Janet Balaskas

Janet Balaskas (born 1940) is a British childbirth educator and author associated with the “active birth” approach to pregnancy and labour. She is known for promoting movement, upright positions, and women’s autonomy during childbirth, and for encouraging practical preparation for birth and early parenting. Balaskas has written widely for expectant parents, including *Active Birth: The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally*, a book that helped popularize the term “active birth.” Through her teaching and writing, she has contributed to public discussion about natural childbirth and supportive maternity care in the UK and beyond.