Barbara Harper’s journey to founding Waterbirth International was deeply personal. As a nurse, midwife, doula, and childbirth educator, she witnessed firsthand how standard hospital practices often disrupted the natural process of birth. She saw that many interventions, though well-intentioned, left birthing parents feeling disempowered, disconnected, and unsupported.

Her perspective shifted profoundly when she experienced her own warm water immersion during labor with her son. Inspired by the physiology of birth, traditional midwifery wisdom, and emerging research, Barbara traveled the world to learn from cultures that honored birth as a sacred, physiological event—not a medical emergency. She studied in Russia, France, and across Europe, where pioneers like Dr. Michel Odent were reintroducing water birth into hospital settings.

In 1988, she founded Waterbirth International with a clear mission:
✔️ To educate birth professionals on the science and safety of water birth
✔️ To advocate for water birth integration in hospitals and maternity care
✔️ To empower families with knowledge and options for gentle, evidence-based birth

At the heart of Barbara’s philosophy is the belief that “Birth should be undisturbed, supported, and deeply respectful of the mother-baby connection.” Water, she discovered, was a simple yet powerful tool that helped reduce pain, promote relaxation, and allow for physiological, instinctual birth.