Outliers: When Flipper is your birthing coach ...

With summer nearing, Outliers could really use a vacation. In Hawaii, say. Ah …. Waikiki beach, luaus, hula dancing, pina coladas, surfing. And dolphins!

But while swimming with Flipper is a pastime for many a tropical vacationer, some women are engaging with the supersmart water mammals a bit differently: for “dolphin-attended” births. According to Star Newland and Michael Hyson of the Sirius Institute in Puna, Hawaii, “some three decades of research and the experience of thousands of births has shown underwater birth is better for the mother and the baby.” The pair says it all has to do with buoyancy. “Underwater births in the Black Sea have been done for some 30 years and have shown that the children born in the water with the dolphins develop six months faster over their first six months.”

The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer recently dedicated a story on one couple flying thousands of miles to deliver with the help of dolphins. “It is about reconnecting as humans with the dolphins so we can co-exist in this world together and learn from one another,” Heather Barringer told the newspaper. “It's total relaxation for the mother,” husband Adam said. “Dolphins are very intelligent and healing, which in turn calms mother and baby for the whole process,” Heather added.

If interacting with Flipper is that relaxing during childbirth, Outliers can only imagine what it might do for everyday stress. Now why wasn't dolphin-assisted relaxing included as an essential health benefit for all health plans next year?

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