Journal Page

How maternity services are developing in NI July 2023

Vol. 35, No. 3, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 3 By Anne Glover Here is a review on the developments in Northern Ireland. AIMS would be interested to have similar inf…   Read more…

The International Labour and Birth Research Conference 24th – 26th April 2023: Charlotte Edun reports on this recent conference in Grange over Sands

Vol. 35, No. 3, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 3 By Charlotte Edun Arriving at the first day of a conference is usually quite a lively affair, a mix of meeting collea…   Read more…

Birth Activists Briefing: Recent Publications

Vol. 35, No. 3, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 3 By the AIMS Campaigns Team In this article members of the AIMS Campaigns Team summarise some of the documents that we…   Read more…

What I wish I’d known about NICU: Raising awareness in antenatal education

Vol. 35, No. 3, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 3 By Hannah Thomas I used to think that special care was just for premature babies - but the majority of babies who rec…   Read more…

Review of Cochrane report: Planned hospital birth compared with planned home birth for pregnant women at low risk of complications

Vol. 35, No. 3, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 3 By Catharine Hart Cochrane report: Planned hospital birth compared with planned home birth for pregnant women at low…   Read more…

Book review: Union Street, by Pat Barker

Vol. 35, No. 3, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

Complete list of book reviews on the AIMS website AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 3 Union Street, by Pat Barker [Birth in the context of lifecourse/tes…   Read more…

What is it really like to witness someone else’s labour and birth?

Vol. 35, No. 3, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 3 By Anne Glover I’ve been working as a doula for 8 years now and have been so blessed to have supported over 100 birth…   Read more…

Birth companions: drawing support from outside the room

Vol. 35, No. 3, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 3 1 By Jo Dagustun I’d always thought quite traditionally about who would be in the room at my labour and births. It wo…   Read more…

What Is A Postnatal Doula Anyway?

Vol. 35, No. 3, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 3 By Trudi Dawson “So, erm, what do you actually do? I mean, like, what do they actually pay you for?”…. Essentially, m…   Read more…

Fatherhood Unveiled: Embracing the Perinatal and Early Years Journey with Love and Understanding

Vol. 35, No. 3, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 3 By Scott Mair Introduction: Becoming a father is undoubtedly one of life's most transformative and profound experienc…   Read more…

What has the AIMS Campaigns Team been up to this quarter?

Vol. 35, No. 3, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 3 Other quarterly updates By the AIMS Campaigns Team Written outputs: 15th May: Commented on the consultation on the NI…   Read more…

Choice of Birthplace

Vol. 35, No. 2, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 2 By Anne Glover AIMS has a position paper on Choice of Birthplace which states that choice of place of birth is a fund…   Read more…

Being on Hyper-alert: the observations of a doula

Vol. 35, No. 2, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 2 By Grace Hall Last month, I joined a mother for her appointment with a Consultant Midwife to discuss her suitability…   Read more…

An interview with James Bourton

Vol. 35, No. 2, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 2 Interview by Anne Glover Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed by AIMS, James. To begin, can you tell us what firs…   Read more…

Homebirths suspended and under review

Vol. 35, No. 2, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 2 By Katherine Revell During the covid pandemic home birth services were suspended in many Trusts and Boards throughout…   Read more…

Two birth stories I love

Vol. 35, No. 2, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 2 By Sue Boughton A massage client gave birth in my home This is one of my favourite birth stories. It is written with…   Read more…

Memories of Beverley

Vol. 35, No. 2, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

Debbie Chippington Derrick, AIMS Volunteer who worked closely with Beverley from 2005 when she joined the AIMS Committee, through to 2017 when Beverle…   Read more…

Beverley Lawrence Beech - 12 November 1944 - 25 February 2023

Vol. 35, No. 2, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

Beverley joined AIMS in 1976 and was elected Chair of the AIMS Committee at the AGM the following year on 23rd April 1977. She held this role until sh…   Read more…

A Mother’s Instinct

Vol. 35, No. 2, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 2 By Deborah Maw My first baby was born in Eire, although we were living in Dumfries and Galloway at the time, 20 miles…   Read more…

Influencing NICE guidelines – the stakeholder role

Vol. 35, No. 2, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 2 By Nadia Higson and Debbie Chippington Derrick What are NICE guidelines? Among the roles of NICE (the National Instit…   Read more…

Squaring the Circle: Normal birth research, theory and practice in a technological age

Vol. 35, No. 2, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 2 Squaring the Circle: Normal birth research, theory and practice in a technological age Edited by Soo Downe and Sheena…   Read more…

Birth Space – Supportive or Coercive?

Vol. 35, No. 2, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 2 By Shellie Poulter What is important in a birth space? Low lighting, access to water and other comfort measures, a re…   Read more…

What has the AIMS Campaigns Team been up to this quarter?

Vol. 35, No. 2, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 2 Other quarterly updates By the AIMS Campaigns Team Written outputs: Letter to Peter May, Permanent Secretary at the D…   Read more…

The Lancet Series on Breastfeeding 2023

Vol. 35, No. 2, ISSN 2516-5852 (Online)

AIMS Journal, 2023, Vol 35, No 2 By Laura Scarlett “Breastfeeding is not the sole responsibility of women and requires collective societal approaches…   Read more…

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AIMS Letter to Wes Streeting to wel…

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AIMS review of the Big Baby trial

Introduction There has long been uncertainty over whether there is any benefit to early induction of labour when a baby is suspected to be ‘big’, known as ‘Large for Gest…

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AIMS Letter to Professor Mary Renfr…

AIMS has written to Professor Mary Renfrew to thank her for taking the lead on reviewing maternity services in Northern Ireland. Her report is the first of its kind to ta…

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