International interdisciplinary conference on holistic maternity care 2025

Toni Harman is the producer of the award-winning documentary MICROBIRTH (Alto Films Ltd) about the origins of the human microbiome. MICROBIRTH won top prize at several science film festivals, has had over 1,000 public screenings and has been broadcast internationally. Toni is the co-author of the books, THE MICROBIOME EFFECT (Pinter & Martin Publishing) and YOUR BABY's MICROBIOME (Chelsea Green Publishing). In 2017, Toni set up MICROBIOME COURSES, an online school offering continuing professional development courses about the microbiome, now with over 43,000 health professionals enrolled as students.
Toni has hosted two international virtual conferences about the infant microbiome, the last one held in February 2024 was attended by 3,500 health professionals.

I graduated from the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Medical University of Warsaw with a degree in midwifery, and I also studied psychology at the Higher School of Finance and Management. I hold a specialization in gynecology and obstetrics. I promote mindful bodywork during the perinatal period and prepare women for both home and hospital births. I became a midwife by choice; this mission was born within me after experiencing my own birth. I am a midwife because my work is my lifestyle and passion, a legacy passed down from my mother, who is also a midwife. I am also a mother to Leon and Nadia. I was the first person in Poland to obtain the title and certification of Spinning Babies® Certified Parent Educator, representing this method in our country. I created training cycles for professionals: "Medical Pregnancy Training" and "Birth is Movement." I have published three books: "Rodzić można łatwiej", "Pierwsze chwile z noworodkiem" and "Lekko w ciąży".
I work daily at the Słuchając Ciała and Vitalnova clinics and assist with home births. I lead a live online course, "Holistic Preparation for Birth," which has holistically prepared over twenty thousand women for childbirth. I also have my own online exercise platform: www.izabeladembinska.myvod.io, and am actively involved on social media, where my mission is perinatal education. I was a specialist in the National Health Program conducted by the Ministry of Health in the field of Perinatal Care Standards, and I am a member of the Independent Initiative of Parents and Midwives Association, "Dobrze Urodzeni." After the birth of my son Leon, I left the hospital setting and joined a team of home birth midwives.
I am passionate about natural birth, childbirth, and motherhood, being present with women in the closeness of their natural environment. The path that drives me most is supporting women during birth and preparing birthing bodies with the support of osteopathic methods and specialists. I am fascinated by the biomechanics of birth and the pelvis, as well as how the body affects the birth process. Birth is an art of release, surrender, and cooperation with the birthing body. I believe in a good birth and that supporting women in knowing they have the strength to give birth is the foundation of midwifery. The motto that guides my work is: "Humility towards nature and respect for medicine."

Dr. Sabina Jakubowska – author of the novel Midwives (nominated for the European Union Prize for Literature, the Gombrowicz Award, and the Nike Literary Award), as well as The House on East Street for young readers (winner of the Tygodnik Powszechny and Book Institute's main award in the "Promoters of Debuts" competition). A graduate in archaeology from Jagiellonian University and Ph.D. in humanities from the same institution, she is also a certified doula and member of the Doula Association in Poland, a teacher, and above all, a mother.

Kathryn is mum to 4 boys, twins and 2 subsequent singletons. She trained as a breastfeeding peer supporter and volunteered in the groups for years in and around NW London, UK. Kathryn caught the breastfeeding support bug and decided to further her knowledge training as a Breastfeeding Counsellor with the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers and then qualifying as an IBCLC 6 years ago. Kathryn started Breastfeeding Twins and Triplets UK Facebook group 8 years ago and it now has over 10,000 members. It has recently been made into a UK charity. Kathryn is passionate about delivering high quality breastfeeding support to as many twin and triplet families as possible, creating resources and educating health care professionals and breastfeeding supporters. She runs a small private practice and continues to teach music part time, her original career path.

My name is Dominika Czajka, and I hold a master's degree in clinical nutrition. I specialize in female hormones and fertility. As one of the few dietitians, I take the phases of the menstrual cycle into account in the diets I propose. Every day, I help women with hormonal disorders and those struggling to conceive. To date, over 300 women have become pregnant with my assistance, and thousands of women have alleviated painful menstruation and PMS symptoms.

Dr. Ewa Tobor, PhD in Medicine, Midwife, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Health Sciences at Opole University. Provincial Consultant in Gynecological and Obstetric Nursing for the Silesian Voivodeship.
A midwife and academic teacher for many years, I am fascinated by observing the professional development of students and later graduates. I find great joy in moments spent with former students and the exchange of professional experiences. The development of medical education, particularly in the practical application of new methods and technologies in the education process, inspires me. I continuously pursue new challenges to deepen my knowledge. I love what I do. Accompanying individuals from birth to the end of life is a professional area that provides the most reflections and valuable life lessons. My new professional role involves the training qualifications granted to me by WHO to promote awareness of and sensitivity to the issue of violence against women, including in intimate relationships.

Midwife, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Habilitated Doctor of Health Sciences, Professor at the Silesian Medical University in Katowice, and Deputy Dean for Student Affairs at the Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice. Head of the Department of Nursing in Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Chair of Women's Health. Member of the Polish Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians, member of the Board of the Psychosomatic Section of the PTGiP, thematic editor, and member of the Scientific Council of the journal Gynecology and Obstetrics Medical Project. Author and co-author of numerous scientific publications and monographs in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.

Jane Knight is a Fertility Nurse Specialist and the Director of FertilityUK, a national fertility awareness service. She has worked with clients in the national health service and privately. She has researched and developed resources for consumers and universities, and trained health care professionals in the UK and internationally. Jane has authored books for the public including "What Every Woman Needs to Know about Fertility" and a textbook for health professionals entitled "The Complete Guide to Fertility Awareness".

I'm Liz McGregor, Nutritional Therapist, Naturopath, Lactation Consultant and Wellbeing Coach. I have two key areas of focus - preventing ill health in the first place, working with parents and babies, and helping people recover their health from chronic illnesses, working with adults. After my degree specialising in Developmental Psychology, I qualified as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and also worked in a Child Development Research Unit. I am passionate about helping mothers and babies avoid the health issues I had experienced from infancy into adulthood, so I keep up to date with the research on infant feeding, milk, disrupted immune systems and infant development. After fixing my own health issues (that took me 15 years of research) I turned my passion into a full-time profession and took a 3 year Diploma in Naturopathic Nutrition (Dip NT), with a further Diploma in Naturopathy (Dip. Nat) and Wellbeing Coaching, accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management. My continuing professional education is entirely self-driven and is now returning, full-circle, towards the latest research into Developmental Psychology. I am deeply concerned about the impact of under-nutrition on babies and their parents, from pre-conception, pregnancy and beyond. I am also concerned about the birth environment, a depleted microbiome and developmental trauma. Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) compound the difficulties that children and adults face, and can predispose them to chronic illness and emotional difficulties in both early and later life. This is why I love to work with health professionals – once they know the impact and what they can do to mitigate the effects, they can make a significant difference in people's lives every day. I volunteer as the Team Lead for Education Content Development for Collaboration for Kids, a charity working to encourage children to eat real, natural food to improve their health and wellbeing. I am also a member of two All-Party Parliamentary Groups, on the Human Gut Microbiome and Infant Feeding and Inequality. I spent several years reviewing research and providing input to the National Institute For Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on behalf of Lactation Consultants of Great Britain.

My name is Kaja. I have a Master's Degree in Clinical Hypnotherapy and am a certified instructor of KG Hypnobirthing. I devoted my master's thesis defended at the University of West London to hypnobirthing, examining the impact of hypnobirthing on women's belief that their bodies are capable of giving birth. My main goal is to train midwives and people working with pregnant women in hypnobirthing. I created an instructor course that has been accredited by the renowned London College of Clinical Hypnotherapy International, and I put all my energy into promoting it, because midwives who know the method and how to use it will not only gain an important tool for working with women but will also know how else they can support women in labor. I have also published a book about hypnobirthing, which you can read more about on the dedicated website. On a daily basis, I work with couples in Krakow, preparing them for hypnobirthing. I am the organizer of the 'International Interdisciplinary Conference on Holistic Maternity Care" which led to the idea of creating the birth.expert platform.