Active Birth is a term coined by Janet Balaskas, author and founder of the modern Active Birth movement. The idea of Active Birth was introduced in the late 1970’s, but it is not a new idea.
In fact, Active Birth is the way women gave birth throughout most of modern history. According to Balaskas, around three hundred years ago, doctors changed the way women birthed from the active role the mother played in her own birth to the more passive role of patient that continues for most women today.
The Active Birth movement and center founded by Balaskas in London take advocating for natural birth to a whole new level. Rather than just extol the benefits of natural birth and suggest pain relief methods, proponents of Active Birth challenge the western view of child birth.
Various active birthing positions are taught in Active Birth, such as kneeling, standing and supported squatting. However, the woman chooses the positions to use during her birth and is taught to use gravity for pushing. The goal is for women to move away from the passive role they have assumed in the last few centuries and resume their active and central role in giving birth to their babies.
In her books and through the center, Balaskas discusses the benefits of active birth for mothers and babies. Many of the benefits are well documented by research as benefits of natural birth in general. These include a shorter labor, less pain experienced by the mother, less trauma for mom and baby, fewer interventions, more effective pushing resulting in a shorter pushing phase, greater partner involvement and increased bonding with the new baby.
Classes in Active Birth are taught at the center in London and by trained teachers in the UK and in countries around the world. There is a listing of teachers on the website (www.activebirthcentre.com), but none are listed in the U.S. There is an online learning option on the website, for women who are unable to attend classes or don’t have instructors in their area. This and the book may be enough, especially if this is not your first baby.
Related Articles:
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Pushing Positions for Natural Birth
Is Natural Birth Better for Bonding?