
Water births have become commonplace in hospitals, but some mothers are taking it one step further and going into the sea in a bid to enhance their experience of labour.

Now one mother, who appears on Extraordinary Births, a Channel 4 documentary, is not only planning to give birth in the sea but intends to have a dolphin for a midwife.

Spiritual healer Dorina Rosin and her partner Maika Suneagle, from Hawaii, spoke to presenter Katie Piper about their plans to have a 'dolphin-assisted' birth - despite running the risk of another species of local marine life, the Great White Shark, turning up instead.

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In an eye-opening new documentary Katie Piper meets the mothers having unconventional labours. Pictured: Dorina who is choosing to give birth in the sea with a dolphin as her midwife

The couple who run a healing retreat on Hawaii's Big Island, believe in the healing power of nature and offer CDs in their retreat that include dolphin song. The pair also say their baby will be able speak 'dolphin'.

Katie told the Times: 'I found the dolphin people a bit out-there but they seemed so happy and the woman was so relaxed.

'I just thought everybody was wonderful and it was all a bit of an eye-opener.'

Ahead of their birth in the ocean the couple also had a 38-week blessing during which Dorina took to the water heavily pregnant to swim alongside the mammals.

spiritual healer Dorina Rosin and her partner Maika Suneagle planned to swim with dolphins in the sea off Hawaii's Big Island for the birth

Katie Piper explains that Dorina believes that her newborn can speak 'dolphin'

Dorina also has a 38-week blessing where she swims heavily pregnant alongside her dolphin midwives

Although the parents-to-be claim that it is a more relaxing and natural way to deliver a child experts warn that it is extremely dangerous.

They claim that dolphins, especially in the wild, are unpredictable, dangerous and not to be trusted around a pregnant woman - or an infant child, for that matter.

'This has to be, hands down, one of the worst natural birthing ideas anyone has ever had,' science journalist Christie Wilcox wrote in Discover in 2013.

She cites research showing that dolphins will 'toss, beat, and kill small porpoises or baby sharks for no apparent reason other than they enjoy it, though some have suggested the poor porpoises serve as practice for killing the infants of rival males.'

'Is this an animal you want to have at your side when you’re completely vulnerable?' she asks.

However for the expectant couple they could think of no better way of introducing their newborn to the world.

Dorina Rosin swam with dolphins to receive their 'blessing' at 38 weeks pregnant

Mother-of-one Katie Piper hosts the show meeting the mother's opting for unorthodox births

Dorina explains on her blog Song of Trust, that she found the animals to have strong healing properties. She explains: 'In 2011 and 2014 I had the privilege to learn from and with wild and free dolphins and Humpback whales in Hawaii who transformed and healed me in a very profound way.

'I felt deeply called to spend two times three months in nature – mostly by myself – and to deeply connect to this magical place of beauty and transformation inside and outside which called me home.'

In a video posted last month on YouTube, entitled 'the dolphins came to give Maika and Dorina their love and play on this beautiful day in the Big Island waters!' the couple are seen swimming with snorkels and flippers alongside the mammals.

The mum-to-be, who wears a long-sleeved top and orange bikini bottoms, is seen mimicking the movement of the dolphins as she swims alongside them.

Dorina's story isn't the only one to raise eyebrows in the eye-opening documentary. One couple opts for the unconventional Lotus birth where the baby stays attached to the placenta until it falls off naturally and is preserved by with herbs.

Other mothers-to-be include bodybuilders who continue their craft throughout their pregnancy and a dancer who chooses to dance on stage during her gestation.

Piper, who appeared on Lorraine this morning, added: 'It's individual women all aspiring to have what they see as the perfect birth. It's funny because when I was filming with the women, they'd all say: "Have you met anyone extreme yet?" and I'd say, yes - you!'

On the subject of the dolphin birth, she added: Dolphins are clever and [Dorina] felt really connected to them. I thought, well it isn't for me but it's right for her. You know, happy mum, happy baby.'