In the realm of birth choices, I pride myself on being open-minded. Whether a woman chooses to deliver in a tranquil tub in her backyard or relies on the comfort of an epidural, what matters most is that she feels empowered by her decisions. While I opted for a home birth with experienced midwives, embracing skin-to-skin contact and delayed bathing for my newborns, I find myself perplexed by the rising trend of lotus births.
What is Lotus Birth?
For those unfamiliar with the concept, lotus birth involves leaving the umbilical cord attached to the placenta until it naturally detaches, which can take anywhere from three to ten days. This means carrying the placenta around, often in a bowl, wherever the baby goes.
Concerns About Lotus Birth
To be honest, the idea of having a decaying organ attached to my child during the fragile postpartum period is not appealing. While proponents argue that lotus birth fosters a deeper connection to nature and encourages family reflection during the sacred days following birth, I can’t help but question the practicality of carting around a bowl of decomposing tissue. Wouldn’t this add to the already overwhelming challenges of those first few days with a newborn?
Supporters of lotus birth believe it to be a spiritually enriching practice, but I struggle to see how lugging a placenta would contribute to a sense of peace. The complexities of diaper changes and breastfeeding could easily become cumbersome with such an arrangement. For families with other children, the potential chaos is even more concerning.
Health Perspectives
From a health perspective, there seems to be little solid evidence supporting the lotus birth practice. Dr. Emma Carter, a pediatrician with experience in labor and delivery, highlighted that there are no randomized trials comparing lotus births to traditional births regarding health outcomes. Her concerns extend to the risk of infection due to the placenta’s decomposition, an issue echoed in a memo by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists regarding non-severance births.
It’s crucial to differentiate lotus birth from delayed cord clamping, which involves waiting a few minutes after birth for the cord to finish pulsing. This practice is backed by significant health benefits and endorsed by major organizations, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dr. Carter emphasizes that while delaying cord clamping is beneficial, lotus births go much further and cannot be assumed to carry similar advantages.
Conclusion
While some may view me as closed-minded or disconnected from the spiritual aspects of birth, I simply cannot fathom how carrying a pot of rotting tissue would contribute positively to the postpartum experience.
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In summary, while lotus births may resonate with some for their spiritual beliefs, I remain skeptical about their practicality and health implications, preferring to embrace other methods that prioritize both comfort and safety.