Pioneering birth educator and author Janet Balaskas founded the Active Birth Movement in the 1980s. Her ideas – based on the core principle that women should take ownership of their bodies during birth and be free to assume upright positions in labour – have transformed birth for women and their birth companions across the world.

In this inspiring memoir, illustrated with beautiful birth images taken by photographer Anthea Sieveking over two decades, Janet explains the essential philosophy of her approach and how the Active Birth Movement has grown and helped generations of mothers to prepare for birth, by honouring the importance of the beginning of life and empowering them to confidently trust and follow their instincts.

Janet Balaskas is the founder of Active Birth. Her innovative ideas have inspired parents and birth professionals worldwide. Obstetricians and midwives have a high regard for her work, and many have adopted her methods.

She began her work as a pioneering birth educator and author in the late 1970s and founded the Active Birth Movement in the 1980s. To this day Janet is a leading voice in the global campaign to transform birthing practices. The core work she does with parents and professionals, is now available online through live streaming.

Janet has written many ground-breaking books and has recently published a new film – Active Birth: Your guide to nature's plan.

She is the mother of four grown-up children and one stepdaughter and has six grandchildren. You can read more about Janet's personal journey, her published books and films, her campaign for women to become active birth givers and her professional trainings on www.activebirthcentre.com

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Anthea Sieveking began her career in the 1950s working mostly for magazines and newspapers. In the 60s and 70s she started photographing actors, writers and other eminent people for various publications and artists for the Arts Council. Many of these portraits have been acquired by the National Portrait Gallery.

Later, the emphasis was on illustrating books concerning children, their health, education and development, and a medical encyclopaedia produced by the World Health Organisation. This was followed by her collaboration with Janet Balaskas, photographing births for her books and for the Active Birth Movement.

Anthea's photographs in this book feature the earliest Active Births both at home and in the hospital in the UK. They provide a visual testimony to the start of a revolution in birth practises and have had a global influence, inspiring women to discover and explore new and different possibilities for giving birth to their babies. Anthea's body of work can be found on www.antheasieveking.co.uk