I cannot yet imagine a world without the voice and work of
Waterbirth International - we get calls and emails every day from
women who need help convincing one hospital or another to let them
labor or birth in water. If we die - a big part of the movement
dies. Waterbirth has shown us all that women know how to give birth
and babies know how to be born. Waterbirth gave us "hands-off", sit
back and let the baby out. I see waterbirth mentioned on Blogs every
single day, not to mention Baby Story on the TV. I took Waterbirth
International to ACOG two years in a row - and was the ONLY booth
showing birth films to obstetricians and especially to student
physicians. There were tears, laughter and outrage - just the thing
to stir up those young crop of doctors. I am finally realizing a
life's dream.
But now I am faced with letting this dream go. Perhaps I have done
enough. Perhaps it is time to quit.

About 18 years ago, maybe it was longer, when Mothering Magazine was
facing bankruptcy Peggy did a heartfelt plea asking their readers to
consider ordering a Life-time subscription. I think the
subscriptions were $1000 or $1200, I can't remember now. I do
remember that I couldn't imagine not reading my Mothering. So, I
bought two and gave one to my obstetrician's office.

How can you help us stay open to take the next phone call? - to
convince the next obstetrician to incorporate waterbirth into
his/her practice - to work with the nurse midwives to install pools
in their facilities? To educate an entire hospital on the benefits
of allowing women freedom of movement in the water. How much is it
worth to see waterbirth become the norm in the US, like it is in the
UK? I think we only need a few more years to make that happen. Do
women really want waterbirth to be an available choice in every
hospital? I think so.

Can you help us by getting the word out on blogs and lists? I had to
let go of all of the staff except one person to process orders.
Miraculously, we made payroll today, but we can't hang on much
longer. We need a miracle.

If I need to call every single waterbirth parent personally, I will.
I don't want 25 years of work to end over a measly $200,000.

The work that we have done the last few years has been phenomenal.
How God arranged for me to teach in hospitals and medical schools
around the planet - Taiwan, Venezuela, Turkey, Mexico, Canada,
Holland, Portugal, China, Trinidad, Croatia - I'll never figure that
out. I laugh out loud sometimes when I get up in front of an
audience of physicians in a medical school overseas - who all want
to hear about waterbirth and the incorporation of Gentle Birth
practices and principles into their routines.

Think about what you can do and call me if you want to chat or if
you have some great ideas on how we can quickly move into the black
and keep waterbirth alive and thriving.

We need your help. Barbara Harper needs your help. The
waterbirth/gentle birth movement needs your help.

Blessings,
Barbara
Barbara Harper, RN, CLD, CCE
Founder/Director
Waterbirth International
www.waterbirth.org
503-673-0026 -office (out of US or in Portland)
800-641-2229 - toll free
503-710-7975 - cell phone

We LOVE helping women get into Hot Water!!

And have been doing it for 24 years!!