Welcome to Season 10, Episode 5 of the She Births® Podcast. Today, I talk with the pioneer, author and founder of Active Birth, Janet Balaskas. If you have done She Births®, you will have heard me say how essential it is to understand and even criminal to not include active birthing in birth education. Janet began her work as a pioneering birth educator and author in the late 1970s. In the 1980s, she founded the Active Birth Movement and published the Active Birth Manifesto. To this day, Janet is a leading voice in the global campaign to transform birthing practices. Her innovative ideas have spread throughout the world, inspiring parents, birth educators, yoga teachers, midwives, obstetricians, and doulas. She has even created new designs for birthing centres. She has published multiple books and a film. Her Active Birth Centre was founded in the early 1980s in London, England, and continues to this day. It was an honour to have Janet. You can discover more about her at https://www.activebirthcentre.com/ Our conversation covers the origins of active birthing. We discuss Janet's personal birthing experiences, the evolution of childbirth practices, and the importance of understanding the physiological processes involved in labour. Janet emphasises the significance of gravity, hormonal interactions, and the role of fear in childbirth while also highlighting the benefits of yoga as a preparation tool for expectant mothers. The conversation delves into the need for informed consent and the empowerment of women in their birthing choices. We chat about the profound spiritual experience of birth, emphasizing the importance of presence and surrender. We highlight the evolving role of partners in the birthing process, advocating for their active participation and emotional connection with the baby. We discuss the Active Birth Movement, detailing its revolutionary impact on birthing practices and environments. Finally, we conclude with reflections on motherhood, matrescence, and the essential qualities of nurturing and love in parenting. I hope this podcast has been inspiring and empowering for you and helps you create your own beautiful birth. Remember, you can learn and embody the power of active birthing in all of our She Births® Courses online or face-to-face. Prepare today at the website shebirths.com Our sponsor today is the amazing MILK LABEL. www.itsmilklabel.com⁠ Did you know that Milk Label uses only sustainable and natural materials that care for your body, your milk, and your baby. So you can be totally rest assured that there are no plastic fabrics on your skin or near your baby. Milk has patented their amazing leakproof technology in all their bras and utilise Australian Merino to wick any moisture into a leakproof core, keeping you dry and feeling good all the time. Make sure you are wearing MILK by using code SHEBIRTHSLOVES at the checkout to get 15% off any purchase. Simply go to www.itsmilklabel.com

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