Janet Balaskas is an
author
An author is the writer of a book, article, play, mostly written work. A broader definition of the word "author" states:
"''An author is "the person who originated or gave existence to anything" and whose authorship determines responsibility f ...
, founder of the
Active Birth Movement
Active may refer to:
Music
* Active (album), ''Active'' (album), a 1992 album by Casiopea
* Active Records, a record label
Ships
* Active (ship), ''Active'' (ship), several commercial ships by that name
* HMS Active, HMS ''Active'', the na ...
, and
childbirth
Childbirth, also known as labour and delivery, is the ending of pregnancy where one or more babies exits the internal environment of the mother via vaginal delivery or caesarean section. In 2019, there were about 140.11 million births globall ...
educator. She is perhaps known best for her advocacy of ''active birth'' where the woman is free to move during labour, rather than being placed into stirrups or the
lithotomy position
The lithotomy position is a common position for surgical procedures and medical examinations involving the pelvis and lower abdomen, as well as a common position for childbirth in Western nations. The lithotomy position involves the positioning of ...
. She coined the term ''active birth'' which she explained in the first of her books ''Active Birth'' published in 1983.
Born in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
she is currently the Director of the Active Birth Centre in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
,
UK.
Seven ways to survive pregnancy
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
(August 12, 2006)
Bibliography
Books
* ''Active Birth.'' Unwin, London, 1983,
* ''New Life - the book of exercises for childbirth.'' Sidgewick & Jackson, 1983
* ''The Active Birth Partners Handbook.'' Sidgewick & Jackson, 1984
* ''The Encyclopaedia of Pregnancy and Birth (with Yehudi Gordon).'' Macdonald Orbis, 1987
* ''Water Birth (with Yehudi Gordon).'' Unwin Hyman, 1991
* ''New Active Birth - A concise guide to natural childbirth.'' Thorsons, 1991,
Articles
* Janet Balaskas, Sophie Hoare, Lyn Durward, Jo Garcia, and Caroline Langridge, "Birth Rights: Radical Consumerism in Health Care," ''Critical Social Policy'', v. 2, n. 5, pp. 62–65 (1982)
See also
* Childbirth positions
The term childbirth positions (or maternal birthing positions) refers to the physical postures the pregnant mother may assume during the process of childbirth. They may also be referred to as delivery positions or labor positions.
In addition to ...
* Home birth
A home birth is a birth that takes place in a residence rather than in a hospital or a birthing center. They may be attended by a midwife, or lay attendant with experience in managing home births. Home birth was, until the advent of modern medic ...
* Squatting position
Squatting is a versatile posture where the weight of the body is on the feet but the knees and hips are bent. In contrast, sitting involves taking the weight of the body, at least in part, on the buttocks against the ground or a horizontal object. ...
* Water birth
Water birth is labor and sometimes delivery that occurs in water, usually a birthing pool. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists does not recommend birthing in water as the safety has not been determined. Proponents believe ch ...
References
External links
Active Birth Centre
{{DEFAULTSORT:Balaskas, Janet
Natural childbirth advocates
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)
South African emigrants to the United Kingdom