1
2015–16 , Vol. 27, No. 4
2015–16 , Vol. 27, No. 3
2015–16 , Vol. 27, No. 2
2015–16 , Vol. 27, No. 1
2014–15 , Vol. 26, No. 4
2014–15 , Vol. 26, No. 3
2014–15 , Vol. 26, No. 2
2014–15 , Vol. 26, No. 1
2013–14 , Vol. 25, No. 4
2013–14 , Vol. 25, No. 3
2013–14 , Vol. 25, No. 2
2013–14 , Vol. 25, No. 1
2012–13 , Vol. 24, No. 4
2012–13 , Vol. 24, No. 3
2012–13 , Vol. 24, No. 2
2012–13 , Vol. 24, No. 1
2011–12 , Vol. 23, No. 4
2011–12 , Vol. 23, No. 3
2011–12 , Vol. 23, No. 2
2011–12 , Vol. 23, No. 1
2010–11 , Vol. 22, No. 4
2010–11 , Vol. 22, No. 3
2010–11 , Vol. 22, No. 2
2010–11 , Vol. 22, No. 1
2009–10 , Vol. 21, No. 4
2009–10 , Vol. 21, No. 3
2009–10 , Vol. 21, No. 2
2009–10 , Vol. 21, No. 1
2008–9 , Vol. 20, No. 4
2008–9 , Vol. 20, No. 3
2008–9 , Vol. 20, No. 2
2008–9 , Vol. 20, No. 1
2007–8 , Vol. 19, No. 4
2007–8 , Vol. 19, No. 3
2007–8 , Vol. 19, No. 2
2007–8 , Vol. 19, No. 1
2006–7 , Vol. 18, No. 4
2006–7 , Vol. 18, No. 3
2006–7 , Vol. 18, No. 2
2006–7 , Vol. 18, No. 1
2005–6 , Vol. 17, No. 4
2005–6 , Vol. 17, No. 3
2005–6 , Vol. 17, No. 2
2005–6 , Vol. 17, No. 1
2004-5 , Vol. 16, No. 4
2004-5 , Vol. 16, No. 3
2004-5 , Vol. 16, No. 2
2004-5 , Vol. 16, No. 1
2003-4 , Vol. 15, No. 4
2003-4 , Vol. 15, No. 3
2003-4 , Vol. 15, No. 2
2003-4 , Vol. 15, No. 1
2002-3 , Vol. 14, No. 4
2002-3 , Vol. 14, No. 3
2002-3 , Vol. 14, No. 2
2002-3 , Vol. 14, No. 1
2001-2 , Vol. 13, No. 4
2001-2 , Vol. 13, No. 3
2001-2 , Vol. 13, No. 2
2001-2 , Vol. 13, No. 1
2000-1 , Vol. 12, No. 4
2000-1 , Vol. 12, No. 3
2000-1 , Vol. 12, No. 2
2000-1 , Vol. 12, No. 1
1999-2000 , Vol. 11, No. 4
1999-2000 , Vol. 11, No. 3
1999-2000 , Vol. 11, No. 2
1999-2000 , Vol. 11, No. 1
1998-9 , Vol. 10, No. 4
1998-9 , Vol. 10, No. 3
1998-9 , Vol. 10, No. 2
1998-9 , Vol. 10, No. 1
1997-8 , Vol. 9, No. 3
1997 , Vol. 9, No. 2
1995 , Vol. 7, No. 4
1990 , Vol. 2, No. 2
Journal Vol. 33, No. 3 — Decision-making and consent
ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)
To read or download this Journal as a PDF. Please click here .
September Editorial: Are you sitting comfortably? Editor Alex Smith introduces this issue’s theme and articles
The Montgomery ruling and your birth rights Emma Ashworth explains the Montgomery ruling and how this has strengthened people’s rights when giving consent to medical treatment
Gaining a person’s consent for medical treatment has to be ‘just right’ Alex Smith presents a 'three bears' illustration of consent
Decision-making theory: Does Muriel have free will? Alex Smith examines the forces at play when people make decisions
Informed decision-making and the antenatal educator Caroline Smith explores the role of the perinatal education practitioner in equipping parents to make informed decisions
Pregnant and non-compliant Maria Lyons calls on us to reject fear-based healthcare and to regain informed consent
An open letter to my midwives Heather Spain writes an open letter to her midwives after her experience of being illegally held captive in hospital with her newborn baby
#mycaesarean: An innovative service improvement programme to enhance the birth experience for women undergoing elective caesarean Georgia Smith, Charlotte Harford, and Maggie Arlidge explain how the women in their care can make decisions that shape their caesarean birth experience
Seen and unseen: Spirituality as an underestimated dimension of decision-making around birth Laura S. Jansson reflects on the complex interplay between spirituality and perinatal decision-making, and on how caregivers can support clients' autonomy along the spiritual journey to parenthood
‘I’ve Just Had a Baby’ - After Annie Ridout
Decisions about our care are for us - the service user - to make. Yes, but ... Jo Dagastun, on behalf of the AIMS Campaign team, asks whether this term still has a place when discussing decision-making and consent
Putting Better Births’ Personalised Care into Practice Georgia Clancy comments on progress and recent guidance of the Better Births recommendation
Murray Enkin obituary Tania Staras writes this obituary for Murray Enkin
Book review: Dynamic Positions in Birth Verina Henchy and Jo Dagastun review of Margaret Jowitt’s ‘Dynamic Positions in Birth’ (2nd Edition, 2020)
Book Review: Making Informed Decisions on Childbirth: One Scientist’s International Perspective Georgia Clancy reviews ‘Making informed decisions on childbirth’ by Sofie Vantiers
Introducing PMH Support Scott Mair writes about his personal experience of birth-related trauma and the webpage he has started to promote parental mental health
MBRRACE report: racial inequalities in maternity outcomes continue Megan Disley writes about the latest MBRRACE report
AIMS Commentary: the OASI care bundle debate The AIMS Campaigns team comments on the OASI care bundle debate
The AIMS Campaigns team - Birth Activist Briefing The AIMS Campaings team explains why it’s important for you to get involved in your local Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP)
What has the AIMS Campaigns Team been up to this quarter? The AIMS Campaigns team gives us an update on what they’ve been working on since June
A Plurality of Births: Languages, Places, Communities
Birth of a pandemic: How we coped
