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Milli Hill Milli Hill is an expert in contemporary attitudes to birth.
Her most recent book, GIVE BIRTH LIKE A FEMINIST was published in Summer 2019 and has excited much praise as well as controversy. She is the influential author of THE POSITIVE BIRTH BOOK, ranked as one of Mumsnet's Top 10 Pregnancy books. Milli also edited WATER BIRTH: Stories to Inspire and Inform, published by Lonely Scribe in Jan 2015, and contributed a chapter to THE ROAR BEHIND THE SILENCE: Why Kindness, Compassion and Respect Matter in Maternity Care, published by Pinter and Martin in March 2015. Her next book will be aimed at pre-teen girls. The Positive Birth Movement Milli is a well-known figure in the global birth world and the founder of the Positive Birth Movement (PBM), a worldwide network of free-to-attend antenatal discussion groups, linked up by social media. Six years ago, Milli set up the PBM from her front room, and the response was both immediate and massive. Her idea – to start a global conversation network where women could challenge the way they think and feel about childbirth – became an overnight viral sensation. There are now over 250 groups in the UK, and another 200+ in the rest of the world. Through the PBM and her work as a journalist for publications such as Telegraph Women, Guardian and a two year column (2013-15) in BestDaily, Milli has become a spokeswoman for positive change in birth. She is a confident and passionate voice at UK and global conferences and is most often asked to represent the woman’s experience of childbirth – a voice that is often sadly lacking. She is frequently asked to respond to breaking stories in the media and her many columns are widely shared, most notably her piece “A healthy baby is not ALL that matters”, which has had over 100k shares, been read over half a million times and received applause from TV star Ricki Lake (the creator of documentary, ‘The Business of Being Born’). Biography Milli graduated from Durham in 1996 with a degree in English Literature. She then attended Drama Studio London and worked as an actor and actors’ agent in London before moving home to the West Country and retraining as a dramatherapist in 2000. In 2010 she began writing a successful blog, The Mule, which led to paid work as a journalist on women’s issues, and helped launch The Positive Birth Movement. She is also a trained (but not practising) doula. She now lives in Somerset with her partner George and three children Bess 11, Ursula 9 and Albie 5. Bess was born in hospital and Ursula and Albie were both born at home in water. Follow Milli on Twitter. Follow Milli on Instagram. Follow the PBM on Twitter. Follow the PBM on Instagram. |
PRAISE FOR GIVE BIRTH LIKE A FEMINIST
'Part of a raft of new titles broaching that final frontier of feminism, family life' Prospect Magazine
"Why did it take this long for a book like this to be published? Hill’s book is long overdue, but...profoundly needed" Tanya Strusberg for Lamaze International
"I feel so lucky to have read Milli’s book while pregnant, she completely changed my way of looking at giving birth" Ella Mills, founder of Deliciously Ella
"This is not a book just for expectant mums. Everyone should read it, especially doctors, nurses, midwives, partners and grandparents. The world has changed and this awesome book connects the dots in a way that can change minds and improve outcomes. Bravo!"
Tina Cassidy, author of Birth: A History
'Sounds like a most necessary book' The Bookseller
‘I read Milli’s new book in one weekend, as you will too if you are at all interested in the wider systemic issues that cause so many women to come out of their birth experiences feeling haunted. Milli has written a powerful call to arms. Shifting the focus firmly off individual responsibility and towards a more collective, systemic responsibility I sincerely hope that this is read by professionals and commissioners alike’ Dr Emma Svanberg, Clinical Psychologist at The Mumologist, co-founder of Make Birth Better
'Vital to understanding why how we think about birth is so central to women's rights. This book is a must-read' Soraya Chemaly
'Milli gets it. Birth matters to women, to society, birth IS a FEMINIST issue.' Sheena Byrom
"Finally someone brave enough to say the words feminist and birth in the same sentence in a book that is not an academic polemic."
Hannah Dahlen, Professor of Midwifery, University of Western Sydney
‘Give Birth Like a Feminist should strike a chord with all women as birth is very much a feminist issue, and one, as this book discusses so well, all women have a right to take control of.’ City Kids Magazine
'This book is so needed at this time for anyone who is interested in childbearing. The climate of birth is discussed with clarity and honesty from a global perspective giving the reader an overview of what challenges women face. As a midwife I have witnessed many of the examples and have supported women who Milli identifies as ‘wishing to birth outside of guidance’. Patriarchy, power, language, assault and ‘obstetric violence’ are truthfully revealed from a woman’s perspective. I urge all midwives to pick up this book; read, digest and reflect. Milli leads the way in advocacy for women and exposing the truth about birth in our modern world.' Dr Kathryn Gutteridge, President of the Royal College of Midwives
'A splendid and readable account of women’s feelings and rights in childbirth...this places Milli Hill's writing in pole position to be heard by society and absorbed by 21st century culture.' Katherine Hales, Association of Radical Midwives
'Your book was essential to making me feel powerful enough to recognise that I already owned this birth. No-body was delivering the baby; I was giving birth. Without it, I am sure that I would have passively obliged the doctors and midwives, thinking that they undoubtedly knew best. Despite not having the water birth in a birth centre that I had planned on, I am astounded and proud of the way that I birthed my baby. ' email from a reader
PRAISE FOR THE POSITIVE BIRTH BOOK:
Seriously sound, straight-from-the-hip advice. Mother&Baby Magazine
One of my very favourite birth writers. Ricki Lake
An awesome approach to motherhood. Izzy Judd
The Positive Birth Book is like everything I ever Googled pre-birth rolled into a friendly, warm format and is full-to-bursting with USEFUL information. For example, I am rhesus negative and to be honest I never really understood what that meant, I just did what I was told! This book explains it so well. It is also refreshing to read something positive about all types of birth - I didn't feel like I was being preached to. I wish I had read this book during my pregnancies! Sarah Turner, ‘The Unmumsy Mum'
The Positive Birth Book is a must-read for every mum-to-be. By showing that birth can be an amazing, empowering and life-enhancing experience, Milli Hill is giving birth to a whole new way to think about bringing life into the world. Siobhan Freegard, Netmums
The ‘Positive Birth Book’ takes expectant parents through the maze of information and choices, in a down to earth, practical, empowering, reassuring way. I highly recommend that you put your feet up, relax and enjoy preparing yourself for the birth of your baby by reading this great book. Sue Atkins, ITV ‘This Morning’ Parenting Expert
A great read: honest, lively, fresh and helpful. This book puts women in the driving seat which is key to positive change.
Cathy Warwick, Former Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives
'Part of a raft of new titles broaching that final frontier of feminism, family life' Prospect Magazine
"Why did it take this long for a book like this to be published? Hill’s book is long overdue, but...profoundly needed" Tanya Strusberg for Lamaze International
"I feel so lucky to have read Milli’s book while pregnant, she completely changed my way of looking at giving birth" Ella Mills, founder of Deliciously Ella
"This is not a book just for expectant mums. Everyone should read it, especially doctors, nurses, midwives, partners and grandparents. The world has changed and this awesome book connects the dots in a way that can change minds and improve outcomes. Bravo!"
Tina Cassidy, author of Birth: A History
'Sounds like a most necessary book' The Bookseller
‘I read Milli’s new book in one weekend, as you will too if you are at all interested in the wider systemic issues that cause so many women to come out of their birth experiences feeling haunted. Milli has written a powerful call to arms. Shifting the focus firmly off individual responsibility and towards a more collective, systemic responsibility I sincerely hope that this is read by professionals and commissioners alike’ Dr Emma Svanberg, Clinical Psychologist at The Mumologist, co-founder of Make Birth Better
'Vital to understanding why how we think about birth is so central to women's rights. This book is a must-read' Soraya Chemaly
'Milli gets it. Birth matters to women, to society, birth IS a FEMINIST issue.' Sheena Byrom
"Finally someone brave enough to say the words feminist and birth in the same sentence in a book that is not an academic polemic."
Hannah Dahlen, Professor of Midwifery, University of Western Sydney
‘Give Birth Like a Feminist should strike a chord with all women as birth is very much a feminist issue, and one, as this book discusses so well, all women have a right to take control of.’ City Kids Magazine
'This book is so needed at this time for anyone who is interested in childbearing. The climate of birth is discussed with clarity and honesty from a global perspective giving the reader an overview of what challenges women face. As a midwife I have witnessed many of the examples and have supported women who Milli identifies as ‘wishing to birth outside of guidance’. Patriarchy, power, language, assault and ‘obstetric violence’ are truthfully revealed from a woman’s perspective. I urge all midwives to pick up this book; read, digest and reflect. Milli leads the way in advocacy for women and exposing the truth about birth in our modern world.' Dr Kathryn Gutteridge, President of the Royal College of Midwives
'A splendid and readable account of women’s feelings and rights in childbirth...this places Milli Hill's writing in pole position to be heard by society and absorbed by 21st century culture.' Katherine Hales, Association of Radical Midwives
'Your book was essential to making me feel powerful enough to recognise that I already owned this birth. No-body was delivering the baby; I was giving birth. Without it, I am sure that I would have passively obliged the doctors and midwives, thinking that they undoubtedly knew best. Despite not having the water birth in a birth centre that I had planned on, I am astounded and proud of the way that I birthed my baby. ' email from a reader
PRAISE FOR THE POSITIVE BIRTH BOOK:
Seriously sound, straight-from-the-hip advice. Mother&Baby Magazine
One of my very favourite birth writers. Ricki Lake
An awesome approach to motherhood. Izzy Judd
The Positive Birth Book is like everything I ever Googled pre-birth rolled into a friendly, warm format and is full-to-bursting with USEFUL information. For example, I am rhesus negative and to be honest I never really understood what that meant, I just did what I was told! This book explains it so well. It is also refreshing to read something positive about all types of birth - I didn't feel like I was being preached to. I wish I had read this book during my pregnancies! Sarah Turner, ‘The Unmumsy Mum'
The Positive Birth Book is a must-read for every mum-to-be. By showing that birth can be an amazing, empowering and life-enhancing experience, Milli Hill is giving birth to a whole new way to think about bringing life into the world. Siobhan Freegard, Netmums
The ‘Positive Birth Book’ takes expectant parents through the maze of information and choices, in a down to earth, practical, empowering, reassuring way. I highly recommend that you put your feet up, relax and enjoy preparing yourself for the birth of your baby by reading this great book. Sue Atkins, ITV ‘This Morning’ Parenting Expert
A great read: honest, lively, fresh and helpful. This book puts women in the driving seat which is key to positive change.
Cathy Warwick, Former Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives