New born
It is being interesting to know why some people decide to keep the placenta attached to the baby after birth until it falls by itself. It is ritual practiced by parents especially a mother decision with notion of being more comfortable to the baby. Actually, there is nil evidence to support any benefits for this practice, however it comes mostly to right to take decisions for herself or to her baby.
If you decided to go through this practice for the safety of the baby and possible inconvenience of the whole family. Ask your doctor and midwife for their recommendations and experience with this practice. If you are serious about lotus birth, search for medical professional who has vast experience with method of birth.
Lotus birthing, understand the whole story
Lotus birthing or non-severance the umbilical cord of the baby is the practice of keeping the umbilical cord attached to the baby and not cutting it right away after birth as in usual practice. Umbilical cord connect the baby to the mother during his life in mother womb. After delivery of the baby with umbilical cord attached to his or her belly from one side and to the placenta from the other side. In usual practice is the doctor or the midwife cut the umbilical cord about few centimetres from the baby belly and wait for the placenta to be delivered within 30 minutes attached to the long part of umbilical cord.
Why would you consider a lotus birth?
Those who believe in lotus birth think of extra health benefits of the extra blood that moves from the placenta and the umbilical cord to the baby. On the other side, some believe of peaceful baby because of keeping the placenta attached to the baby till spontaneous separation, which of course take a while with some troubles and necessity of special care.
Is there any medical evidence to support lotus baby practice?
If it is only delayed umbilical clamping, and leaving the cord and placenta attached for a few extra minutes. It might provide benefits to the baby, and poses no extra risk to the mother. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists see benefits from leaving umbilical cord for short time. Despite it benefit the iron stores of the baby but it should be monitored for possibility of neonatal jaundice. Other benefits are mentioned in their official website. Delayed clamping helps the premature to decrease the need for blood transfusion as mentioned in medical journals Pubmed.
Cultural rituals about the placenta
In some cultures, they hold ceremonies with the placenta after birth. Some others will take the placentas and bury them in the ground to celebrate the new born baby. The believe of returning the placenta to the ground is honor to the human tissue and honor to the baby. In some other cultures, they threw the placenta to the river to be food to the fish.
In Chinese medicine, they dry the placenta as they believe of its great life force and medicinal value.
Lotus birth placental care
In lotus baby, the placenta and umbilical cord got dry. and fall from 3 to 10 days. Lotus placenta need special care. to avoid bad odors and colonization of bacteria. keep it clean in well ventilated container like sieve to allow drainage of any fluid. At the end the mother should seek experienced medical professional of well knowledge of lotus baby management.
Reference
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3423128/