Association of Radical Midwives
Encyclopedia
The Association of Radical Midwives (ARM) is a UK Organisation for Midwives, Doulas, Mothers, and anyone concerned with the health of maternity services.
ARM was created in 1976, and is a registered charity. Its founding members were concerned at the increasing medical intervention of childbirth, and used the initials of 'Artificial Rupture of Membranes', a procedure which was becoming more common. ARM produces the quarterly journal Midwifery Matters.
The word 'radical' in the organisation's name, means radical as in 'grassroots', or 'fundamental'.
Retainment of midwifery skills such as supporting twin vaginal birth, breech
vaginal birth, and home birth
are a focus of the group,as is the sharing of information, and assisting women with choice and continuity.
The ARM has members within the Nursing and Midwifery Council
(NMC), Association for the Improvement of maternity Services (AIMS), and the Royal College of Midwives
(RCM).
Its members include Mary Cronk
MBE, currently working independently, and author Sheila Kitzinger
. Along with Jane Evans, Cronk holds workshops in the UK for Midwives and Student Midwives.
The Association of Radical Midwives website holds information on pregnancy and birth, including articles and discussion and links to other maternity groups. The ARM also run groups around the UK who meet on an ad-hoc basis formally and informally to discuss maternity issues.
ARM was created in 1976, and is a registered charity. Its founding members were concerned at the increasing medical intervention of childbirth, and used the initials of 'Artificial Rupture of Membranes', a procedure which was becoming more common. ARM produces the quarterly journal Midwifery Matters.
The word 'radical' in the organisation's name, means radical as in 'grassroots', or 'fundamental'.
Retainment of midwifery skills such as supporting twin vaginal birth, breech
Breech birth
A breech birth is the birth of a baby from a breech presentation. In the breech presentation the baby enters the birth canal with the buttocks or feet first as opposed to the normal head first presentation....
vaginal birth, and home birth
Home birth
A home birth in developed countries is an attended or an unattended childbirth in a non-clinical setting, typically using natural childbirth methods, that takes place in a residence rather than in a hospital or a birth centre, and usually attended by a midwife or lay attendant with expertise in...
are a focus of the group,as is the sharing of information, and assisting women with choice and continuity.
The ARM has members within the Nursing and Midwifery Council
Nursing and Midwifery Council
Established in 2002, the Nursing and Midwifery Council is a statutory body set up by the Parliament of the United Kingdom through the . The NMC is the UK regulator for nursing and midwifery professions with a stated aim to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the public...
(NMC), Association for the Improvement of maternity Services (AIMS), and the Royal College of Midwives
Royal College of Midwives
The Royal College of Midwives is a British midwives organisation which has existed under its present name since 1947.-History:The Matrons' Aid Society, renamed the Midwives' Institute in 1881, was founded by Louisa Hubbard and Zepharina Veitch to raise the training and status of midwives...
(RCM).
Its members include Mary Cronk
Mary Cronk
Mary Cronk MBE, is an independent midwife from England who was awarded her MBE for services to midwifery over her many years of practice. She was born in 1932. She first studied nursing at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and in 1957 she started training as a midwife at Queen Charlotte's in London...
MBE, currently working independently, and author Sheila Kitzinger
Sheila Kitzinger
Sheila Helena Elizabeth Kitzinger MBE is a British natural childbirth activist and author on childbirth and pregnancy. She is a social anthropologist specialising in pregnancy, childbirth and the parenting of babies and young children. Although she lectures on midwifery she has never been a midwife...
. Along with Jane Evans, Cronk holds workshops in the UK for Midwives and Student Midwives.
The Association of Radical Midwives website holds information on pregnancy and birth, including articles and discussion and links to other maternity groups. The ARM also run groups around the UK who meet on an ad-hoc basis formally and informally to discuss maternity issues.
External links
- www.armconference.co.uk Association of Radical Midwives Conference website