Mother's Day had extra special meaning for Katy Gartland this year – it marked the arrival of her daughter, Natalie. However, Natalie's big entrance into this world was a bit unusual: She was born in a blow-up kiddie pool in a room at La Porte Hospital in La Porte, Ind.

Gartland and her husband, Tim, opted for a water birth, wherein much of the laboring – and the delivery – occur in warm water. "We were the first water birth in a hospital setting in our county," Gartland says. "I had a doula and a midwife and the OB in the room. Everything was perfect. We had to bring all of the equipment because the hospital hadn't had this happen on the OB unit. We brought our own pool, pump, hoses and faucet adapter."

After only an hour of time in the pool, Gartland successfully gave birth to 7-pound, 5-ounce Natalie. It marked her second all-natural delivery, and Gartland says she'd recommend a water labor or birth to any expecting mom who desires a natural delivery.

More and more moms are interested in water births, says Julia Lange Kessler, a certified midwife at the New York University College of Nursing Midwifery Program. "Many moms ask about the water, and will be attracted to a practice that has tubs available," she says.

Water births are a growing trend – but not a new one by any means. Gillian Christie labored in water some 23 years ago with her second daughter. "I did the water birth as my research said it was better for the baby," the Santa Barbara mom says.

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