Lotus births

Scarlett · #31 (**permalink**) 27-Jun-2008, 10:19

Aparantly some babies even cry when their cord separates!

LotusEater · #32 (**permalink**) 27-Jun-2008, 10:48

I notice that babies always cry when you cut their cords, this is quite disctinct when you have a physiologically third stage and you have left the cord intact for a couple of hours and when you go to cut it, more often than not, the baby will cry when it is cut.

Coffeebean, from my experience, the salt mix is always used. Even in tradtional malay culture, the placenta is kept in an earthenware pot with breathing holes, and it is rubbed with a herb and salt mix and kept next to the mother's bed for 40 days.

coffeebean · #33 (**permalink**) 27-Jun-2008, 10:58

There is always something to be learned from other cultures and perhaps in western society we are so hung up about our bodies and what they produce that we assume that all things that come from our bodies are contaminated or can in some way be wrong . We forget that many different cultures have been having home births with no intervention or drugs for centuries and that some of these rituals surrounding birth may have a positive bearing on the whole birth experience for mother and child.

nappysack · #34 (**permalink**) 27-Jun-2008, 11:51

Originally Posted by LotusEater

I don't see how you would need to clinically support the woman in making the decision. The placenta is hers to do what she wishes - many women who choose a lotus birth would be having a homebirth anyway, I only know of one case personally where the lotus birth happened in a hospital and the midwifery head was quite willing to 'allow' this to take place.My own supervisor who is the head of midwifery of a local hospital has no issues about it, having looked at the information available.

What would be your concern in a non-homebirth environment?

Originally Posted by LotusEater

Also, I was thinking about the instances where parents ask to have the placenta to take home with them, I've known placentae staying in the hospital in a bag for the duration of the mother's stay postnatally (this being around 24 hours post birth).

I did not mean that i am 'allowing' anything - i believe as you do that the woman decides and that we are there to support her in her informed decision. An informed decision requires information and it is to the midwife that she usually looks for that information. What I said was that I would like to see some propely conducted quantative research into lotus birth, to determine if it is beneficial or if there are any risks attached(excuse the pun). My concern 'in a non-home environment' is infection (we all know that an infection is more likely to occur in hospital than at home), is there more chance of the baby developing an infection from the decomposing placenta or does the salt and herb rub prevent this?
Indeed - when a couple have decided to take the placenta home and they are not taking same day discharge i suggest that the partner takes the placenta home the same day or i refridgerate it.

TallPoppy · #35 (**permalink**) 27-Jun-2008, 16:07

Salt is a natural preservative and essential oils have antibacterial as well as other healing properties (aswell as smelling lovely!).

As you say Cb women have been birthing in different cultures for thousands of years and we still have alot to learn from different cultures and birthing practices and 'rites'.

LotusEater · #36 (**permalink**) 27-Jun-2008, 18:19

Yes, I remember Denis Walsh talking about how arrogant we can be to sometimes assume that our 'evidence' is superior to some wisdom acquired over centuries by supposedly less civilised societies.

Butterfly · #37 (**permalink**) 27-Jun-2008, 18:34

I have only known of one- last year when i was on community- i was impressed by the midwives' attitude- they were all very interested and supportive. We looked at some photos that had been taken and it looked all fairly simple really- the placenta was wrapped into a neat sack in a plastic bag and then a terry towel after being treated with salt and other herbs.
It dropped off after about 3 days rather than the up-to-10 days we often see.

I personally think its quite a nice thing to do

x

tribalray · #38 (**permalink**) 30-Jun-2008, 09:54

WEll I didnt expect this amount of responce, thank you everyone for your thoughts on this issue, the maternity unit I am based at willnot allow this practice and I thought it was kindda nice, afterall its the babies placenta! most of the articles I have read, say that it helps the baby to adapt to life outside the uterus and will not have any separation anxieties, not sure if it is back to the nature nurture debate but I feel as long as it does no harm (increase infection)I would consider it ok, although I would like to see more Evidence on it, just for peace of mind.

nappysack · #39 (**permalink**) 30-Jun-2008, 10:19

Originally Posted by tribalray

WEll I didnt expect this amount of responce, thank you everyone for your thoughts on this issue, the maternity unit I am based at willnot allow this practice and I thought it was kindda nice, afterall its the babies placenta! most of the articles I have read, say that it helps the baby to adapt to life outside the uterus and will not have any separation anxieties, not sure if it is back to the nature nurture debate but I feel as long as it does no harm (increase infection)I would consider it ok, although I would like to see more Evidence on it, just for peace of mind.

TR - if that were my unit and I was looking after a woman who had chosen this type of delivery i would try to support her - we can not force her to have the cord cut and if she has provided all the salt, herbs and placenta bags necessary then I don't think we can 'disallow' it. Hospital guidelines are just that 'Guidelines' they are not rules or laws and we can challenge them (although I know this is very difficult from within the system) x

elliesmummy · #40 (**permalink**) 02-Jul-2008, 16:23

There are a few video's on youtube I just watched a few then. Interesting x x x

Lotus births

Lotus births

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