‘In a nutshell, active birth means being upright during labour. You don’t have to walk around for hours, you just need to use items like birth balls, mats, chairs, a bath, even straps hanging from the ...

In HuffPost Birth Diaries we hear the extraordinary stories of the everyday miracle of birth. This week, Holly Pither shares her story. If you’d like to share yours, email [email protected]. I ...

Having a baby is a complicated business. However, according to recently qualified 'active birth' instructor Sinead Quinn, more mothers should be doing what comes naturally. She talks to Gail Bell LAST ...

Practicing self-hypnosis, having a yogababy or planning an active labour? Here’s how to find your ideal birth class. Birth education now comes in as many shapes and sizes as a pregnant woman’s belly, ...

Thirty years ago, a rally in Britain forced the medical profession to rethink how women should give birth. On 4 April 1982 up to 6,000 people travelled from across the country to Hampstead Heath in ...

Thirty years ago Janet Balaskas founded the active birth movement in the UK, campaigning for a woman's right to give birth in whatever position feels comfortable. She shows Claire Bowes of the BBC ...

Women who see themselves as active participants in the delivery of their first child, and prefer a collaborative role with their healthcare provider are more likely to prefer planned home birth and ...