Lotus Birth is the practice of leaving the umbilical cord uncut after the third stage of labour so that the baby is left attached to its placenta until the cord naturally separates at the umbilicus, generally 1–3 days after birth (as compared to approximately 10 days when the cord is clamped and cut). This prolonged contact can be seen as a time of transition, allowing the baby to slowly and gently let go of his or her attachment to the mother's body.

Post-Partum

The common practice is to clamp and cut the cord once the baby is born rather than leave the placenta attached, however, during a Lotus Birth, a special cloth bag or a cloth diaper, called a placenta cloth, may be used to contain the placenta. The cloth used to wrap the placenta must allow air through, so that the placenta can dry out. The placenta is first thoroughly rinsed and then treated by having salt rubbed into it. Sometimes scented oils, such as lavender, are also applied to mask any unpleasant odors.

Different cultural practices use the preserved placenta in different ways. Some people like the child to have the placenta so that it can be buried with the child at the end of his or her life. Others simply keep the placenta until it falls off naturally and it is then buried where often a tree is planted over it.

Modern Origin

In the 1970s, Clair Lotus Day—a pregnant woman living in California—became interested in the practice amongst chimpanzees of leaving the cord attached to both newborn and placenta until it simply dropped off. If it was a good idea for chimps, she reasoned, then she saw no reason why it would be harmful for humans. In 1974 she managed to find a sympathetic obstetrician and, after her son was born, she took both the baby and placenta home. Over the next few days her son apparently seemed more content which, Lotus Day reasoned, was because he felt secure in his attachment to his placenta.

Ancient Origin

Although The Lotus Birth is considered by many to be a New Age phenomenon. Lotus Births have been recorded in ancient societies such as those of Native America and Thailand. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, there is a reference to non-cutting of the navel in the book of the prophet Ezekiel. {^*}

Lotus Birth vs. Cord Cutting

There is debate about the advantages and disadvantages of a Lotus Birth. The disadvantages are mostly subjective.

Disadvantages include:

The placenta may have a foull smell if not treated properly.

The baby may not be as easily passed around by relatives.

A Lotus Birth means that cord blood banking is not an option.

Advantages include:

In some cultures, such as native American and Thai, the placenta is regarded as sacred and/or as a living organ.

Lotus Birth appeal to cultures that advocate non-violence. Many spiritual leaders advocate this practice as it means the child is not harmed during the first moment of its life.

Although cord blood banking is not an option the placenta can still pump blood into the baby and therefore although the cord cells may not be saved the baby receives them in the first moments of its life.

Some medical professionals argue that because the newborn is attached to its mother for longer the psychological state of the child is better than those babies who are taken to be weighed etc. straight after the birth giving the child time to recover from the trauma of birth.

References

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