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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Lotus birth

33 replies

GhostShip · 31/08/2012 20:34

Has anyone had a lotus birth?
(a lotus birth is when the baby is delivered, the cord isn't cut. The placenta is delivered but stays attached to the baby via its cord. The cord dries out and drops off, detaching the baby from the placenta in a matter of days. Usually the placenta is put in a special bag and treated with herbs)
If you had one what were your reasons for having one?
Did you notice any benefits?

And if you haven't had one, would you?

Sorry I'm not a journo, just a nosy reg who hopes to become a midwife one day and finds the subject very interesting!

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StarlightMcKenzie · 31/08/2012 21:22

I did it all except the cord was cut

What I mean is, I waited until the placenta was out and the baby had fed and until DH and I had recovered a bit from the birth, THEN the cord was cut.

StarlightMcKenzie · 31/08/2012 21:24

I don't think many midwives are especially supportive of lotus births. I had to get mountains moved just to get an agreement not to cut the cord until after the placenta had been delivered with both 2 and 3.

Original poster

GhostShip · 31/08/2012 21:25

Ahh right so he was attached for a bit and then cut? Is there a specific reason you did it?

I've read about mothers saying the baby was much calmer, and apparently the smell sooths baby? I'm not sure but it's really interesting!

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Original poster

GhostShip · 31/08/2012 21:26

I know it's easy for me to say now, but when I become a midwife the mum can serve it up and eat it raw for all I care. It's part of her body, her baby and is her choice to do what she wants with.

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Rubirosa · 31/08/2012 21:26

I really don't understand why you would want to do this. It can't be in any way healthy/natural to have a lump of useless, decaying placenta attached to your newborn for days. Plus the smell!

5madthings · 31/08/2012 21:27

i delivered the placenta with ds4 before the cord was cut, i had him in a pool and the placenta was also delivered in the pool, the midwife suggested just leaving it as i wanted to wait till the cord had stopped pulsating before clamping and cutting, so i just sat in the pool, held and nursed ds4 waiting for the placenta to arrive, once it did it was clamped and cut and then the midwife fished it out of the pool. no issues with ti at all but i guess it depends on the midwife?

i have heard of lotus birthing and read about someone that did it, it sounds a bit of a faff to me, leaving it attached, but each to their own and if a mum wants to do so then i cant see that being a problem and it should be allowed providing their are no medical issues that mean it isnt safe to do so.

Rubirosa · 31/08/2012 21:28

Yes, I also found midwives quite understanding/positive about delaying cord cutting.

StarlightMcKenzie · 31/08/2012 21:30

Yes. It was about birthing my own babies in my own time, and keeping them attached to me meant that no-one could take them away. I didn't like the pressure and fast action panic scenario with my first.

I had researched the benefits of keeping the cord attached until it had stopped pulsating and thought there is just no reason to rush everything.

SheelaNeGig · 31/08/2012 21:30

I've not been part of one but can see the point.

Why hurry?

Big bonus is it stops other people wsnting to hold the baby. Means it can lie snuggled on its mums chest for a few days where it should be. Uniterrupted.

Original poster

GhostShip · 31/08/2012 21:30

Thinking about it rubirosa it's really not for me personally. But I can see why other people might do it.

One video I watched the midwife helped prepare the placenta. Rubbed it in salt and herbs and put it into a specially made velvet bag. It meant the baby and thus the mother was limited in their movement because they had the bag attached, so she saw it as a bonus because it meant more one on one relaxing with her baby, for a few days until it dropped off.
I'm not really sure as to what benefits it directly gives the baby though.

One persons cat wouldn't leave the room because of the smell of the placenta. Eek.

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SheelaNeGig · 31/08/2012 21:32

And by not severing the cord until its ready the baby gets exactly what amount of blood it is due. No more. No less.

SheelaNeGig · 31/08/2012 21:32

And i rather like the smell of placentas.

Rubirosa · 31/08/2012 21:35

Fresh placenta might smell nice - three day old placenta not so much

Lotus birth is a fairly recent idea isn't it? Does it come from the 1970s US?

StarlightMcKenzie · 31/08/2012 21:38

I might have done the full lotus thing but I'm just not into additional hassle unless I really believe in the benefit.

I don't like the concept 'delayed cord cutting', coz I feel the alternative is actually 'premature, blood robbing, iron denying, cord cutting'

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 31/08/2012 21:52

I think delaying cutting the cord until it stops pulating/goes white has definite (medical measurable) benefits.

I think delaying cord cuttings beyond that point is a bit woo, but am happy to be corrected (if you can show me some real evidence!)

twolittlebundles · 31/08/2012 22:36

I have seen several Lotus births- there is a place called Yayasan Bumi Sehat in Bali, Indonesia. It's a community birthing centre which is free (user pays system for birthing in Bali), and their routine is to have a Lotus birth- most women have a little bowl next to their bed which contains the placenta (Which is covered by flowers so you don't have to look at it if you don't want to).
The extra faffing with a bowl and the baby helps the mum and baby to take it slowly for the first few days and the babies definitely seem calm and mums are pretty relaxed too- and it is a very busy place.
Having seen this, I wanted to have one, but managed to get midwives to do delayed cord clamping only.
There is a book (admittedly it looks pretty hippyish) by Robin Lim (who founded Bumi Sehat) all about placentas- might be useful - I think you can get it as an e-book.

Original poster

GhostShip · 31/08/2012 23:02

I don't understand this 'can only get midwives to delay clamping'. It should be your choice. :(

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StarlightMcKenzie · 31/08/2012 23:21

Ghost ship, it ain't like that. You rarely get a chance to discuss birth plans before the actual day and then the Mws don't like to do anything out of the norm unless agreed in advance with their supervisor, which of course is impossible at that point.

I only got to discuss my birth plan for my last baby ahead of time because I went overdue and was refusing induction and sweeps. That kinda gets their attention.

Original poster

GhostShip · 31/08/2012 23:25

Which trust are you in? I know in mine you do get to discuss what happens in your labour. That's really sad that you didn't.

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UnrequitedSkink · 31/08/2012 23:26

I can sort of see the point, and I personally requested that the cord wasn't cut until the placenta stopped pulsating (at which point it was delivered, having done its job.) But if you look at other mammals they invariably sever the cord with their teeth after birth. I think if you're trying to do the 'right' and natural thing then you should look at what happens in the wild. An animal wouldn't drag the placenta round with their baby for several days.

StarlightMcKenzie · 31/08/2012 23:29

I have had 3 babies in 3 different PCTs and NEVER been asked about my birth plan. I 'think' the Mws have suggested I think about it or ask if I have written one but when I say yes, that seems to be as much as they want to discuss. But then, in 3 pregnancies I have never seen the same mw more than once, except for the last when the mw who was trying to get me to see a consultant changed her shift in order to attend my birth (bless her).

Original poster

GhostShip · 31/08/2012 23:31

Apes keep the cord attached until it drops off itself, and they eat it

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StarlightMcKenzie · 31/08/2012 23:31

I guess in the wild, a decomposing placenta attached to a weak and vulnerable animal is a bit of a risk for predators!?

1944girl · 31/08/2012 23:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

5madthings · 31/08/2012 23:40

i had to specify on my birth plan the delayed clamping, it was never asked, i couldnt do it with dd as i had syntocinon drip during labour, but in my others i did. they were fine to do it unless i was bleeding heavily and then they said they would want to give me the injection and clamp and cut the cord, but i didnt bleed heavily in any of my labours.

the midwife i had with ds4 was lovely, very hands of and just let me get on with it, she said she saw no reason to give the injection and would only do so if necessary and said she would leave us be to cuddle in the pool whilst we waited for the placenta to deliver. she just sat and observed whilst writing her notes and then once it was delivered we clamped and cut it and the she fished it out and checked it was all there :)

when i had dd my ds1 cut the cord, they were happy for him to do that and for him to be at the birth, i did check beforehand as it was a hospital birth but they said as long as we made arrangements for if there was an emergency/comlications then they had no objections to him being there.

on the whole the midwives i have had have been fine to go along with what i wanted and discuss things, but it was me bringing them up for discussion/stating my wishes rather than them asking me.

i had some arsehole drs but thats another story!

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