Dec 5, 2016
Guest: Barbara Harper, an internationally
recognized expert on waterbirth and gentle birth, founder of
Waterbirth International and bestselling author of "Gentle
Birth Choices" which has been translated into 9 languages around
the world.
In this episode, we will cover:
- why Barbara believes every baby DESERVES a gentle birth and
how it inspired her to write the book "Gentle Birth
Choices"
- What a birth in water offers the mother and the baby and how
safe it really is (she covers the physiology of the first
breath of life beautifully here)
- How to surrender to a "Baby Led Birth" and how doing so will
allow for a safer and easier birth
Resources mentioned in the conversation:
About Barbara
Harper:
Barbara Harper has dedicated her
life to changing the way we welcome babies into the world and is an
internationally recognized expert on waterbirth and gentle
birth.
She founded Waterbirth International in 1988, with one goal in
mind – to ensure that waterbirth is an “available option” for all
women.
During the past four decades Barbara has worked as an
obstetric and pediatric nurse, midwife, midwifery instructor,
childbirth educator, doula and doula trainer and has used her vast
experience to develop unique seminars which she teaches within
hospitals, nursing schools, midwifery and medical schools and
community groups worldwide.
Her bestselling book and DVD, ‘Gentle Birth Choices,’ has been
translated into 9 languages so far. Her next book ‘Embracing
the Miracle: The Science, Safety and Spirit of Birth in Water,’
will be ready for publication in 2017.
She has three adult children,
two of whom were born at home in water, and one grandson in
college. She lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where she is
active in the community as a volunteer and as a midwifery and doula
mentor.