A splash of life in Al Ain

Women will soon be able to give birth in water for the first time in the UAE, XPRESS can reveal. The "gentle" way of giving birth will be an option at the Al Ain Cromwell Women and Children's Hospital. Water-birthing expert and hospital head midwife Sandi Blankenship said the alternative way of delivering babies has been reported to be virtually painless in many cases. Blankenship, who has overseen hundreds of water-births in her decades-long career in her home country, the USA, said the procedure is completely natural and safe. "Babies start their life in ‘water' inside the womb, it's their world," said Blankenship. Article continues below She pointed out that newborns don't start breathing like adults - and don't need to either - as long as the umbilical cord linking mother and child functions well (usually until several minutes after birth if it's not clamped). Less stress, less pain "For mothers, water-birthing gives them comfort, there's less stress. That means less pain." She added: "Giving birth is not about lying around in bed, it's about ‘getting off your back'. You don't have to be lying down, you can be in a squatting position, which opens up the pelvic region more and makes it easier to deliver". Blankenship said pregnant women would - by August - dip into a purpose-built tub, with tap water up to the waistline when sitting down on the tub floor. "Because there's water you can move around effortlessly. Water makes us feel safe and calm. What do you do when you've had a rough day? You take a hot bath," Blankenship added. "It's all about giving women back the choice and power; it's their body and their baby. Birthing is a natural part of life. Unfortunately, movies have made it look more ‘medicalised'. We're trying to reverse all that." Blankenship said more and more women today are aware of water-birthing because of greater access to education and research on internet. She said the option will cost about an extra Dh1,000 over regular delivery charges, without giving further details. an another rare development for the country, husbands will also be allowed to be with their wives during active birth. Did you know? Newborns only start to breathe when birthing attendants rub their bodies down, formally known as ‘tactical stimulation'.