Couple plans dolphin-assisted childbirth
It is about reconnecting as humans with the dolphins so we can coexist in this world together and learn from one another….
Having that connection with the pod of dolphins anytime – even if the birth doesn’t happen in the water – still brings peace, comfort and strength to the mother and baby during labor.
~ Heather Barringer (pictured with husband Adam Barringer) explaining her decision to travel to Hawaii with her husband in order to achieve a dolphin-assisted childbirth, Charlotte Observer via CBS News, May 28
Video of the couple explaining their decision here.
May.31, 2013 6:00 am |
Pregnancy |
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
As if delivering a baby were not enough of an adventure already?
At some point in human evolution, we decided to live on land and to give birth to our children in a safe environment, away from predators.
I echo the sentiments of the original news article: This is “possibly the worst idea, ever,” Discover reports, noting that a powerful carnivorous animal might not be the ideal companion for a woman giving birth, or for her newborn.
No. Just no.
Dolphins as midwives. Thought I heard everything…
Um…do they have their heads in the clouds or what? I can’t even begin to list all the ways in which this is a really bad idea and poorly thought out. Oh my gosh…
Because it’s all about the grown ups, who want to brag to their friends about their exotic “destination birth.” It’s sickening and more selfish than the English language can describe!
Why dolphins? Why not rhinos or lions? Coexist!
Just when you think people can’t get any WEIRDER…!
I actually know someone who did this–she’s a researcher at a Navy-funded dolphin center (working with rescued animals that are too injured to be returned to the wild, trying to improve Navy technology by studying dolphin underwater communications). Apparently, wild female dolphins will “midwife” a laboring mother dolphin, guarding her from predators, encouraging her and physically supporting her and the newborn–even lifting the baby to the surface for its first breath. In captivity, they do the same, and will gather around a pregnant human as well. My acquaintance said it was the most natural thing in the world for her to give birth surrounded by her aquatic friends! (she did, of course, have human help too, and transport ready in case of emergency. It ended up being a no-frills home water birth.)
However, I have to agree with ninek about this couple’s decision. They seem to be going for the “wow factor” by travelling specially for an exotic birth experience. But if they can afford it…to each their own. I hope they enjoy travelling home with a newborn…
Have we forgotten that wild animals are….wild animals? As such they are unpredictable and potentially very dangerous. How often have we heard of morons like these two getting injured or killed by “communing” with our “friends’ in the animal world? Maybe we shouldn’t try to stop them. It may be nature’s way of cleaning up the human gene pool.
Exactly Navi,
Why just the dolphins? Aren’t all wild animals potential friends and midwives?
Huge difference between animals cared for by a Navy research project and the animals not able to go back into the wild. That’s like having a baby in the water of the dolphin pools at Sea World. I think there is a lot more to worry about in the wild.
I will admit I think having wild animals around is crazy but I would LOVE to give birth in the warm salt water surrounding Hawaii. I saw a show where a woman gave birth in a salt water lagoon, but she had a friend there with her that was an actual OB doc, her husband, and they netted off the small entrance to the lagoon so they wouldn’t have huge animals in the water with her…she gave birth right there in the water. It was rather neat, appeared very calming and I can imagine rather cleansing after the birth being immersed in salt water. So maybe this couple will be intelligent enough to think things through instead of being off in this fantasy world and believe that delivering a human baby around wild animals is such a great idea. I know of NO woman, that just gave birth, that would be of any type of physical match for any wild animal right after she gives birth.
Don’t people know that dolphins have been known to kill other dolphins and animals for fun, and have known to attack humans here and there too? Freaking hippies (this coming from someone who’s half hippie lol).
You already know the kid’s nickname is going to be Flipper. LL :D
I would think you all would be happy that they are at the very least giving birth vs aborting. Now you all are attacking people who aren’t aborting?? My goodness so many battles from the antichoicers
Jake,
Wanting people to give birth in a safe, healthy environment doesn’t mean life advocates (pro-lifers) aren’t happy this couple is giving birth and not having an abortion. If a couple is intentionally giving birth in a potentially dangerous environment, that’s a problem. That’s the point of what everyone’s said.
Insane
Jake 10:24PM
Oh you can’t be serious!! You’re not actually suggesting that our friends in the animal kingdom don’t spend all their time frolicking in the forests and water, living in blissful harmony with each other and yearning to commune with us humans?
Mary, 10:24 is Jack, not Jake – in case you had the wrong person in mind. LL
Hi LL,
Thank you! My bad. Same post but addressed to Jack and not Jake.
“I once shot an elephant in my pajamas….how he got there, I’ll never know.”
Groucho Marx
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Seriously. This giving birth in the midst of dolphins reminds me of the people who rescued an injured sea otter or sea lion and nursed it back to health then to much fanfare released the now recovered critter back into the freedom of it’s natural environment and it was immediately eaten by a an Orca, ‘killer whale’.
I just hope the dolphins do not mistake the new born infant for a fish or a toy.
Oh come on Ken,
Our aquatic friends want only to learn from and commune with us humans. They are “midwives” because they’re so intelligent and kind, not because instinct dictates.
So don’t worry. Yes I know most animals apparently have much more sense than humans and keep their young away from potentially dangerous predators. However, if they just tried to befriend and learn from these predators, like humans do, they would be no need to do so.
Will Planned Parenthood be building submercibles in the waters off minority neighborhoods? (sarc)