The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services

What Is CIMS?

CIMS is a coalition of individuals and organizations with concern for the care and well-being of mothers, babies, and families. Our mission is to promote a wellness model of maternity care that will improve birth outcomes and substantially reduce costs.

The principles underlying the CIMS model of maternity care are:

• NORMALCY: treat birth as a natural, healthy process.
• EMPOWERMENT: provide the birthing woman and her family supportive, sensitive and respectful care.
• AUTONOMY: enable women to make decisions based on accurate information and provide access to the full range of options for care.
• First DO NO HARM: avoid the routine use of tests, procedures, drugs, and restrictions.
• RESPONSIBILITY: give evidence-based care used solely for the needs and in the interests of mothers and infants.

CIMS carries out these principles by:

• Educating consumers and professionals about Mother-Friendly Childbirth.
• Providing a forum for collaboration and cooperation among organizations and individuals
• Designating hospitals, birth centers and home birth services as Mother-Friendly.
• Collaborating with professionals and maternity care organizations.

How CIMS improves outcomes and client satisfaction with health care:

• Stresses the need for evidence-based practice to professionals and childbearing women.
• Raises awareness of infant and maternal mortality and morbidity caused by failure to adhere to safe, effective practice.
• Supports the midwifery model of care, that is, care that represents the CIMS principles.
• Offers strength in numbers in promoting, protecting and supporting normal birth.
• Promotes informed decision making, including informed refusal.
• Facilitates dialogue between childbearing women and healthcare providers.

Milestones:

• Created the first coalition of maternal and child health organizations and individuals in the world.
• Developed the Mother-Friendly Childbirth^TM Initiative, a consensus document that outlines the principles and practices of mother-friendly care. The MFCI has been endorsed by numerous prominent individuals and more than 50 organizations representing over 90,000 members.
• Developed a designation process and has designated two institutions (to date) as Mother-Friendly.
• CIMS is an active member of the United States Breastfeeding Committee.

For more information on CIMS:
website: www.motherfriendly.org
email: info@motherfriendly.org
Coalition for Improving Maternity Services
1500 Sunday Drive, Suite 102
Raleigh, NC 27607
Telephone: 888.282.CIMS (2467)
Fax: 904-285-2120