The Birth Space

The Birth Space is a doula's guide to conception, pregnancy, birth and postpartum that highlights choice and rights in the perinatal space.

In this beautiful book, trained and experienced doula Gabrielle Nancarrow offers comprehensive information about the birthing landscape that will empower you to choose the right birth for you – whether that be an obstetric, midwife or home birth. The Birth Space shows us how to prepare our minds and bodies for pregnancy and labour, from conscious conception through to postpartum and into matrescence. Gabrielle helps us understand what to expect during this period and translates the medical terminology so we are informed. She also provides remedies for common ailments, shares insights from other birth specialists, and is a constant spiritual guide from conception and beyond…talk about continuity of care!

Filled with moving photography by Ilsa Wynne-Hoelscher Kidd (@ilsa_whk), Lisa Sorgini @lisa.sorgini, and Hayden Trace (@feelinghomeagain) as well as intimate real-life stories from contributors covering pregnancy loss, IVF, same-sex conception, home births, caesareans and more, The Birth Space is the essential companion for anyone who is seeking guidance as they enter this new chapter of their life.

*If only* this had been around when I gave birth to Jude + Heidi - an astoundingly insightful guide for new parents and also a great tool for their loved ones to indulge in. This birth bible covers soo many essential topics - from gathering your village for support postpartum, to all the taboo subjects no-one ever talks about and basically just alllll the things to expect from birth onwards. To the new parents out there (or those expecting)? It’s not a want, it’s a NEED.

Gabrielle Nancarrow is a mother of two, a birth doula and the founder of Gather—a space for women in Melbourne, Australia. The experience of birthing and mothering her two daughters has changed the direction of Gabrielle’s life and career. When she became pregnant with her first baby in 2013, she was living in New York and leading the editorial team at Victoria’s Secret PINK. She hired a doula at 35 weeks’ pregnant and decided the minute her daughter was born that she too wanted to provide that same level of support and care to others. Gabrielle is an advocate for women's and reproductive rights and wants every birthing person to feel empowered, safe, supported and in control of their pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience.