Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services (AIMS)

The Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services is a voluntary organisation which was founded in 1960 with the aim of improving maternity care to the benefit of both mother and baby.

• AIMS believes that maternity care should focus on the woman and her baby to support and enable her to be pregnant, give birth and then to care for her baby with confidence, knowledge and understanding.
• AIMS provides information, support and advice to parents about all aspects of maternity care, including: parents' rights, the choices available, technological interventions, current research information, normal physiological childbirth and the complaints procedures.
• AIMS members campaign in a variety of ways, for example: lobbying government, providing feedback to consultations, involvement with maternity service decision makers, making complaints about substandard services.
• AIMS produces a series of publications and a quarterly Journal, which contains information about obstetric and midwifery practices, research, and accounts of individual experiences.
• AIMS membership consists mainly of parents, but includes many in the midwifery and medical professions who share our ideals.

campaigns@aims.org.uk

www.aims.org.uk

Association of Radical Midwives (ARM)

The Association of Radical Midwives was formed in 1976 with the aim of preserving the true role of the midwife, to be part of the movement towards a more caring attitude in midwifery, and to preserve the professional independence of the midwife. The word "radical" is used in its meaning of "relating to roots and origins" and expresses our hope that midwifery can find its way back to a position where midwives' skills are used to the full, while still taking advantage of modern technological advances where these are in the best interests of the woman and her child.

In other words, we hope that the true meaning of midwife ("with woman") can be realised in practice. Our membership is open to all who support our objectives:

• To re-establish the confidence of the midwife in her skills as an autonomous practitioner;
• To share ideals, skills and information;
• To encourage midwives in their support of women's active participation in birth;
• To re-affirm the need for midwives to provide continuity of carer;
• To explore and support midwives in delivering alternative patterns of care;
• To encourage evaluation of development in our field.

enquiries@midwifery.org.uk

www.midwifery.org.uk

Independent Midwives UK (IM UK)

Independent Midwives UK represent many independent midwives in the UK. Independent midwives are fully qualified midwives who, like our NHS colleagues, are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. We believe that women should have continuity of care from a midwife who will support them throughout their pregnancy, birth and the early weeks of motherhood. The organisation is committed to improving maternity provision for all women in the UK and is working with other support, service and professional groups, including the Government, to achieve that objective. Independent Midwives UK also provides professional advice and mutual support for independent midwives

information@imuk.org.uk

www.independentmidwives.org.uk

National Childbirth Trust (NCT)

NCT is the UK's largest parent charity. Each year the charity supports millions of parents through their first 1,000 days, offering expert information and trusted practical and emotional support through its website, helpline, the nationwide network of over 300 local branches, antenatal and postnatal classes, breastfeeding counselling and peer support schemes.

enquiries@nct.org.uk

www.nct.org.uk

The Birth I Want

The Birth I Want campaign was set up with the aim of making constructive noise about women's experiences of midwifery care and birth as a way to influence and inform the shape of maternity services in the UK. The campaign looks to articulate and illustrate what women want and need and indeed what delivers the best outcomes for women and their babies, at a time where maternity services are ripe for change.

vicky@thebirthiwant.org.uk

www.thebirthiwant.org.uk