Long Island hospital now offers underwater birthing suites

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. (WABC) -- A Long Island hospital now has alternative birthing suites for underwater deliveries.

Mothers and babies were part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday at the Nassau University Medical Center, which is one of the first hospitals in Manhattan, Queens and Long Island to offer hydro birthing for women with low-risk pregnancies.

It's part of a major renovation of the hospital's OB-GYN department, which also has seven regular labor and delivery suites.

Andrea Pinta-Carrillo, of Valley Stream, gave birth to little Camila Friday morning in one of the two new water birthing suites.

"When you experience the contractions in water, it's just different" she said. "It's like they're smoother. I mean, they're still painful, but it's just the water relaxes you."

According to mothers who have had a water birth, the labor is much faster and significantly less painful.

"It just felt very natural to do it that way," Wantagh resident Sharon Klein said. "The pain was a lot less once you got into the water. I couldn't wait to get in the water.

In fact, midwives say when the babies come out, they rarely cry because they're used to a water environment in the womb.

"Sometimes, they come out, and they are swimming," midwife Barbara Charles said. "And the nurse will look at me and say, 'did you see that?' It's amazing."

Doctors here looked at the numbers, and mothers who delivered in water were much less likely to have complications.

"We pass the baby to the mom, we don't clamp and cut the cord right away," midwife Dale Cook said. "Because this is a gentle transition for the mother and baby."

Water birthing isn't for everyone. If you're interested, you need to check with your doctor. For example, women who have had a C-section aren't eligible for this birthing method.

If you're interested in water birthing at Nassau University Medical Center call 516-572-6255.