Lotus Birth/Placenta

What can you do with your placenta?

• Leave it with the hospital or midwife, where it will be treated as biohazardous waste.
• Plant it and grow a tree above it.
• Use the fresh or frozen placenta in a smoothie.
• Encapsulate it or make a tincture.
• Choose a partial or full lotus birth.

Lotus birth is the interesting and relatively “new” practice I want to discuss here. In most cases, the umbilical cord is cut shortly after the baby is born. The placenta then detaches and is delivered a few minutes later, although it can sometimes take up to an hour. More parents and hospitals are considering delayed cord clamping, which I discuss in this article about delayed cord clamping. Lotus birth goes a step further. It involves leaving the baby attached to the placenta until the cord detaches on its own, which can take up to about 10 days. There is no established medical benefit. The cord usually stops pulsating shortly after birth, at which point there is no further exchange between the placenta and the baby. A lotus birth can be partial, lasting a few hours, or full, lasting until the cord separates from the baby. When I first learned about lotus birth a few years ago, I was puzzled. Why would someone choose it, especially without an established medical benefit? I wanted a wireless baby—a Wi-Fi baby! After spending more time learning about new practices and supporting parents and newborns, I began to understand some of the nonmedical reasons a family might consider lotus birth:

• For some parents, watching their newborn being passed from one visitor to another during the first days can be difficult. A baby who remains attached to the placenta is naturally harder for friends and family to pick up, which may help protect that early bonding time.
• In the womb, a baby is warm, comfortable, continuously nourished, and surrounded by the sound of the mother’s heartbeat. Ultrasounds show babies interacting with their umbilical cords. I once read an article about crocheted octopuses being given to premature babies for comfort. Some people view lotus birth as a way to help a baby transition more gently into the outside world.  
• Another reason some families consider it is to encourage rest for the new mother. Rest can be difficult after birth, even though taking things slowly during the postpartum period may support recovery. Carrying both the baby and the placenta makes moving around more complicated. I was especially bad at resting after my daughter was born—I simply could not stay in bed. I am not particularly hyperactive, but I always feel the need to get things done. My midwives urged me to spend the first week in bed, getting up only to use the bathroom or shower, and I was not allowed to climb the stairs. It was so difficult for me. Having my daughter attached to the placenta would certainly have made moving around much harder.

There are also risks. The placenta and cord are no longer living tissues and, without refrigeration, will decompose. Bacteria can spread and cause an infection that may become life-threatening for a newborn. Families who choose lotus birth generally rinse and dry the placenta, then cover it with salt, herbs, essential oils, or flowers before wrapping it in a fabric bag. DIY kits are available, many of them sold by doulas. The placenta should be monitored carefully, and any unpleasant smell should be taken seriously. Personal accounts often describe a cared-for placenta as having a musky smell, but it should not smell foul. Lotus birth may also be impossible if the cord must be cut at birth or if the baby or mother needs urgent care.

Read the next article about breastfeeding