Barbara Harper, an internationally recognized expert on waterbirth and Gentle Birth has dedicated her life to changing the way we welcome babies into the world. She founded Waterbirth International in 1988, to ensure that waterbirth is an “available option” for all women.

Over the past four decades, Barbara has worked in many areas of nursing, including OB and pediatrics, as a home birth midwife, midwifery instructor, doula and doula trainer, and childbirth instructor. She has taught unique seminars in 61 countries within hospitals, midwifery, nursing and medical schools and community groups worldwide. She provides certification training programs for hospitals, so they can integrate water immersion for labor and birth into their maternity units. She has permanent consulting contracts with large hospital corporations in China and India.

She has authored many journal articles and the highly acclaimed book and DVD, Gentle Birth Choices. Her next book ‘Birth, Bath & Beyond: A Practical Waterbirth Guide for Parents and Providers, will be published next year.  She lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where she is active in her community as a volunteer, a midwifery and doula mentor and teacher.  Her website is www.waterbirth.org