Mom Giving Birth in the Red Sea Goes Down as One of the Coolest Water Births

Water births are growing in popularity. New mothers skip the hospital to give birth at home in the tub — or, in this case, in the sea. A local captured a Russian tourist giving birth in the Red Sea in a series of incredible photos.  

Mom Seen Giving Birth in the Red Sea 

Hadia Hosny El Said stood on the balcony of her uncle’s apartment when she noticed something unique going on below. Eld Said’s uncle, Mohamed El-Said, is a doctor specializing in water births. He was helping a couple from Russia who came to Dahab, Egypt, to give birth in the Red Sea. [1] 

The trio entered the sea only to return to shore carrying a baby. Even the mother walked calmly to the beach. El-Said wrote on Facebook, “The mother’s departure from the sea after birth was as if nothing had happened.” 

The mother rested on the sand while the doctor examined the baby. The placenta, still attached, was placed into an orange bowl next to him. And the mom didn’t seem lethargic or in pain at all. She just toweled herself off and watched her new child. As seen in the photos, she was joined by another child eager to meet the newborn. 

With the baby safe in the doctor’s arms, they all left the beach, and these incredible pictures went viral. However, this mom isn’t the first to give birth in the Red Sea. This is actually a common trend, though it’s not exactly clear why. The family in the photos has yet to be identified. [2] 

Despite the assumed ease of this delivery, experts do not recommend mothers to give birth in the ocean.  

“I worry that this is a completely dangerous environment for the baby,” said Dr. Saima Aftab, medical director of the Fetal Care Center at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami. “Even in the presence of a medical professional, an ocean birth could be harmful.” 

Read: It’s Officially Time to Retire the ‘Gender Reveal Party’

The Controversy About Water Births 

Although water births are growing in popularity, there is still debate on the safety of this method. More data is needed before the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) will condone it. [3] For now, there is not enough research to support the claimed benefits of water births. Additionally, there are risks involved in this process.  

However, current evidence does say that experiencing the early stages of labor in water can be beneficial. So this is sometimes recommended to healthy expecting mothers who are 37 weeks minimal. Nevertheless, more data is needed about actually delivering the baby into the water. 

“Experts don’t feel we’re at a point yet where we can say it’s safe,” Aftab said. She continues that if a woman wants to give birth in water, she should be informed that the risks and lack of research. [4] 

The main risk is that the baby could inhale in the water and drown. The bathtub could also hold infections if it’s not cleaned properly or if the water is contaminated. 

What About Ocean Births? 

Giving birth in the ocean or the Red Sea includes some added risks. The environment is uncontrolled and unpredictable. Not only could the baby inhale water, but the mother could also drown while she’s exhausted and vulnerable. Additionally, the salt could harm the baby, even if he gulps only a bit of water. Also, the temperature could give the baby hypothermia. 

Similarly, oceans also contain bacteria that could cause infections. Babies, especially newborns, are extremely susceptible to these kinds of hazards.  

And speaking on ocean births, dolphin-assisted births are also a bad idea. A mom went viral when she announced she would give birth in the ocean surrounded by dolphins in Hawaii. She explained that she believed her baby would be able to “speak dolphin,” among other benefits. 

However, according to Christie Wilcox, “My professional opinion: this has to be, hands down, one of the worst natural birthing ideas anyone has ever had. 

“Because of their friendly disposition and common occurrence in aquariums, we tend to think of dolphins as trustworthy, loving creatures. But let’s get real for a minute here. Dolphins don’t eat sunshine and fart roses. They’re wild animals, and they are known to do some pretty terrible things.” [5] 

In other words, skip the ocean. 

If a mother wants to have a water birth, it’s ideal to have it in a health care facility under medical supervision. Therefore, the water and environment are completely controlled and the health of the baby and mother could stay closely monitored. 

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