VICKI ABRAMS
Childbirth Educator, Doula, and co-author of: 'Magical Beginnings, Enchanted
Lives: A Holistic Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth'
The Practice
Lotus Birth is the practice of leaving the umbilical cord uncut, so that the baby remains attached to the placenta until the cord naturally separates at the navel at 3 to 10 days after birth. Receiving the full amount of the valuable cord blood present at birth is of major benefit to the child's ongoing health and well-being.
The DVD
The centrepiece of the DVD, 'LOTUS BIRTH, The Water Birth of the Malcolm Twins', features Davini Malcolm and her partner, Peter, documenting the pregnancy from the 40th week, the birth of a family of 4, and Davini's transition to Mother of Lotus Birth twins. This is rare opportunity to see and hear 'inside' a pregnant and labouring woman's experience. She is hugely generous, intimate, courageous and eloquent as she relates her emotional and physical experience. Resonant throughout is the sense of the personal healing work she has done with herself and the supportive environment she has co-created with family and community setting the stage for her to let go, open and trust the process of Life.
This DVD, abundant with information, features an introduction to Lotus
Birth by Shivam Rachana, plus a moving interview with a midwife who
describes her job as the "keeper and protector of their (the couple)
intimacy" always honouring the relationships and supporting the
emotional and physical preparation for the baby and the family. There
is also a demonstration of how to make a placenta bag.
How to Have a Lotus Birth
• When the baby is born, leave the umbilical cord intact. If the cord is around
the baby's neck, simply lift it over.
• Wait for the natural delivery of the placenta. Do not use oxytocin
- this forces too much too soon into the infant and compromises the
placenta delivery.
• When the placenta delivers, place it into a receiving bowl beside
the mother.
• Wait for full transfusion of the umbilical blood into the baby
before handling the placenta.
• Gently wash the placenta with warm water and pat dry.
• Place the placenta into a sieve or colander for 24hrs to allow drainage.
• Wrap the placenta in absorbent material, a nappy or cloth and put in
into a placenta bag. The covering is changed daily or more often if
seepage occurs. Alternatively, the placenta may be laid on a bed of
sea salt (which is changed daily) and liberally covered with salt.
• The baby is held and fed as the mother wishes.
• The baby is clothed loosely.
• The baby can be bathed as usual - keep the placenta with it.
• Keep movement to a minimum.
"Lotus Born children receive the full amount of the very valuable
cord blood that is present at birth.
Measuring around 1/3 of the baby's total blood supply this cord blood, which is actually the store of blood from the baby's placenta is rich and unique, containing stem cells, iron, oxygen, hormones and enzymes. This blood is needed to give the baby's vital organs the full amount of placental blood needed for optimum post-natal health.
When the baby receives his or her full placental transfusion the liver, kidneys, heart, gut, skin, digestive system and brain will be replete with this life-giving blood and will function fully, as nature intended.
With the cord still attached to the placenta the immature liver and kidneys are supported in eliminating waste from the baby's body immediately after birth allowing for the off loading of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline.
Lotus Birth cares for the subtle energetic bodies: the aura and the chakras, which are well mapped and recognized in eastern health systems such as acupuncture and shiatsu. The navel chakra is the major energy center in the body. Lotus Birth leaves this chakra undisturbed and many claim that this has major benefits for the child's ongoing health."
SHIVAM RACHANA
Principal of The International College of
Spiritual Midwifery, author of 'Lotus Birth'.