Birthing Traditions

My birthing experience was frightening to me at age 27 I was pregnant with my first child. I took Lamaze classes but to prepare, however I had a lot of false labor visits to the doctor. I was in extreme pain but not dilating when I was admitted to the hospital in Inglewood, California. I was admitted Christmas morning but because I had not dilated I was administered Morphine for the pain and sleep through Christmas Day only to wake upon December 26 at 1 am in the morning water breaking. I had natural birth without an epidural block or medication just the nurses coaching me to breath. I shall never forget the pain before and during birth. I swore I would never have another child, and have not, but I did end up acquiring another daughter. I ended up raising my brother daughter from 6 months old and have I claimed her as my own.

I did not smoke and only drank on occasion when I was pregnant. I was not as in informed of the factors and dangers associated with prenatal development as I am today although I did not smoke when I was pregnant, but was advised by obstetrician-gynecologist because I became an anemic that drinking a glass of red wine would help assist in my iron deficiency. I believe and research shows that teratogens may have long term effects on the development of an embryo and the developing child.

Lotus Birth in Australia

I was intrigued with a birthing practice called “lotus birth”(Sharma, 2018). This practice is been noted in the Balinese and Aboriginal culture of Australia for centuries, however it has also been noted in Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Judaism religious traditions. This practice allows keeping the umbilical cord and placenta intact after birth and letting it naturally separate from the infant usually within 3-10 days (Hart Hayes, 2019). The placenta is then placed in bowl or wrapped in a towel and placed near the infant. This practice allows for the blow flow to completely transfer from the placenta to the baby.

Once the umbilical cord has detached from the infant it is washed, salted several times, wrapped in a cloth, and placed in a basket for airing and drying or “breathing of the placenta”. The washing, salting and rewrapping occur several times a day. The “lotus birth” is said to have several benefits.

Studies have shown that it the complete transfer of the placenta blood of helps improve immune function and circulation and increases iron levels, helping to prevent anemia and bowel infections for the child's first year of life, bonding with mother, However, after delivery the placenta has no blood circulation therefore there are dangers of bacteria developing from the decaying tissue causing infection.

“Most healthcare providers will not perform a lotus birth delivery because of the lack of research. The major maternal and fetal health organizations don’t even have statements on lotus birth because it’s so rare and not well understood (Norris, 2015 para. 24). However, some hospitals will honor this practice for religious reasons but require the umbilical cord to be detached before the mother leaves the hospital.

References

Hart Hayes, E. (2019). Placentophagy, Lotus Birth, and Other Placenta Practices: What Does the Evidence Tell Us? Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing, 33(2), 99-102. https://doi.org/10.1097/JPN.0000000000000402

Norris, T. (2018, November 15).What is lotus birth and is it safe? Retrieved June 29, 2020. from https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/lotus-birth#risks

Sharma, N. (2018, July 7). The 11 strangest pregnancy trends. Retrieved June 29, 2020, from https://www.livescience.com/63006-strangest-pregnancy-trends.html