The Active Birth Book

Giving pregnant women a new approach to having a natural childbirth

Active Birth By Janet Balaskas

In an “active birth”, a mother moves around, finds her own comfortable positions for labor and delivery, and rarely needs drugs or obstetrical interventions. In this book, Janet Balaskas helps pregnant women gain control of their body and learn the confidence to follow their own instincts. Active Birth includes:

• Fully-illustrated exercises for a comfortable, energetic pregnancy
• Massage techniques for pregnancy and labor
• Ways to create the ideal setting for an active birth, in the hospital or at home
• Positions for labor and birth, for maximum comfort and efficient contractions
• The latest information about water births, and how to plan your own
• Helpful tips for partners and birth attendants.

This books helps woman to gain control of their child’s birth. You don’t have to lie on your back during childbirth. In fact, many women find childbirth easier and less painful when they listen to their bodies and find the right position for them. Whether that’s standing up, sitting down, on their hands and knees--it doesn’t matter. The trick is learning how to interpret what your body is trying to tell you during labor and delivery. This books gives you the “inside code” to help you translate your body’s feelings into what your body needs.

You’ll also learn yoga-based stretching exercises and massage practice, and the stages of labor and comfortable positions for each, at home or in a hospital. Also intended for childbirth teachers, midwives, and birth partners, it helps mothers participate more actively in pregnancy and childbirth and brings back some of the instinctive common sense that has been overlooked by modern obstetrics.

Makes a great gift to any pregnant woman who is considering natural childbirth. We’re sure she’ll learn a lot of insightful information that she wouldn’t hear from her doctor.