What Is Lotus Birth? - Brilliant Births

Lotus Birth vs. Delayed Cord Clamping

Delayed cord clamping (DCC) is a prevalent and globally recommended practice where you allow the cord to not be cut until after it finishes pulsating. This allows the baby to receive most of the blood and nutrients from the placenta back to the baby. It is recommended unless the infant is born in some kind of distress and requires immediate medical attention.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the optimal time to clamp the umbilical cord is after waiting at least 30 to 60 seconds. The World Health Organization recommends waiting up to three minutes before clamping the cord. On the other hand, in Lotus Birth, the cord will remain attached for days, even a week, until eventually falling off.

Long-term and Short-term Benefits of DCC for the infant

• Improve circulation

• Decrease risk of necrotizing enterocolitis and intraventricular hemorrhage

• increase hemoglobin levels

• improve iron stores over the first few months of life

• improve red blood cell volume

• decrease need for blood transfusion

• Helps inflate vessels around lung alveoli, encouraging them to stay open for baby’s first breaths

• Having enough iron helps myelinate pathways in the brain for better cognitive function

• Decreases anemia (low iron in the blood) within the first year

• Ensures that baby is not hypovolemic (born with low blood volume)

• Floods baby’s system with more stem cells

• Smooths the transition between life inside the womb and life outside by providing a flow of oxygen from birthing person to baby

How does Lotus Birth work?

Once born, the umbilical cord is left alone while the birther delivers the placenta naturally, without Pitocin. When the umbilical cord stops pulsing, the placenta is rinsed with warm water & gently dried with an absorbent organic cloth. It then needs to drain for approximately 24 hours. Once dried, the placenta is placed in a pot or basket, and liberally covered in rosemary powder or sea salt, adding more as needed. Some opt to store in a cloth diaper or placenta bag. Containers should be changed and cleaned daily. The baby is usually dressed in loose clothing to facilitate air circulation and reduce tugging. Since the newborn is still connected to the placenta, this forces the birther to move slowly and intentionally in the early days of postpartum, which is precisely what their body needs to recover.

Potential Benefits & Risks