Active Birth Centre
AIMS (Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services)
Association of Radical Midwives (ARM)
BirthChoice UK
Birth Companions
The Birth Trauma Association
British Doulas
Doula UK
Dr Foster
Home Birth
Homebirth Association of Ireland
HypnoBirthing UK
Independent Midwives UK
National Childbirth Trust (NCT)
Scottish Independent Midwives

Active Birth Centre

www.activebirthcentre.com
Telephone: 020 7281 6760
Ante and postnatal workshops, yoga-based and baby massage classes, information and advice, as well as nationwide water birth pool hire.

AIMS (Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services)

www.aims.org.uk
Telephone: 0300 365 0663
Striving for more normal births, providing independent support and information about maternity choices. Raises issue and provides advice on rights, complaints and childbirth related issues.

Association of Radical Midwives (ARM)

www.midwifery.org.uk
Primarily a support group for people having difficulty in getting or giving good, sympathetic, personalised midwifery care.

BirthChoice UK

www.birthchoiceuk.com
An online checklist is designed to help you decide what kind of birth you would like. The website also has statistical information about maternity units in UK hospitals, such as caesarean and induction rates.

Birth Companions

www.birthcompanions.org.uk
Working mostly with women in detention, Birth Companions provides support to women who do not have anyone to accompany them during the birth of their baby. There is also support for women who are unsure whether their family or friend will be able to get to them in time for their labour.

The Birth Trauma Association

www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
The Birth Trauma Association (BTA) supports all women who have had a traumatic birth experience. It is estimated that, in the UK alone, this may result in 10,000 women a year developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  You can email The Birth Trauma Association here: enquiries@birthtraumaassociation.org.uk

British Doulas

www.britishdoulas.co.uk
020 7824 8209
British Doulas is a long-established doula agency.

Doula UK

www.doula.org.uk
Doula UK is a network of doulas run voluntarily by doulas. Doulas support women and their families during pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood. This support is practical and emotional but non-medical in nature.

Dr Foster

www.drfosterhealth.co.uk
Find out information about your local birth units and hospitals, including Caesarean rates, facilities and pain relief. The website also has a tool for comparing your local options.

Home Birth

www.homebirth.org.uk
Find out more about home births on this reference site by Angela Horn. The aim of the site is not to persuade women to choose home birth but to provide information for those considering a home birth.

Homebirth Association of Ireland

www.homebirth.ie
The Home Birth Association (HBA) is a voluntary group, founded in 1982 to give information and support to those considering and opting for home birth. A voluntary group that gives information and support if you are considering a home birth. The website has a list of independent midwives in Ireland.

HypnoBirthing UK

www.hypnobirthing.co.uk
HypnoBirthing – The Mongan Method is a form of antenatal education. Birthing classes aim to help women have the most natural childbirth possible, using easily-learned self hypnosis and breathing techniques. Learn about hypnobirthing and find out where your nearest class is.

Independent Midwives UK

www.independentmidwives.org.uk
Formerly the IMA. Independent Midwives UK represent the majority of independent midwives in the UK. The association produces a list of independent midwives and lobbies for the traditional role of the midwife.

National Childbirth Trust

www.nct.org.uk
Pregnancy and birth line: 0300 33 00 772
Breastfeeding line: 0300 33 00 771
Enquiries line: 0300 33 00 770
Support during pregnancy, breastfeeding and the early months. Use the search facility on the website or call the main helpline for details of antenatal classes and branches in your local area.

Scottish Independent Midwives

www.scotbirth.co.uk
A group of independent midwives working in Scotland.

Photograph:
Torsten Mangner @ Flickr