Barbara Harper, a former obstetric and neonatal nurse, is a midwife, doula, childbirth educator and writer. An internationally recognized expert on water birth and childbirth reform, she teaches and consults within hospitals, universities and community groups worldwide. She is the author of Gentle birth choices book and DVD and producer of Birth into being: the Russian waterbirth experience. Her next book, Secrets of Successful Waterbirth: How to Help Women Get into Hot Water, will be ready in 2012. Barbara has dedicated her life to helping heal the way we welcome babies into the world and to help parents and providers understand the benefits of warm water immersion during labour. The mother of three adult children (two youngest sons born at home in water), she lives in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Her websites are www.waterbirth.org and www.gentlebirthguardians.com