Lotus Birth

A natural birthing practice

The DVD

"The Lotus Birth is a beautiful testament to the power of natural birth. The image of the Malcolm twins emerging from their mother's womb and being given time to unfold into the warm water that enveloped them is one that will inspire and delight parents and birth professionals alike."

Vicki Abrams: Childbirth Educator, Doula, and Co-author of Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives: A Holistic Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth.

Natural Birth

LOTUS BIRTH is a call to pay attention to the natural physiological process. It's practice, through witnessing, restores faith in the natural order.

LOTUS BIRTH extends the birth time into the sacred days that follow and enables baby, mother and father and all family members to pause, reflect and engage in nature's conduct.

LOTUS BIRTH is a call to return to the rhythms of nature, to witness the natural order and to the experience of not doing, just being.

The Book

"LOTUS BIRTH is an educational tool generous in resource and reference. It gives us the who, the why, the how to, and the implications for humankind if we don't slowdown and make a radical paradigm shift. These people have!"

Binnie A Dansby: Author, Philosopher And Psychotherapist Specializing In Pre And Perinatal Psychology. (www.ecstaticbirth.com)

Practicing Lotus Birth

"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 - exactly as a cut cord does - at three to ten days after birth. This prolonged contact can be seen as a time of transition, allowing the baby to slowly and gently let go of the attachment to the mother's body."

Dr. Sarah Buckley, Pregnancy Magazine, Spring 1998

The Value of a Lotus Birth

We need to relearn what a birth can be like when it is not disturbed by the cultural milieu. We need a reference point from which we should try not to deviate too much. Lotus Birth is such a reference point.
(Michael Odent)

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.)

Protocol for 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.

"I've seen the DVD about 5 times now and it's just fantastic. It should be required viewing for all pregnant couples and midwives & obstetricians."
Yvette Langmaid-Buttery (www.babiesonline.com)

"It's the best birth movie I've seen. I recommend it to everyone."
Sunderai Felich (Dial-a-Doula)