having to bear it: when childbirth is traumatic

when childbirth is traumatic | help and info

help and info

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organisations

Active Birth Centre
25 Bickerton Road
London N19 5JT
Tel: 020 7281 6760
E-mail: mail@activebirthcentre.com
Website: www.activebirthcentre.com
Quite a commercial website but there are useful articles, recommended reading on the subject, yoga classes for pregnant women and information on how to hire a birthing pool for a water birth at home.

The Association to Improve Maternity Services (AIMS)
Helpline: 0870 765 1433
E-mail: chair@aims.org.uk
Website: www.aims.org.uk
Campaigns for improvements in maternity care and produces a wide range of leaflets and booklets that enable parents to make informed decisions concerning every aspect of their maternity care.

Birth Crisis Network
The Manor
Standlake
Witney OX29 7RH
E-mail: sheila@sheilakitzinger.com
Website: www.sheilakitzinger.com/Birth%20Crisis.htm
The website was set up in order to offer women the opportunity to talk about a traumatic birth. The site also has links to articles on the subject.

Birth Trauma Association
PO Box 1996
SP1 3RQ
E-mail: enquries@birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
Website: www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
A voluntary organisation that is working to raise awareness of birth trauma. Provides support and advice to women who have Post Natal Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and to those who are finding it difficult to move on from their childbirth experience. Also provides information for health care professionals.

Doula UK
PO Box 26678
London N14 4WB
Tel: 0871 433 3103 (Mon-Fri 9am-3pm, 8-10pm; Sat 9am-12pm)
E-mail: info@doula.org.uk
Website: www.doula.org.uk
A doula is an experienced woman who offers emotional and practical support to a woman (or couple) before, during and after childbirth. Doula UK is a network of doulas, run by doulas. The site has more information about doulas, and you can find a service in your area.

Independent Midwives Association
1 The Great Quarry
Guildford GUI 3XN
Tel: 01483 821104
E-mail: information@independentmidwives.org.uk
Website: www.independentmidwives.org.uk
Midwives lobbying for the traditional role of the midwife; its members may be contacted by women seeking advice or information on their pregnancy or birth. Midwives may also be booked in advance should a woman not want an NHS/hospital birth.

National Childbirth Trust
Alexandra House
Oldham Terrace
Acton
London W3 6NH
Enquiry line: 0870 444 8707 (Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm; Fri 9am-4pm)
Breastfeeding support line: 0870 444 8708 (8am-10pm every day)
Website: www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com
Information and practical support on all aspects of pregnancy, childcare and early parenthood with antenatal classes and postnatal support groups. Ring enquiry line for details of local services.

Royal College of Midwives
15 Mansfield Street
London W1G 9NH
Tel: 020 7312 3535
E-mail: info@rcm.org.uk
Website: www.rcm.org.uk
The only trade union and professional organisation run by midwives for midwives. The website has lots of information and a news section with articles.

websites

Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services (AIMS)
www.aims.org.uk
Contains articles on the maternity services debate and a good links section. Provides information, support and advice to parents and health professionals on all aspects of maternity care, focusing on maternity services.

The Association of Radical Midwives
www.radmid.demon.co.uk
Set up by midwives in the UK committed to improving maternity care in the NHS. They offer support and information to those having difficulty getting or giving good, personalised midwifery care. There are useful articles on a range of subjects, including the caesarean section debate. The website has a list of contact details dependent upon your type of enquiry.

Birth Choice UK
www.birthchoiceuk.com
Information on maternity services nationwide.

Dr Foster Birth Guide
www.drfoster.co.uk/home/birth2005.asp
Provides information on how maternity care is delivered in the UK and details of what services individual maternity units throughout the country offer.

Homebirth Reference Site
www.homebirth.org.uk
Website run by a woman with four homebirths of her own, this site lists articles and research findings, and covers the more controversial aspects of giving birth at home.

Midwives Information and Resource Service
www.midirs.org
A database of online articles from over 500 journals on all aspects of childbirth. A good resource, with a forum.

Sheila Kitzinger
www.sheilakitzinger.com
Kitzinger offers advice and information on all aspects of pregnancy and birth, including birth choices and current research findings.

Trauma and Birth Stress – PTSD After Childbirth
www.tabs.org.nz
Set up as a support network in New Zealand by women who suffered stressful or traumatic pregnancies and/or births. The site contains a good deal of useful information including publications and articles written by midwives and mothers.

UK Midwives and Consumers Mailing List
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ukmidwifery/
If you join this e-mail discussion group, you can post a question to other mothers and midwives on any issue of pregnancy or childbirth.

reading

	Easing Labour Pain: The complete guide to a more comfortable and rewarding birth by Adrienne Lieberman (Harvard Common Press, 1992) Describes labour pain and the physical process of childbirth, and discusses breathing exercises, massage, music, biofeedback, hypnosis, companionship, medication, and the birth environment. Get this book
	Gentle Birth Choices: A guide to making informed decisions about birthing centres, birth attendants, water birth, home birth, hospital birth by Barbara Harper (Inner Traditions, 1994) A general guide to the range of birth choices available to women. Has very positive reviews on Amazon. Get this book
	The New Experience of Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger (Orion, 2004) Written by a well-respected expert in the field, this book explores the emotional as well as the physical elements in childbirth. Get this book
	Rebounding from Childbirth Toward Emotional Recovery by Lynn Madsen (Greenwood Press, 1994) Focuses exclusively on women's feelings about going through a difficult birth. Get this book
	Water Birth: A midwife's perspective by Susanna Napierala (Greenwood Press, 1994) Written by a midwife to more than 600 births the author suggests that giving birth in water offers mother and infant the ideal circumstances for beginning their lives together. Get this book
	Your Pregnancy Week by Week by Lesley Regan (Dorling Kindersley, March 2005) State-of-the-art imagery and specialist up-to-the-minute research and information describes your baby's remarkable progress in the womb. Get this book

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