Posted by
Claire
19 yrs ago
This is just out of curiosity, but I wondering if anyone had considered - or actually had - a lotus birth.
If so, what made you decide for, or against, it? Was it easy (doctors, nurses, etc. ok about it) where you live?
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It 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.
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Keeping the mother and baby attached by umbilicus until it stop pulsing, or something like that.
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i only read about lotus birth recently, very fascinating.
but as a new mom personally, i think it's hard enough managing a newborn and also ensuring that the little cord stump is kept dry until it drops off so to have carry a newborn all around with the placenta is just not for me!
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Have you found a Dr who will agree to that? My experience was anything a little different was not agreeded to even birthing off the bed!
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Some women believe it is more natural, less stressful for the baby. Apparently it also greatly strengthens the baby's immune system because it receives the vital cord blood at birth which some parents would rather prefer to store. There is some anecdotal evidence that lotus-birth babies are calmer and better adjusted.
The problem is that cutting the cord has become symbolic ritual for the new dad but I’m sure there are a few dads out there who would prefer not to be involved in the cord cutting – or indeed the whole birth!
Of course it is possible to understand this from a hospital’s/doctor’s point. The placenta must be expelled with x minutes and the cord cut within x minutes – a regimen must be followed and it’s not convenience to do what nature says. And besides, the placentas are valuable source of income for the hospitals.
I would be interested to hear from any women who have opted for this and whether there was pressure not to go against acceptable norms.
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I didn't know it had a specific name but I indeed had mentioned it in my birth plan.. my midwife was not surprised I guess.. and the hospital staff had already to many points to be revolted to and even didn't notice that one.. but anyway, couldn't make it because the delivery in itself was quite of a rush...
next one maybe ;-)
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I am not sure if the climate in Hong Kong or Asia is the best setting for a lotus - It may get a bit smelly!
I had my home birth 4 weeks ago and we ended up tying off the cord with a home made tie made of pale pink embroidery silk! We waited util the cord had stopped pulsing and the placenta had completely expelled physiologically before we did this - so I guess it was a pseudo lotus!
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What income does the hospital get from placentas? Are they sold for making cosmetics for gullible rich women? I've seen goat placenta products ion Watsons...
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midwife> The cord keeps pulsing longer near the umbilicus than in the middle. How long did you wait before tying? BTW, the silk sounds lovely.
geiboyi> Placentas are sold to cosmetic, pharmaceutical and medical research companies. One hospital in the UK (worked there briefly during uni hols) sold them to the company which makes Oil of Olay. Back then it was something like 50p a placenta. The money was used to buy equipment for the neonatal ward.
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Ok, fair enough. I certainly don't want mine when I'm finished with it.
But maybe I won't be using Oil of Olay again...
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geiboyi> Some parents like to bury their child's placenta under a newly planted tree.
You may like to do that or ask that it goes for medical research. Researchers are using placentas because it is best thing to a living person, it almost behaves exactly like a human being. Placentas can be used for testing drugs, poisons and chemicals, investigating diseases and practising micro-surgery. And it provides stem cells.
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Claire,
We waited until there was no pulse. I am not sure how long as were not conccious of time. I think third stage was complete about 20 mins aftr her birth, by that time we could no longer detect a pulse, I guess we tied around the same time.
In the hospital that I worked in Australia, the placenta was always double bagged and disposed of as bio hazard waste.
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Hmmm, I've heard you can make a nice stew out of it with a bit of bacon, carrots and onions.
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Placentophagia - yep, eating it has a name. I had one friend who intended to just that. She bottled out - as I found out when she asked me to get something of the freezer and I found it amongst the frozen veggies!
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