Jeannine Parvati Baker, born Jeannine O'Brien, was a multifaceted individual who made significant contributions as an author, midwife, yoga teacher, and activist. Born in 1949, she passed away in 2005. Her career encompassed a deep engagement with natural childbirth, prenatal yoga, and women's health, leading her to establish Hygieia College, a mentorship program focused on these areas. She was also a prominent advocate for genital integrity and an outspoken critic of circumcision.

Parvati's literary work explored themes of conception, sexuality, and women's health. Her early book, "Prenatal Yoga & Natural Childbirth," was influenced by Baba Hari Dass, and "Hygieia: A Woman's Herbal" originated as her master's thesis. Later, she co-authored "Conscious Conception: Elemental Journey through the Labyrinth of Sexuality." She practiced midwifery for over a decade in California before relocating to Utah, where she continued her practice and teaching, and is recognized for popularizing the lotus birth method in the United States.

Jeannine Parvati Baker dedicated a significant portion of her life to the practice of midwifery, serving in Sonoma County, California, for more than ten years. Following her move to rural southern Utah, she continued her work as a midwife. Alongside her practice, she was a proponent of prenatal yoga, which she also taught. Parvati founded Hygieia College, an institution designed as a mentorship program to pass on knowledge in these fields. She is also credited with bringing the practice of lotus birth, where the placenta remains attached to the newborn until it naturally detaches, to wider attention in the United States.

Beyond her work in childbirth and holistic health, Jeannine Parvati Baker was a vocal activist for genital integrity. She actively campaigned against circumcision, speaking at conferences as a keynote speaker on the subject. Her advocacy aimed to raise awareness and promote the eradication of the practice. She further articulated her views on sexual mutilation and potential solutions in her writings, including a piece titled "The Wound Reveals The Cure: A Utah Model For Ending The Cycle of Sexual Mutilation."