A woman has birthed her baby girl on the water’s edge at a beach, supported by her doula and obstetrician in what she describes was a ‘natural and ecological birth’.
Maria Luna, who is herself a doula, shared videos of her incredible and powerful birth on social media and explained how she prepared for the unique labour and birth.
“Today was the day, the expected day, we lived our natural, physiological, ecological birth, in the place we dreamed, with wonderful details from God to live it and with the ideal company,” she wrote in the comments of her video.
“We will not deny that in waiting came negative thoughts, but as God says in his word: Philippians 4:6-7 ‘Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’
“Every evil thought fades away, and though all these previous days were rainy days, thinking on the time of labour would be, in being the first time living it so, we did not stop believing, to visualise the power to live God’s design in this new birth but above all every night on our knees seeking his will.
“Design that today we expose in this video, from the knowledge, experience and accompaniment of a team of professionals … who respect both physiological and natural design as well as the decision of the protagonists in the process: dad, mum and baby.”
Maria explained that the birth was carefully planned, with all of the variables considered.
“To live through this process, a birth plan was made which was shared with the team of humanising professionals of labour. The variables were assessed to be able to live it like: weather, time of process, healthy pregnancy and healthy baby, mum and dad informed and determined.
“Not controlling any of it but hoping that everything will flow through God’s perfect will, this day was a day with radiant sun, a process that started in the day, and the support of the team to carry it out.”
Baby Amelia was born on July 16th at 10.15am in a beach birth, Maria’s husband Raul Ramirez, their doula and obstetrician all supporting Maria through the experience.
The videos have attracted thousands of likes and comments, many commending Maria on her strength and determination. However there were those who were concerned about just how safe a beach birth is.
“I understand that hospitals are violent and disrespectful, but to say that being born like this is right and safe, is to go back 200 years in preventable infant mortality,” commented desix1989.
“We humanise the births with discretion, work ideal conditions that are good for the mother and the baby, births in water with clean water at good temperature and in adequate osmolarity, births in free movement and position, accompanying worthy of the father and the family.. all of that is precious… but keep the criterion @medico which allows us to dilute that the marine microbiota harbours vibrios that are difficult to treat bacteria, which has a sodium charge NOT suitable for intake and that a newborn baby has a circulating volume.
“She is so young and a stomach that with 5 cc the first few hours is full, so ingesting a salty drink implies a maximum risk, that the water from the rivers has free amoebas that eat the brains literally, Anyway… Let’s unite the good wishes and practices of humanising with a responsible exercise of medicine.”
Earlier this year a mum-of-four also drew criticism for freebirthing her baby in the Pacific Ocean.
