What is Lotus Birth?
Written by Alyssa CarterHave you heard of Lotus birth? Lotus Birth (or umbilical cord non-severance - UCNS) is an old tradition re-emerging in our current time. Simply put, Lotus Birth is when you leave the newborn attached to the placenta until the cord naturally separates. If you are already familiar with Delayed Cord Clamping, you might be wondering how each of these options compare to the other.
Lotus Birth vs. Delayed Cord Clamping
Delayed cord clamping (DCC) is a prevalent and globally recommended practice where you allow the cord to not be cut until after it finishes pulsating. This allows the baby to receive most of the blood and nutrients from the placenta back to the baby. It is recommended unless the infant is born in some kind of distress and requires immediate medical attention.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the optimal time to clamp the umbilical cord is after waiting at least 30 to 60 seconds. The World Health Organization recommends waiting up to three minutes before clamping the cord. On the other hand, in Lotus Birth, the cord will remain attached for days, even a week, until eventually falling off.
Long-term and Short-term Benefits of DCC for the infant
Improve circulation
Decrease risk of necrotizing enterocolitis and intraventricular hemorrhage
increase hemoglobin levels
improve iron stores over the first few months of life
improve red blood cell volume
decrease need for blood transfusion
Helps inflate vessels around lung alveoli, encouraging them to stay open for baby’s first breaths
Having enough iron helps myelinate pathways in the brain for better cognitive function
Decreases anemia (low iron in the blood) within the first year
Ensures that baby is not hypovolemic (born with low blood volume)
Floods baby’s system with more stem cells
Smooths the transition between life inside the womb and life outside by providing a flow of oxygen from birthing person to baby
How does Lotus Birth work?
Once born, the umbilical cord is left alone while the birther delivers the placenta naturally, without Pitocin. When the umbilical cord stops pulsing, the placenta is rinsed with warm water & gently dried with an absorbent organic cloth. It then needs to drain for approximately 24 hours. Once dried, the placenta is placed in a pot or basket, and liberally covered in rosemary powder or sea salt, adding more as needed. Some opt to store in a cloth diaper or placenta bag. Containers should be changed and cleaned daily. The baby is usually dressed in loose clothing to facilitate air circulation and reduce tugging. Since the newborn is still connected to the placenta, this forces the birther to move slowly and intentionally in the early days of postpartum, which is precisely what their body needs to recover.
Potential Benefits & Risks
Some feel that Lotus Birth helps minimize separation trauma the infant might experience. The baby severs the connection with the placental organ, which they've been connected to, at their own pace. Others feel Lotus Birth is an unnecessary safety and infection risk, especially considering there isn't much of an added nutrient benefit past Delayed Cord Clamping (DCC).
Potential Risks
There is minimal research done on Lotus Birth, so the potential risks are unclear. There is also minimal research on caring for the placenta and avoiding risk while waiting for the umbilical cord to separate.
Once the placenta is birthed out of the womb, the placenta is dead tissue prone to infection. If the placenta becomes infected, the infection may travel to the baby.
Cord Avulsion is also a potential threat. This is an injury occurring when the cord accidentally rips from the infant's body.
Potential Benefits
All of the benefits of DCC.
A gentle, less invasive transition for the baby from the womb to the world, potentially lessening inflicted trauma.
Faster healing of, and decreased injury to the belly-button.
Encourages postpartum healing.
Summary
Lotus Birth--the practice of allowing the umbilical cord to separate naturally from the infant over days--is a potentially beautiful ritual to aid your newborn's transition into the out-of-womb world. There have been very few studies done to assess the risk and benefits. Be sure to ask your midwife and/or medical provider their experience with Lotus Birth if you are interested in this practice.
Resources
MotherBoard Birth
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/148793/?sequence=1
https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/lotus-birth#benefits
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/lotus-birth-7-reasons-why-parents-to-be-have-one/
https://www.mamanatural.com/lotus-birth/
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/lotus-birth-7-reasons-why-parents-to-be-have-one/
