#454: Getting Your Hands Wet: Water & Wisdom From Barbara Harper

Blyss and Stu are joined by guest Barbara Harper, founder of Waterbirth International, an internationally recognized expert on water birth and gentle birth. Join us for a roller coaster of an episode where we dig into the history of water birth, tell stories about how society lost its way in the world of birth, and dive into the physiology of birthing in water. Truly an episode you won’t forget.

About Barbara:

Barbara Harper is an internationally recognized expert on waterbirth and gentle birth who has dedicated her life to revolutionizing the way we welcome babies into the world.

She founded Waterbirth International in 1988 with one goal in mind—to ensure that water birth is an “available option” for all women. During the past five decades, Barbara has worked as an obstetric and pediatric nurse, midwife, midwifery instructor, childbirth educator, hypnosis and doula trainer. Her unique seminars, and Waterbirth Certification Courses have been conducted within hospitals, nursing schools, midwifery and medical schools, and community groups worldwide. Barbara has taught over 30,000 doctors and midwives in 81 countries to date.

She has been interviewed by hundreds of TV and radio shows, newspapers, and podcasts. Her bestselling 2005 book and DVD, ‘Gentle Birth Choices,’ has been translated into 9 languages, including a 2016 Mandarin Chinese edition. She is working on a new book due out in early 2026, The Comprehensive Guide to Waterbirth.”

She is the mother of three adult children, two of whom were born at home in water. She lives in Boca Raton, Florida.

Instagram: @waterbirthint @thebarbaraharper

Website: waterbirth.org and barbaraharper.org

Book: Gentle Birth Choices

References:

Healthy as a Mother Podcast: How Breech Birth Exposes Hospital Dysfunction

Deconstructing Conventional Podcast: Hospital vs Home Birth Truth with Dr. Fischbein & Blyss Young

Born Free Twins-Breech Gathering

Seven Secrets of Successful Waterbirth - MIDIRS

Maternal and neonatal outcomes among spontaneous vaginal births occurring in or out of water following intrapartum water immersion: The POOL cohort study

Water birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis of maternal and neonatal outcomes

AJOG Journal Pre-proof: Hospital Waterbirth for Low-Risk Birthing People: Findings of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Discussed in This Episode

Water Birth Through History: Indigenous Traditions, Early Textbooks & Medical Takeover

Modern Controversies: Why Water Birth Fell Out of Trust + Debunking Common Claims

How Babies Breathe in Water

Underwater Birth: Why “Dive Reflex” Isn’t the Explanation

The 3 Protective Mechanisms That Prevent a First Breath in Water

What Actually Initiates Breathing

Breech & Water Birth Transitions + The “Aquatic APGAR” Assessment

Lower APGARS in Water Birth Explained

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care

This show is supported by

• WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% off

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