Considering having a baby?, or even considering having a second or 3rd child? Have you ever considered having a Lotus Birth? Have you even heard of this term before?

Lotus Birth is nothing new, however it is regaining popularity amongst women in New York and around the U.S. The practice predates the Americas and comes from Tibetan and Zen Buddhism cultures. The term refers to leaving the child intact, as "Holy Children".  The practice has been considered the proper method for birthing by several cultures over the centuries. Jane Goodall while studying chimpanzees noticed that chimps practiced this method of leaving the umbilicus to fall off on it's own. Yoga practitioners started adopting the method when Jeannine Parvati Baker, the author of Prenatal Yoga & Natural Childbirth, used  umbilical nonseverance for the births of two of her children. This practice is also considered a preventative measure to protect the newborn from infection. Some doctors have even noticed a correlation in decreasing the risk of jaundice.

The Lotus Birth is usually something practiced with a care giver or mid wife in the home, and very often is accompanied by a water birth. the placenta is wrapped and gently salted and treated with essential oils and herbs to help it in the drying process which can take 3-10 days. In this time the baby is moved as little as possible so as not to cause detachment prematurely.

While Lotus Birth is not a new practice, it is not something that should be attempted by uninformed parents. It is highly recommend that a certified specialist familiar with the process educate the would be parents and even assist them in this style of birthing.