A strong intention, a relaxed body and an open mind are the main ingredients for an active birth.

Janet Balaskas is a British childbirth educator and founder of the Active Birth Movement, influential from the late 20th century onward in promoting upright, mobile labor, maternal autonomy, and non-pharmacological coping strategies. The quotation reflects the ethos of “active birth” teaching: preparing psychologically (intention), physiologically (relaxation to reduce fear–tension–pain cycles), and cognitively/emotionally (openness and adaptability) to support labor progress and a sense of agency. It is typically used in antenatal education contexts—classes, books, and advocacy materials—aimed at helping pregnant people approach birth as a dynamic process rather than a passive medical event.

The line distills Balaskas’s view that effective participation in labor is less about force and more about alignment of mind and body. “Strong intention” signals purposeful commitment—choosing to stay engaged, to move, to communicate needs, and to trust one’s capacity. A “relaxed body” points to the practical importance of reducing muscular guarding and stress responses that can intensify pain and impede progress. An “open mind” emphasizes flexibility: birth is unpredictable, and maintaining curiosity rather than fear can help a laboring person adapt to changing sensations, positions, and decisions. Together, the ingredients frame active birth as a holistic practice of agency, relaxation, and responsiveness.