BirthChoiceUK
This non-commercial web site is aimed at pregnant women in the UK to help them choose where to give birth. This could mean choosing a hospital birth, giving birth in a birth centre or midwifery-led unit, or a home birth. Women are encouraged to think about the sort of birth they would like, using research-based information. A map of the UK shows them the maternity units local to them and the site gives maternity statistics for these. Women are provided with a list of questions they may like to ask when visiting their local maternity units to ensure that they choose to give birth in the place that gives them the best chance of having the sort of birth they want. The site also contains information of interest to maternity health professionals
www.BirthChoiceUK.com
Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services (AIMS)
AIMS is a voluntary organisation that campaigns for the improvement of all aspects of maternity care. Through a network of members they offer support and information to parents, midwives, doctors and other health professionals. They also publish a wide range of leaflets and booklets that enable parents to make informed choices about their care. A free publications list is available from:
AIMS, Manor Barn, Thurloxton, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 8RH
Tel: 0870 765 1433 Fax: 020 8390 4381
www.aims.org.uk
email: chair@aims.org.uk
Home Birth Reference Site
The aim of this site is not to persuade you to choose home birth but rather to provide information about home birth, for parents who think that it might be the right choice for them, and for health professionals looking for facts and ideas.
Research shows that planned home birth is safe for women with normal pregnancies - and 'normal' includes most first pregnancies. The summaries of research papers on the site - in plain English - will help you to look at the evidence for yourself.
www.homebirth.org.uk
The Independent Midwives Association may be helpful to you if your local hospital cannot offer homebirth cover.
Please visit www.independentmidwives.org.uk.
Birth Crisis Network
The Birth Crisis Network is a help line in Britain that women can ring if they want to talk about a traumatic birth. They do not give advice. Instead they offer reflective listening. The caller may be given the number of another member of the Birth Crisis Network who is nearer her whom she can also ring, and can ring me back if she wishes.
Some women ring within a few weeks of giving birth. But usually it is later. For some it is months or years. Some are pregnant again. Another pregnancy often brings feelings of dread as to whether it is all going to happen again and emotions they hoped they had laid to rest become threatening.
Many women who are suffering from having been disempowered in birth are treated by GPs with anti-depressant drugs, when what they really need is to be able to talk with someone who understands, who does not try to explain or justify the treatment they received, or to criticise them and the way they feel about what happened to them, and who knows how to listen reflectively. This is what the Birth Crisis Network offers.
www.sheilakitzinger.com
