Jenny has been working with natural birth for over 25 years, supporting women through pregnancy, birth and early parenting in SE Queensland, Australia.  She is endlessly inspired by the mothers she serves, and by ongoing studies in bodywork, somatic psychotherapy, and Buddhist philosophy & psychology.

 

In 1992 Jenny co-founded 'Angels' – a wholistic birth & parenting support group that continues today, and in 1994  initiated  the annual 'Women's Dreaming Camp' – designed to cultivate joy and self-expression through combining eco and adventure therapy with performance and creative art.

For the last 5 years Jenny has facilitated Birthwork Workshops, committed to the evolution of knowledge about natural birth and working with birth, and promoting the reality of peaceful and compassionate birth through growing self-awareness & skills.

And now, with filmmaker Alieta Belle, Jenny has co-created a film about natural birth called 'The Big Stretch'.

'The book Birthwork – a compassionate guide to being with birth, was originally envisioned as my legacy to the care providers in my community with whom I work and share skills and birthing knowledge. However, it grew into something more universal and became a guide that is intrinsically philosophical, but offering practical strategies for effective wholistic care. I have also included experiential exercises that may be used privately by the reader, or adapted to group training, birth preparation, and one on one consultations.'

 

 

After the awesome birth of her first daughter, 7yrs ago, Alieta was inspired to make a creative Birth Film, centred around sharing the core insights women receive as they experience pregnancy and birth.  As her daughter's head was crowning, Alieta remembered a women telling her, that she didn't experience the birthing as 'pain' but as a 'nice stretch'-

And hence the title of the film, 'The Big Stretch' speaks of how we can transform perceived ideas of birth, share our experiences and find avenues that inspire and encourage satisfying birth experiences.

Alieta's passionate interest in birth and her creative ingenuity, are infused into The Big Stretch.  Alieta Belle is a film-maker and artist. She is co- director of Earth Base Productions- specialising in digital media production. A big part of her creative energy is spent being the mother of 3 beautiful children!