Lotus Birth

[zandra]

Hi all

I just found out today about Lotus birth,

Lotus birth is when the newborn is plancenta is kept attach to the newborn until it drop off. And boy or boy this was news to me and very new to me but popular in Australia, what is your take on this type of birthing ritual?

Has any nurse in the US encounter a lotus birth? And please be mindful as to not to offen someone

[Ivanna_Nurse, BSN, RN]

I did a google search...it seems as though it is a very natural way to do things. I have never heard of it, but is something I will ask about now. (I am still a student) -R

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

We had a very long thread on this last year, let me post the link for you...

https://allnurses.com/forums/f35/lotus-birth-what-do-yall-think-about-94862.html?highlight=lotus+birth

[SmilingBluEyes]

OH yea, we have done this before. Please read that other thread before this becomes a debate like that one was.

[RNnL&D]

Has any nurse in the US encounter a lotus birth? And please be mindful as to not to offen someone

I have not encountered it in the hospital setting. But it seems somewhat popular with homebirth.

I say to each his own. Personally, I think the theory is a good one, but in practice, it can be awkward. I thought leaving it connected for a couple hours was annoying enough, and cut the cord after it was cold and limp. I can't imagine carrying it around for a week or so waiting for it to fall off.

[rpbear]

Last year when the other thread was active I asked the midwives I work with about this. They said they have never seen it done, but say that it can increase the newbors chace of having jaundice becasue of the extra blood that they recieve from the placenta. I have never seen this done, but wonder if this is in fact true about the jaundice.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

I have never seen this done, but wonder if this is in fact true about the jaundice.

I bet it's covered somewhere in the fifteen page monster thread linked above.

[CHATSDALE]

i remember that thread...time has not improved the visualization

[Jolie, BSN]

Last year when the other thread was active I asked the midwives I work with about this. They said they have never seen it done, but say that it can increase the newbors chace of having jaundice becasue of the extra blood that they recieve from the placenta. I have never seen this done, but wonder if this is in fact true about the jaundice.

After dellivery, if the cord is not clamped promptly, there is the potential for excess blood to flow to the baby thru the cord if the placenta is held above the level of the baby. Conversely, it is possible for excess blood to flow FROM the baby back to the placenta, if the placenta is held below the level of the baby. So, for anyone who wishes to delay clamping of the cord, it is vital that the placenta be kept in a neutral position to prevent neonatal polycythemia, which can lead to extreme jaundice, as well as other complications related to impaired circulation of overly viscous blood, and to prevent neonatal anemia.

I don't know how long blood continues to flow freely thru the umbilical cord after birth, so I don't know how long these potential complications remain a concern for a mother who chooses Lotus birth.

[RNnL&D]

I don't know how long blood continues to flow freely thru the umbilical cord after birth, so I don't know how long these potential complications remain a concern for a mother who chooses Lotus birth.

The cord generally stops pulsating before delivery of the placenta, if anybody waits long enough to even notice. We didn't cut my son's cord until 2 hours after delivery, and I can tell you the cord how long been cold, limp, and blood free by that point.