Resources & Links

 

AIMS (Association for Improvements in Maternity Services)
40 Kingswood Road, London, NW6 6LS
www.aims.org 
UK based organisation focused on informing women about pregnancy and childbirth options, particularly good if you are having a problem.  AIMS produce many leaflets and books on some controversial aspects of childbirth including  ‘Choosing a Home Birth’ and ‘Choosing a Water Birth’.  Send s.a.e. 

ASSOCIATION FOR INDEPENDENT MIDWIVES
20, Westfield Rd., Long Wittenham, Oxfordshire, OX14 4RF 
Tel:  0845 4600 105
www.independentmidwives.org.uk 
Midwives who work outside the health service and provide a unique service for home births.

ASSOCIATION FOR SAFE ALTERNATIVES IN CHILDBIRTH
www.asac.ab.ca  See especially the following:

  • www.michelodent.com  Michel Odent’s website, with details of his books, talks and newsletter, and links to some of his articles on the web
  • www.birthpsychology.com/prima/lhealth  Primal Health website  
  • www.birthworks.org/primalhealth   Embodies a philosophy that develops a woman’s self confidence, trust and faith in her innate ability to give birth.  “Primal Health Research” explores correlations between the ‘primal period’ (conception until the first birthday) and health in later life.  This amazing data bank represents the best way to evaluate the extent of the ‘primal health research” phenomenon, to realise its possible effects on our understanding of health and disease, and to anticipate the diversity of the practical implications

ASSOCIATION OF RADICAL MIDWIVES
ARM, 16 Wytham Street, Oxford. OX1 4SU  
Tel: 01865 248159
www.midwifery.org.uk  
Provide information and support for those having difficulty getting sympathetic midwifery care. 

BABY DIRECTORY
www.babydirectory.com 
An A-Z of everything for pregnant women, babies and young children

BABYMILK ACTION
www.babymilkaction.org
Non-profit organisation aiming to save lives and to end the avoidable suffering caused by inappropriate infant feeding. Baby Milk Action works within a global network to strengthen effective controls in the marketing of the baby feeding industry.

BABY NAMES
www.babycenter.com/babyname 
Useful website generally, also list of baby names 

BIRTH CHOICE
www.birthchoiceuk.com 
UK maternity choices and statistics.  Find out about your local choice of birth place.

BIRTH POOL HIRE
www.thegoodbirth.co.uk
Affordable birth pool hire; birth balls (large and small sizes); Medela pumps

DOULA  (pronounced ‘doola’)
www.doula.org.uk 
Doula 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.   Describes the work of a doula and has a directory of trained doulas.

FATHERS-TO-BE
www.fatherstobe.org
Fathers-To-Be offers men effective preparation for fatherhood through practical education.

FORESIGHT  
3, Lower Queens Road, Clevedon, N Somerset, BS21 6LX
Tel:  01275 878 953
www.foresight-preconception.org.uk  
Information on pre-conceptual care.  Send s.a.e.  Hair analysis and Foresight program enquiries and preconception advice.

HOME BIRTH MOVEMENT
C/o Tess McKenney, 41 High Street, Stanlake, Oxon, OX8 7RH
Tel:  01863 300154
www.homebirth.org.uk
homebirth reference site.   General enquiries and how to arrange a home birth and many useful links.  Information pack available. 

HYPNOBIRTHING
www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk
A range of self-hypnosis CD’s from Maggie Howell, hypnotherapist.

INFORMED PARENT
Magda Taylor, The Informed Parent, P O Box 4481, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 2WH
Tel: 01903 212 969  
www.informedparent.co.uk
Provides information for parents who are looking into the safety and effectiveness of vaccinations.

LA LECHE LEAGUE
Tel: 0845 456 1855; Tel help line: 0845 120 2918   
www.laleche.org.uk
An international association supporting breastfeeding and mothering with a national network of breastfeeding counselors.

LONDON ACUPUNCTURE CHILDBIRTH TEAM
www.actiondon.co.uk
There is an ever growing awareness of the benefits that acupuncture can bring to fertility, pregnancy and childbirth, and this site is here to introduce more about these benefits and to help you to easily find acupuncture practitioners in your own locality

NAPPIES
www.gn.apc.org/wen 
Women’s Environmental Network including campaign for ‘real nappies’

M.I.D.I.R.S.   
Midwives Information and Resource Service
9, Elmdale Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1SL 
Tel:  0117 925 1791
www.midirs.org  
Educational charity and library for midwifery-related matters.  The Informed Choice Leaflets on-line

MISCARRIAGE/STILLBORN
www.babyloss.com   
Online support and info for women and their partners who have experienced the loss of a baby.

NATIONAL CHILDBIRTH TRUST (NCT)
Alexandra House, Oldham Terrace, London, W3 6NH
Tel:  0208 992 8637
www.nct.org.uk
For information on preparation for childbirth, postnatal support and breastfeeding counselling.  Also publish and supply a very good range of books and leaflets covering pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenthood

NW3 SUPPORT
www.NW3kids.co.uk  
Very useful website for what is happening in NW3 for after the birth.

NURTURING BIRTH
www.nurturingbirth.co.uk
This organization has been training doulas since 2005. The course is recognized/accredited with Doula UK.  The trainers are all working doulas with many years of experience.

NUTRITION
www.marilynglenville.com/ebook.asp  
Excellent general nutritional information from Marilyn Glenville

OBSTETRIC CHOLESTASIS
www.ocsupport.org.uk                                                                                                                                                                                  Obstetric cholestasis is a rare complication of pregnancy. A build-up of bile acids in the bloodstream causes a persistent itch in the last third of pregnancy. There may be a small increased risk of complications of pregnancy associated with this condition

PARENTING
www.babygroe.co.uk 
Helping parents make natural choices.

PELVIC GIRDLE PAIN
www.pelvicinstability.org.uk 
For pelvic pain sufferers – helping you to find the right support during pregnancy

PERINEUM PAIN
www.valleycushions.co.uk  
Perineal pain relief after episiotomy or tearing of perineum.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF MIDWIVES
15 Mansfield Street, London, W1G 9NH 
Tel: 0207 312 3535
www.rcm.org.uk
Should be able to help if you are finding difficulty in getting a suitable midwife.

SHEILA KITZINGER
www.sheilakitzinger.com
Sheila is a childbirth educator and social anthropologist and has much research based info

STREP B
www.gbss.org.uk                                                                                                                                                                                                     Group B Streptococcus is one of many bacteria that can be present in our bodies. Most pregnant women who carry GBS bacteria have healthy babies. However, there’s a small risk that GBS can pass to the baby during childbirth…….

TUFNELL PARK PARENTS SUPPORT GROUP  (for parents living locally in TufnellPark)
www.tppsg.org
Very well run organisation, excellent resource info; supports parents.

VACCINATION ISSUES  
Support and information re: vaccination issues.
www.jayne-donegan.co.uk 
www.informedparent.co.uk
www.immunisation.orgwww.van.org.uk                              
www.whale.to/vaccines.html
www.singlevaccine.comwww.vaccinationdebate.com      
www.babyjabs.co.uk  Single immunization jabs: ‘Babyjabs Holborn Medical Services’.

V.B.A.C.
www.vbac.org.uk   
Information and support for vaginal birth after caesarian section

WOMEN & HEALTH CENTRE
4 Carol Street London NW1 0HU
Tel: 0207 482 2786 
www.womenandhealth.org.uk
therapies at low cost

YOGABIRTH
www.yogabirth.org
Nationwide organisation of Childbirth Educators