A woman gave birth in the ocean and recorded the process on video: this dangerous trend is gaining popularity

The new mother made a splash not only online, but also in the water after she filmed her birth in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. Read more about this story told the publication New York Post.

Photo: Shutterstock

Josie Peikert posted her video on Instagram back in February, but just now it has over 200 views.

The unconventional water birth of a 27-year-old woman led commentators to alternately hail the act as "empowering" and "dangerous," but the woman in labor explained her actions.

“The conditions were right that day, which is why I did it,” Peikert said.

According to her, she was inspired to "free birth", that is, giving birth without assistance in the waters of the ocean, because she wanted to show that the female body is capable of giving birth on its own, without traditional medical intervention.

“I had the idea in my head that I wanted to give birth in the ocean,” Peikert, who moved to Nicaragua from Germany, explained. “I followed the tide for a few weeks, so when it came time to give birth, I knew the beach would be safe.”

When she went into labor on February 27, Peikert's older children went to see friends, while her husband, Benny Cornelius, took her to the beach with towels, gauze, and a bowl of "placenta-collecting sieve."

The 50-second video shows the mother kneeling in the surf during labor. The footage then cuts off after the birth, and then a happy mother is seen in the water, clutching her newborn baby.

“The waves were in the same rhythm as the contractions. This smooth flow made me feel really good,” Peikert described her birth. “The soft sand beneath me reminded me that between heaven and earth there is nothing but life. I didn't have any fears or worries. This was spectacular".

After the birth of their son, who was named Bodhi Amor Ocean Cornelius, the happy couple drove home and weighed the baby, who weighed 7 pounds and 6 ounces (3,3 kg).

On the subject: A child born on the flight was presented with a free flight year of 21

Along with the supposed symbolism of being born where life originated, Peikert wanted to avoid the previous traumatic experience she experienced while giving birth in the hospital.

“My first birth was traumatic in the clinic, I gave birth at home, but this time I didn’t even want a midwife,” complains Peikert, who has seven children with her husband. “This time I had no visits to the doctor, no examinations, no extraneous influence.”

She then elaborated, “We didn’t have a due date or a deadline for having a baby. We just believed that our child would make it."

Peikert assures that the birth in the ocean waters has borne fruit, since Bodhi is "a really calm and contented child."

“He’s doing great if he’s in his mother’s arms,” she notes. "It's as relaxed as it is in my tummy."

Many commentators praised her unconventional birth method, and one of them wrote: “What a legend, what a mother, what a lucky boy! Pure nature is all you need."

“All I keep thinking about is how beneficial salt water is for healing. Congratulations!" another follower picked up.

Many supporters called the woman in labor's decision "so inspiring."

However, some social media users are concerned about how safe Peikert's method of having a baby is.

“Is it hygienic? There are a lot of bacteria in the sea,” one skeptic asked, while another wrote: “What a shock for a child - from a warm womb to a cold ocean!”

However, Peikert does not accept the criticism, and explains: “Bodhi was born under the midday sun, and we did not worry at all that he would be cold. Besides, I was not worried about waterborne infections.”

"He's perfectly healthy," explained Peikert, who emigrated to Nicaragua from Germany immediately after meeting her partner. “I did all the necessary research and made sure it was safe. Water is a barrier, which is medically proven.”

How safe is it medically?

As a birth nurse, Liesel Ting told the publication Insiderthan such childbirth is fraught with.

“The child can get supercooled in the water, and the mother can become infected, and undercurrents are also likely. In addition, there is an elementary risk of childbirth, such as excessive bleeding or exhaustion. But I was also worried about the audience — the hundreds of thousands of people who saw the story and thought that “free birth” might be a good idea for them. I don't recommend this to anyone," Liesel concluded.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in free birth - completely unaided at home or in the ocean. These parents do not receive any antenatal care, and they do not have birth specialists nearby.

This is different from a planned home birth with a midwife. Home birth is safe.

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“Being free is a risk I wouldn't take. Too much can go wrong for both the parents and the child. When you give birth, it's often difficult to recognize an emergency until it's too late. Every year, thousands of women and babies die because they do not have access to health care. I don't understand how you can refuse care when you have the opportunity to access it. It’s hard to even find the words, ”Tin is surprised.

“Often I see women interested in a free birth after they have had a traumatic experience in the hospital. I understand where these women come from. They see it as a workaround to avoid dealing with hospitals and doctors. But instead of having a baby in the bathroom, I advise future parents to find a doctor who listens to them and whom they trust. There are many safe ways to give birth the way you imagined it, including at home with a midwife,” notes the nurse.

“I try to remind people of the nuances. They have the right to advocate breastfeeding without denying formula. Nobody forbids them to plan a birth without intervention, but it is necessary to study the questions that should be asked when complications arise, ”she says.

“Of course, social networks have brought many benefits to the normalization of the birth rate. There are powerful Instagram accounts where you can see beautiful images of pregnant women. Patients often come to the hospital with more realistic ideas about childbirth,” agrees the nurse.

“The flip side of this is anecdotal information that spreads like wildfire. If a pregnant woman reads about someone's bad experience with an epidural, she may take it to heart, although epidurals are safe for both parent and child. In a more extreme case, they might see a story about someone giving birth in the ocean and think that not getting medical attention would make the birth more authentic, Liesel warns. “I hope that parents-to-be will benefit from social media as well as form trusting and open relationships with their doctors. This is what is needed for a birth in which both parent and child are safe.”

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