Many modern mothers have heard about such a concept as lotus childbirth, but not everyone understands what it is and what is the meaning of exotic delivery. This fashion trend came to Western countries, as well as the CIS countries from the islands of Indonesia (lotus childbirth is especially common in Bali) and quickly became popular, like all other trends associated with natural childbirth. However, like any phenomenon not fully understood, lotus childbirth has its advantages and disadvantages, respectively – their fans and ardent opponents.
In this article, we will talk about both the pros and cons of lotus childbirth, as well as indicate contraindications, which will help women get a clearer picture and decide whether to give birth in this way.
Pros and Cons of Lotus Birth
As it was written above, Western women (and then Slavic women) first learned about lotus childbirth when they visited the island of Bali, which is now popular among tourists and downshifters. Following partner births, lotus birthing has rapidly gained popularity.
The spiritual beliefs of the natives extend to the sacrament of the birth of a new life. The Balinese believe that the umbilical cord (according to allegory - the stem of the lotus), connecting the baby (bud) with the placenta (roots), gives him vital and spiritual strength, so this connection cannot be interrupted by force – before nature decides.
The main difference between a lotus birth and a regular birth is the handling of the umbilical cord and placenta after the baby is born.
In a normal birth, the doctor cuts the umbilical cord almost immediately after the baby is born and his first cry, and the placenta (afterbirth), which comes out naturally after birth, is simply thrown away.
In a lotus birth, the obstetrician does not touch the umbilical cord and waits for the placenta to come out of the mother. After that, the baby is carefully swaddled so as not to damage the umbilical cord, and the placenta is washed from blood, sprinkled with salt (to minimize the risk of bacterial development) and put in a basket made of natural breathable material. And then they wait for the gradually drying up umbilical cord to die and fall off the baby's navel by itself – this process can take from several days to a week.
There is also an easier version of the lotus birth: the doctor cuts the umbilical cord after it completely stops pulsating, that is, its vital activity and connection with the placenta – this usually happens a few hours after the birth.
During lotus childbirth, the placenta connected to the baby by the umbilical cord is washed, sprinkled with a thick layer of salt, wrapped in a cotton diaper (previously it was replaced by lotus leaves) and put in a light natural basket. While bathing the child, the placenta is also washed, sprinkling it with salt again so that it mummifies and does not deteriorate.
Discussions about the benefits and potential risks of lotus childbirth continue, and the arguments on both sides are more than serious. We advise expectant mothers to familiarize themselves with them before making an important decision.
Benefits of lotus childbirth:
1. Less stress for the baby when entering a new world.
Birth – a difficult test not only for the mother, but also for the child himself, who finds himself from a cozy environment in a strange, unfamiliar world. The connection with the old food environment, which remains with the baby for some time, helps him to more easily adapt to the new environment.
2. Prevention of anemia (anemia) in the newborn due to the saturation of the circulatory system from the placenta.
Everyone knows that babies are born with a bluish skin tone. The reason is that when passing through the birth canal, the body and especially the head are compressed, and so that the fetus is not injured, a large outflow of its blood goes through the umbilical cord to the placenta. If you immediately cut off the umbilical cord, some of the baby's blood will remain in the placenta, and the tiny body will have to make remarkable efforts to compensate for the lost.
3. Even after birth, the baby continues to receive T-lymphocytes and stem cells necessary for the formation of high immunity from the placenta for some time.
4. Gradual and harmonious inclusion in the work of the lungs.
As you know, the lungs of a child do not open immediately, and this process is very painful and unpleasant for a baby. Before the opening of the lungs, the little man receives oxygen from the placenta through the umbilical cord, and if it is not cut, he will continue to receive it from there, and the process of starting breathing through the lungs will be smoother and painless for the baby.
5. Absence of an umbilical wound and a beautiful navel in the future.
If you do not cut the umbilical cord, then the umbilical wound, which must be carefully looked after before overgrowing, will not remain. When the withered umbilical cord falls off by itself, an already healed beautiful navel will remain in its place.
6. Smooth and confident development of the child in the future.
This benefit is not documented, however, many fans of the technique who gave birth to their children in the lotus way assure that their children gained weight and developed better in the first years of life, and were also calmer than other children.
After birth, the baby continues to receive T-lymphocytes and stem cells from the placenta through the umbilical cord necessary for the formation of high immunity and good health.
However, not everything is rosy – lotus childbirth has its drawbacks, as well as serious contraindications.
Cons of lotus childbirth:
1. The inconvenience of caring for a child in the first days of life.
Since the connection between the baby and the placenta cannot be broken by cutting the umbilical cord, the mother has from 4 to 7-8 days (time of the death of the umbilical cord) to carefully carry the placenta in the basket with the baby everywhere.
2. The risk of developing jaundice in an infant due to high levels of bilirubin.
3. The risk of transmission through the umbilical cord to the newborn of harmful substances that were filtered out by the placenta during the maturation of the fetus during pregnancy.
4. If not cared for properly, the placenta can deteriorate before the umbilical cord dies.
5. The useful potential of the placenta is exhausted before the umbilical cord dries up.
Opponents of lotus childbirth are sure that in the first hours of entering the outside world, the afterbirth quickly gives up all its useful properties, so there is no point in keeping it for a long time.
6. In the CIS countries, it is not easy to find an experienced obstetrician who approves and regularly practices lotus childbirth.
The bulk of obstetricians in Ukraine, Russia and other countries of the post-Soviet space belong to the category of doctors of the "old school"; and are skeptical of such innovations. Not to mention the lotus birth experience, which is not always easy.
Dare to have a lotus birth only with an experienced practitioner, otherwise it is better not to risk it and prefer a traditional birth.
Women who want to give birth using the lotus method should also be aware of the contraindications that prevent such childbirth.
Contraindications for lotus birth:
- Rhesus conflict between mother and child
- Difficult pregnancy
- Risk of birth complications (especially umbilical cord around the fetus)
- Congenital abnormalities of the fetus
The factors listed above immediately put an end to the idea of lotus childbirth.
Whatever method of birth you choose, remember that your decision must be agreed with your doctor, who knows well the peculiarities of your health and the course of pregnancy. And if there are no contraindications, and you have firmly decided to choose a lotus birth (full or partial), be sure to write down a birth plan and actions in case of unforeseen situations together with an experienced obstetrician who will receive the child. Ideally, it is better to sign a special agreement with a doctor or clinic. We hope that the advice of our portal will help readers make the right decision.
Read also: Beauty for mommy: a new corrective complex after childbirth
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