A Lotus Birth
by Alysse
A lotus birth is a birth practice (and an option!) where the umbilical cord is not severed, it is left intact and attached to the baby. It is often wrapped and placed in a bowl and then the mother and child are left to bond. In 3- 10 days, the umbilical cord dries out and detaches from the baby. A benefit includes your baby receiving all the blood from the placenta. The idea is that you are honouring the connection between the baby and the placenta.
While there have been many studies on delayed cord clamping there have not been any studies on the effectiveness of leaving the cord untouched. Many people believe that leaving the cord intact creates a calmer entrance into the world for the baby. There are some cultures around the world where this is a typical birth practice, such as present-day Bali. Most monkeys and chimpanzees also do not cut or chew the cord, although many other animals do.
There are risks involved with having a lotus birth, such as a bacterial infection, so if you wish to have a lotus birth, please talk to your care provider. When it is practiced it is often during homebirths rather than hospital births, although it has been recently allowed in Australian hospitals.
If you do decide to have a lotus birth there are steps to take to help the placenta take longer to deteriorate. Immediately after the placenta is delivered it is placed in a bowl. After approximately an hour, the placenta would then be rinsed off, dried and then preservatives would put on it. The preservatives used are usually salt mixed with herbs. After the placenta has been preserved, it is wrapped in terrycloth or muslin. There are kits that can be bought that include the preservatives and linen-lined silk bags to carry the placenta in while waiting for it to detach.
If a lotus birth is chosen the placenta cannot be encapsulated or ingested. A lovely idea is to bury the placenta along with a tree, plant or annual flower to commemorate the birth of the baby.