| What Is A Lotus Birth? |
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By: Desiree Miller www.bottlestobritches.com Christine Monteith adores her baby girl, giving birth in what most would consider a pretty typical delivery this past January. But the part just after delivery was different than most others these days. She chose not to cut the umbilical cord. So, for days afterwards, Christine carried the baby AND the placenta wherever she needed to go. There was nothing medically wrong with the baby to require this. Christine made a conscious choice to have what is known as a Lotus Birth. That's when “the cord and the placenta...stay with the baby until it naturally falls off, which tends to be about three to four days,” explains certified Midwife Jennifer Gagnon. During pregnancy, the umbilical cord connects the baby to the mother, delivering nutrients to the baby while taking away the waste. But, “After the first three minutes or so when the blood vessels have spasmed and the cord has clamped itself of there is no more benefit for the cord to remain attached,” says Dr. Michele Curtis, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Texas-Houston Medical School.
Lotus Births are becoming more common among home birthing advocates. Gagnon assisted in one last year. She says most parents treat the placenta with special care while it's still attached. “It’s prepared and put into cloth and preserved with salt. There is an odor, but it’s not unpleasant,” says Gagnon. Dr. Curtis is concerned about the trend. “The placenta is filled with blood, different types of cells, so it’s a rich environment for bacteria to grow in,” she says. As long as the cord is still attached, Curtis believes there is a bridge for the bacteria to climb up to reach the baby. She believes parents considering this option should be aware of that risk. We contacted the American Congress or Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The group has no stance on the issue. Their British counterpart believes women have a right to decide, but should know the risks. They stress there’s no research that exists on Lotus Births and there’s currently no medical evidence that it is of benefit to the baby. Dr. Curtis says there is some controversy over when to cut the cord, with some arguing for “delayed” cutting. But delayed in this case means waiting several minutes after the birth, not days. Christine says her biggest concern was remembering to pick the placenta up along with the baby so that she didn’t accidentally rip off the cord. It took just a few days for her baby’s cord to fall off on its own and she feels her daughter benefitted from the extra time. She knows this is new to many people, but she feels it was absolutely the right thing for her family. Other Lotus Birth advocates say the naysayers need not worry. Gagnon elaborates, “I would say live and let live. No one is asking them to do a Lotus Birth.”
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Comments (3)
  written by naning, April 13, 2010
this was the first time i ever heard of this and it was very imformative. Im going to read up more in this, thanks
 written by kayla101, April 13, 2010
wow that was very informative bt i wouldnt do it it bt feel free lotus birthers. i believe its wrong bt it is a more natural choice.
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Yet, a quick search on the web turns up videos of people like Christine who disagree, choosing to leave the cord attached. Christine believes the cord has a spiritual and emotional connection to the baby. She considers Lotus Birth “the most natural and non-invasive, non-violent way of giving birth.”
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