“It was absolutely amazing. After getting in the water he was born in 2 hours, not once did I feel the need for any other form of pain relief. Baby was so calm, no crying, he just looked around wide eyed taking everything in.”
-Karli, mother of:
Elijah Samuel
Born at Hospital 11px; font-family: Verdana;">4/9/2001
Rosebud, VIC,Australia
submitted3/21/2007
"After 8 hours of labor (most of them in our birth pool set up inside our house) our daughter was water born... amazing experience, the warm water was essential... This is our second child and is a vaginal birth after cesarean. We can really tell now: this is the best way to have a baby :-)."
~ Saul, father of:
Carmine Born at home 3/7/2007 Monterrey, Mexico
submitted 3/8/2007
“I was free to labor in a warm tub and also within my husband's embrace, and upon the point of delivery my joyful blessing was to able to push with my body, and pull with my own arms, my dear daughter -out of me and into a warm and welcome embrace also. Lovely!” -Sharlene, mother of:
Maya was born in water, using a deep relaxation birthing method of HypnoBirthing. My early labor was very easy, so much so that it was difficult to distinguish it as labor at all. As my surges progressed and strengthened I opened and relaxed and my labor progressed quickly. The environment was incredibly calming and reassuring - quite a contrast from the hospital birth of my first daughter. The water supported and relaxed my body and tissues, and Maya was born easily and gently after only approximately 2 hours of (noticeable) labor. Given a typical, healthy pregnancy with no special circumstances, I would now never birth my baby any other way.
We are dedicated to making waterbirth an available option for all women
Waterbirth: Easier for Moms ~ Better for Babies!
Our 2009 Waterbirth Credentialing and Certification Workshops were a great success!!
Thank you to all students and hosts for making 2009 such a banner year. We were hosted in workshops all over the US, Canada and Mexico. 2010 calendar is already jam packed with educational opportunities in the US, Canada, the Netherlands and Taiwan and that's just the first seven months!!
For more information or to arrange a workshop in your hospital or area
call 954-821-9125
YES, we have moved!! To our new home in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Here is a current list of confirmed workshops for 2010 (more going up every day)
Waterbirth is felt by mothers and providers alike to be the gentlest of gentle births.
Warm luxurious water to cradle you and give you complete freedom to move during the greatest achievement of your life. Read the comments on the pages of this site - "In Mother's Words" - The women who have experienced the support and comfort of water for their labors and held their newborns in their arms speak more than any scientific article or paper on the subject.
These are real women with real babies.
And what about the babies? Over 5000 mothers or fathers have already registered their babies on the, "I Was Born in Water," list. We have currently displayed a small portion of this list, but expect to add more names very soon. Once you enter your baby on the list, you will be eligible to participate in the Water Baby Parent Survey. The survey will help create the needed statistics to convince doctors and nurses that waterbirth is safe, easy, and the most effective drug-free choice for comfort throughout labor and birth.
"A baby is the beginning of all things - wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities. In a world that is cutting down trees to build highways and losing it's earth to concrete, babies are almost the only remaining link with the natural world or the living things from which we spring." ~ Eda. J Leshan
We welcome your comments and questions and hope that we can enlighten you about the benefits of choosing the gentlest of gentle births.
Barbara Harper interviews for Radiotuvox.com October 10, 2009
While in Monterrey, Mexico for the Humanization of Birth Conference, Barbara interviewed for this international radio program. Check the site for time of broadcast.
Listen to the 30 minute interview with Laura and Todd Mansfield and browse their fabulous archives of radio guests. Be sure to hear Barbara's famous last words!!
Barbara Harper traveled to Bermuda to teach Waterbirth
Appearing on local radio and interviewing for the Bermuda Sun Times, Barbara infused an excitement about gentle birth on this island paradise the last weekend in May, 2009. Sophia Cannonier, founder of www.consciousbirthbermuda.com, invited Barbara to aid in parent and professional education about waterbirth. The weekend also involved two performances of BIRTH the Play.
Barbara Harper and Dianne Garlandpresented a Waterbirth Workshop in Tel Aviv, Israel. A two day workshop was well attended by members of the Israeli Midwife Association the last week of May. Harper and Garland gave evidence based studies and taught how to handle complications during a waterbirth. They also participated in a COHI project to bring together Israeli and Palestinian midwives at an East Jerusalem, Red Crescent Hospital. Waterbirth was enthusiastically accepted by both groups. Now, it is just a matter of implementing changes to practice. A big thanks to Sara Bonds, the founder and director of Circle of Health International for conceiving this coexistence project.
