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Journal Vol. 38, No. 1 — Antenatal Education: What is there to learn? Different perspectives on preparing for birth

ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2026, Vol 38, No 1

Antenatal Education: What is there to learn? Different perspectives on preparing for birth

Alex Smith explains why today's antenatal education is failing women and introduces experts from within the world of antenatal education who share their perspectives on preparing for birth.

What do women learn about birth and where? Extending the concept of antenatal education to ‘the birthroom’

AIMS volunteer, Jo Dagustun, explains why, for many women, education about birth comes in the form of their lived experience in the birth room.

Antenatal Education: A pedagogy of the oppressed

Professor Mary Nolan shares her belief that good antenatal education can and should aspire to help women to challenge the system.

Out of Sync: Antenatal Education and the Present-Day Maternity System. Eight takeaways for more effective birth preparation

AIMS Trustee, Hannah Northern Thakur, reflects on her personal experience of attending antenatal classes.

Antenatal education: What is the point?

Alex Smith, AIMS journal editor and (almost) lifelong childbirth educator, explores the purpose of antenatal education and suggests that parents consider this too.

Teaching consent: A conversation with Rachael Bickley

Rachael Bickley, antenatal educator and Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnerships representative, explains the necessity and importance of teaching parents and care providers about consent in maternity care.

What is good antenatal education?

Naomi Glass explores the answer to 'What is good antenatal education?' through the thoughts of midwife, birth educator and artist, Pam England.

Antenatal practitioners’ experiences and opinions on online antenatal education

Terri Harman believes that the knowledge and experience of practitioners should be the foundation of best practice guidelines in antenatal education.

Why, as a neurodiverse antenatal teacher, I understand the needs of neurodiverse parents, and the benefit of face-to-face education

Antenatal educator Rebecca Cumming, shares her first-hand understanding of the challenges neurodiverse people face in healthcare and education.

What makes for good antenatal education in the current birth climate, and why?

Janet Balaskas, renowned antenatal teacher and the founder of Active Birth, believes that antenatal education should start as early in pregnancy as possible. In this article, she explains why.

Uncomfortable learning: Bitter roots; sweet fruit. Why we need to understand cultural constructs, hegemony, phantasms and transhumanism.

Alex Smith explains why good antenatal education can and should be challenging for us as a society.

Antenatal Education in Imaginary Hindsight.

Kath Revell, AIMS volunteer and one time active birth teacher and doula, imagines how a societal change to a better way of birth in the futre, may have unfolded.

Heart health in pregnancy study needs your help

Rebecca Jarman tells us about an important new study.

A personal reflection on the Amos Review Update, December 2025

AIMS, volunteer Jo Dagustun, shares her poetic reflections on this important review of the maternity services.

What has Campaigns Team been up to?

A look at all of the things that the AIMS Campaigns Team have been up to since December.

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