Allowing the Impossible

[toc] Allowing The Impossible in Birth You often hear the question “am I allowed” asked in the context of birth, particularly in the hospital setting. Am I allowed to get off the bed? Am I allowed to have something to eat? Am I allowed to change position?...

What is Active Birth?

Birth is everywhere! Everyone is born, after all, and 4 in 5 women will go through the experience (1). For some, giving birth is a wonderful life-affirming event – even describing it as orgasmic! – but for many women, labour and birth is painful, difficult...

History of Active Birth

History of Birth Women have been birthing instinctively for millennia. Find any historical image of birth and it is almost universally showing the woman in an upright position. They were attended by other women, experts in birthing – midwives and doctors played...

Birthzang’s Guide to Active Birth

Watch this video to get some insight as to the main principles of Active Birth (as coined by Janet Balaskas) and how it can make your birth easier, safer, more efficient and less painful. Helping Birth In my book, Helping Birth: Your guide to pain relief choices and...

Alice & Nick’s testimonial

We really liked the informative demonstrations using the pelvis and doll. The section on the different stages of labour and the explanation about hormones was very clear and easy to follow. It was a good way of helping dads to know what the mum is going through at...

Janet Balaskas – what an amazing woman!

Just came across this really interesting article on Janet Balaskas from 2012. I am getting excited about meeting her in 2 weeks when I start my training. She really revolutionised so much about the way we give birth – and want to give birth.  ...

Living the cliché

I always scoffed at the old adage that women have to choose between a career and a family. I was born in the 70s, my mum was a feminist, and I was brought up to believe I could have anything I wanted: everything, for that matter! I had a good (state) education and...