The birth of the baby was captured on video by the mother’s partner and quickly shared on Instagram, garnering a significant amount of attention and comments. The unique water birth happened at Playa Majagual in Nicaragua and the footage was posted on the same day as the birth.
The birth was what is commonly known as a “free birth,” meaning it was not attended by any medical professionals. The partner of the mother assisted in preparing for the delivery by gathering necessary items such as towels and a sieve to collect the afterbirth. They then accompanied the mother to the beach where the birth took place.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, the mother revealed that she had been monitoring the tide conditions for several days before choosing the day of the birth. Her other children were with friends when she went into labor, and her husband accompanied her to the beach. She explained that the idea of giving birth in the ocean had been on her mind for a while, and the rhythm of the waves seemed to match her contractions, creating a steady flow that made her feel great.
The video of the birth captures moments of Josy kneeling in the ocean and even showing her newborn son with the umbilical cord still attached. After the birth, Josy returned to the waters of the Pacific Ocean to cool off before getting dressed and returning home with her husband and the baby, who weighed 3.5 kilograms. Josy’s desire to give birth without medical assistance stemmed from a traumatic first delivery and the feeling that the midwife present for her second child’s birth was unnecessary.
Following the video’s release, social media was abuzz with both positive and negative comments. Some, including medical professionals, expressed concern for the health risks that the mother and baby may have faced, such as infections, hemorrhaging, and other complications that can occur during any delivery. However, Josy was quick to assure everyone that both she and the baby were doing well.
