Midwives Information and Resource Service (MIDIRS)
www.midirs.org
Tel: 0800 581 009
MIDIRS is an educational charity (not-for-profit organisation) set up in 1985 and its mission is 'To be the central source of information relating to childbirth and to disseminate this information to midwives and others.' A series of Informed Choice leaflets is available summarising the most reliable research evidence available. The leaflets are produced by MIDIRS (the Midwives Information and Resource Service) and the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination. They are supported by the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG)
www.rcog.org.uk
Tel: 020 7772 6200
The RCOG is the professional body for doctors in the UK who specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology, and aims to improve and maintain proper standards of practice for the benefit of the public. It provides training, conducts examinations and maintains a register of members, promotes research, and produces patient information and guidelines for professionals (see the 'Information for Patients' and 'Good practice' sections of its website). Also see 'Birth after Caesarean' section on their website.
Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
www.rcm.org.uk
info@rcm.org.uk
Tel: 020 7312 3535
The RCM is the professional body for midwives in the UK. Its website includes an Information Centre covering a range of topics.
The Independent Midwives Association
www.independentmidwives.org.uk
information@independentmidwives.org.uk
Tel: 0845 4600 105
Represents fully qualified midwives who have chosen to work outside the NHS in a self-employed capacity. The 'find an independent midwife' page helps women find out about independent midwives in their area.
Doula UK
www.doula.org.uk
Tel: 0871 433 3103
Is a non-profit making network run by doulas. "Doula" (pronounced "doola") is a Greek word meaning "woman servant or caregiver". It now refers to an experienced woman who offers emotional and practical support to a woman (or couple) before, during and after childbirth. Women can find out about doula services in their area.
The Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association (OAA)
www.oaa-anaes.ac.uk/content.asp?ContentID=1
Tel: 020 8741 1311
The OAA provides education and training for anaesthetists and other practitioners in the UK and overseas and a resource for women seeking information about pain relief in labour and anaesthesia for Caesarean section. Women can find evidence-based information in the Information for Mothers section.
Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services (AIMS)
www.aims.org.uk
Tel: 0300 365 0663
AIMS members include parents, midwives, doctors and other health professionals. Its objectives are: working towards normal birth, providing independent support and information about maternity choices, raising awareness of current research on childbirth and related issues. It provides an extensive list of publications and has its own quarterly journal.
Association of Radical Midwives (ARM)
www.midwifery.org.uk
mary.cronk@selseypc.net
Tel: 01865 248159
ARM is an association of midwives, student midwives and others in the UK committed to improving the maternity care provided by the NHS. ARM supports the principle of a service tailored more closely to individual women's needs, and a sympathetic attitude on the part of their professional attendants. ARM has its own quarterly journal, and produces a leaflet on 'Choices in Childbirth in the UK'.
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists- Information on Placenta Praevia
www.rcog.org.uk/
www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/low-lying-placenta-after-20-weeks-placenta-praeviaInformation form women with placenta praevia, published by the RCOG in 2001 and revised in October 2005.
Association for Postnatal Illness (APNI)
www.apni.org
info@apni.org
Tel: 020 7386 0868
Provides support and information for women with postnatal depression. It has a countrywide network of phone and postal volunteers, who have had, and recovered from post-natal illness. Mothers are phoned/written to at regular intervals throughout their illness and the recovery period. The Association also runs a support service for husbands and families. Telephone helpline: 020 7386 0868 (Mon, Wed, Fri 10am - 2pm Tues & Thurs 10am - 5pm)
Csections.org - a balanced view of caesareans
www.csections.org
Site created by a mother based on her own research about the benefits and risks of a caesarean birth and maintained in collaboration with a small number of medical professionals.
DiAMOND Trial (Decision Aids for Mode of Next Delivery)
www.computing.dundee.ac.uk/acstaff/cjones/diamond/information.html
The women who were interviewed for this website were also participants in a large randomised clinical trial, the DiAMOND trial. DiAMOND stands for 'Decision Aids for Mode of Next Delivery' and the aim of the trial was to evaluate two decision aids designed to support women in their decision-making about how to give birth to their next child after a previous caesarean. Previous research had found a lack of readily available information for women in this situation. It suggested that many women would find it helpful to have access to information about the risks and benefits of different ways of giving birth when making the decision about whether to have a planned caesarean or a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC). For more information see the 'About the interviews and the DiAMOND trial'.
NHS Choices
www.nhs.uk/Planners/pregnancycareplanner/Pages/During.aspx
Official site of the National Health Service. Get expert information on conditions, treatments, local services and healthy living. NHS Choices - Pregnancy Care Planner.
Choices for birth
www.choicesforbirth.org
Aims to provide women with the most recent evidence-based information relating to the pre-conception, pregnancy, birth and postnatal periods, that will assist them in making the right choices for themselves, their babies and families. The Choices for Birth website contains access to the MIDIRS Informed Choice resource, which is a comprehensive set of 25 titles which examine key decisions facing expectant mothers during pregnancy. There are two leaflets for each topic, one for pregnant women and one for health professionals. The women’s leaflets are designed to assist them in making informed choices, by providing the facts to help them make decisions that are right for them in their pregnancy. The professional leaflets aim to provide health care professionals with sound evidence upon which to base their practice.
Caesarean Birth and VBAC Information
www.caesarean.org.uk
This site is run by two volunteers who also work for the National Child Birth Trust (NCT) and the Association for Improvement in Maternity Services (AIMS). They provide research-based information and support on a range of aspects of caesareans and vaginal birth following caesarean section. Apart from factual information, the site offers, amongst other things, ideas for caesarean birth plans, recommendations for further reading, book reviews, birth prose and poetry and photos of caesarean scars.
Vaginal Birth after Caesarean
www.vbac.org.uk
The Vaginal Birth after Caesarean pages provide information, references and links on this topic. It is run by a mother of five with personal experience of VBAC and home birth after caesarean and also offers stories of women who have experienced vaginal birth in hospital or at home and links to other pro-VBAC organisations.
Home Birth Reference Site
www.homebirth.org.uk
Provides information about home birth to help parents who think that it might be the right choice for them, and for health professionals looking for facts and ideas.
Healthtalkonline - Pregnancy
www.healthtalkonline.org/Pregnancy_children/Pregnancy
We interviewed 51 people (including some male partners) about their experiences of pregnancy.
The Birth Trauma Association (BTA)
www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
enquiries@birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
The BTA supports all women who have had a traumatic birth experience. The website provides information and advice, including the possibility to share birth stories, counsellor contacts and further reading.
VBAC Information and Support
www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/26740139/
Tel: 01243 868440
VBAC Information and Support was set up in 1990 in order to offer information to women wanting a normal vaginal birth after a previous caesarean birth. It is an organisation with local support groups and contacts in most parts of Britain. There is a range of publications available and a suggested reading list. Contact VBAC for full details. Tel: 01243 868440, Best time to telephone: Daytime and evenings
Meet A Mum Association (MAMA)
www.mama.co.uk
meet_a_mum.assoc@btinternet.com
MAMA is a UK charity which was created in 1979 to try and help thousands of mothers who feel depressed and isolated when their babies are born. It aims to provide friendship and support to all mothers and mothers-to-be, especially those feeling lonely or isolated after the birth of a baby or moving to a new area. By attending a local MAMA group, mums become part of a network of women wanting to make new friends and support each other. If there is not a local group in the area, MAMA will pass on details of mums who have contacted them asking to meet other mums for friendship and support.
UK VBAC/HBAC
health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ukvbachbac/
An online UK discussion group on VBAC and home VBAC for interested mums, mums to be, midwives and anyone else with an interest in avoiding unnecessary caesareans, which has been running since 2001.
National Childbirth Trust (NCT)
www.nct.org.uk
enquiries@national-childbirth-trust.co.uk
Tel: 0870 7703236
The NCT provides information and support to parents, carries out research into maternity services and care, campaigns for improvements in services and runs a network of local antenatal classes and postnatal support groups. Enquiry Line on 0870 444 8707 (9am to 5pm, Mon - Thu, 9am to 4pm on Fri). Pregnancy and Birth Line on 0870 444 8709 (10am to 8pm, Monday to Friday) to talk to a qualified antenatal teacher about issues relating to your pregnancy or your baby's birth. Breastfeeding Line on 0870 444 8708 (9am to 6pm, seven days a week) to talk to a qualified breastfeeding counsellor about breastfeeding.
The Active Birth Centre
www.activebirthcentre.com
Tel: 020 7281 6760
Aims to support and inform women about natural labour and birth. It also provides Active Birth yoga classes, and the website includes information about trained Active Birth yoga teachers around the UK. There is also a section on water birth and birthing pool hire.
Babyworld
www.babyworld.co.uk
A commercial website which offers information pages across a range of maternity topics and message boards where parents can exchange questions and advice.
UK Parents
www.ukparentslounge.com
A commercial website which offers information pages across a range of maternity topics and message boards where parents can exchange questions and advice.
Babycentre
www.babycentre.co.uk
A commercial website which offers information pages across a range of maternity topics and message boards where parents can exchange questions and advice.
Bounty
www.bounty.com
A commercial website which offers information pages across a range of maternity topics and message boards where parents can exchange questions and advice.
Twin and Multiple Births Association
www.tamba.org.uk
enquiries@tamba.org.uk
Tel: 0800 138 0509 10am -1pm and 7 -10pm
Information and mutual support networks for families of twins, triplets and more. Tamba operates a Freephone helpline, Twinline, a national, confidential, support, listening and information service for all parents of twins, triplets and more, and the professionals involved in their care.
BLISS - the Premature Baby Charity
www.bliss.org.uk
information@bliss.org.uk
Tel: 0500 618140 Monday to Friday 10am-5pm
Bliss is a support group for parents who have a baby requiring special care. It also campaigns for improvements in neonatal care and promotes new developments and innovations in care.
Action on Pre-Eclampsia
www.apec.org.uk
enquiries@apec.org.uk
Tel: 0116 2608088
Support for women who have had or are worried about pre-eclampsia.
MIND (National Association for Mental Health)
www.mind.org.uk
info@mind.org.uk
Tel: 0845 766 0163 Monday to Friday 9.15am to 5.15pm.
MIND offers extensive information about mental health and seeks to influence policy through campaigning and education. It also runs a confidential helpline (Mindinfoline) and a network of local associations.
C-Section Recovery
www.csectionrecovery.com
A site maintained by a mother who had an emergency caesarean herself. Provides information and frequently asked questions around caesarean birth and recovery, recommendations for further reading and links to other sites.
Plus-size-pregnancy
www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/CSANDVBAC/csvbacindex.html
A non-commercial website run by a childbirth educator and freelance writer who has read extensively about obesity, pregnancy, cesareans, VBACs, gestational diabetes, and related topics in both the lay and medical literature, as well as in 'alternative' childbirth education sources. The purpose of the site is to present further information for women to consider in their healthcare treatment and give resources so that women can pursue their own investigation. It presents both facts and opinions and makes an effort to label opinions and personal experience as such. It also presents references and resource lists so that others may investigate further and make up their own minds.
Healthtalkonline - Breastfeeding
www.healthtalkonline.org/Pregnancy_children/Breastfeeding
We interviewed 49 women and 2 men about their experiences of breastfeeding.
Birth Choice UK
www.birthchoiceuk.com
Brings together information to support parents in making informed choices about pregnancy and birth.
