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In this episode, we welcome back the influential Barbara Harper, a pioneer in water birth and gentle birthing practices for over 40 years! She shares her recent global travels, insights into delayed cord clamping, and the significance of nurturing connections between mother and baby immediately after birth.

Key Topics Discussed:

Barbara's global travels training doctors, nurses, midwives, doulas and birth support workers in waterbirth and hypnobirthing.

Delayed Cord Clamping:

• Importance of not cutting the umbilical cord immediately post-birth.
• Scientific evidence supporting benefits such as increased blood volume for newborns.
• The concept of optimal cord clamping where the placenta is birthed before severing the cord.

Nurture Science & Connection:

• Emphasis on immediate skin-to-skin contact ("in the sanctuary") for at least six hours post-birth.
• Nils Bergman's "nurture science" highlighting continuous love and attention from mothers to infants.

Global Practices & Education Challenges:

• High cesarean rates due to lack of understanding of normal physiologic births among medical professionals.
• Need for educational reforms in medical schools worldwide emphasizing natural birthing processes.

Postpartum Care Models:

• Insights from postpartum facilities in China offering extensive support during the first forty days post-birth.

Notable Quotes:

"The baby's brain only has one program – connection."

"We must change how we welcome babies into the world."

Listeners are encouraged to explore more about gentle birth practices by revisiting our previous episode titled ‘Embracing Waterbirth’ featuring Barbara Harper. Consider advocating for informed birthing choices that prioritize both maternal comfort and infant health through education and community support systems.

Get in touch with Barbara Harper on instagram @thebarbaraharper

Or at her website: www.waterbirth.org

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