Lotus birth

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'''Lotus birth''' is a [[woo]] practice in obstetrics, where the umbilical cord is left attached to the baby after [[birth]].  The cord then separates from the baby after a few days.<ref name=todaysparent/> It is usually done for the various vague benefits around [[aura]]s and mystical energy, or based on other unfounded claims. This practice is condemned by the medical community for the various, very real, dangers this has for the infant.<ref name=todaysparent/> While it remains attached, the cord is carried around with the baby, often in some kind of bag or wrapped in cloth; you can buy pouches for this purpose from Etsy.<ref name=todaysparent/>

==Supposed benefits==
Historically, the practice was used to prevent open-wound infections by early North American pioneers, who were lacking in medical facilities and/or access to medical practices, to avoid leaving an open wound at the site of the placenta.<ref name=todaysparent>[https://www.todaysparent.com/baby/newborn-care/lotus-birth-meet-our-new-babyand-our-placenta/ Lotus birth: Meet our new baby...and our placenta], Today's Parent, Sep 29, 2017</ref> There are claims by modern practitioners that it boosts the baby's immune system,<ref name=metro>[https://metro.co.uk/2017/12/14/should-you-leave-the-placenta-attached-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-pros-and-cons-of-lotus-births-7138960/ Should you leave the placenta attached? What you need to know about the pros and cons of Lotus Births], Metro, Dec 14, 2017</ref> but there doesn't appear to be any evidence and it's not clear how this could be true. The placenta transfers antibodies while connected to the mother, and breast milk also provides protection against infection,<ref>[https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jir/2012/985646/ IgG Placental Transfer in Healthy and Pathological Pregnancies] Patricia Palmeira, Camila Quinello, Ana Lúcia Silveira-Lessa, Cláudia Augusta Zago, and Magda Carneiro-Sampaio, Clinical and Developmental Immunology, Volume 2012, Article ID 985646, 13 pages, [http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/985646 DOI]</ref><ref>[https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/814970_2 Breast Milk: Proactive Immunomodulation and Mucosal Protection Against Viruses and Other Pathogens], Chiara Cerini; Grace M Aldrovandi, Future Virology. 2013;8(11):1127-1134.</ref> but there is no evidence that a severed lump of dead flesh will do the same.

Most reasons are vaguer: modern-day proponents want to allow the "[[Subtle energy|auric energy]]" in the [[placenta]] to flow to the infant. Another well-accepted reason in the [[crackpot]] community is the "[[Appeal to nature|naturalness]]" of the practice, out of a knee-jerk reaction to anything "unnatural".<ref>http://www.lovenaturalbirth.com/lotus-birth.html Also note the [[green ink]]</ref> Lotus birth is supposed to ease the trauma of birth, reduce separation anxiety, and allow the baby to transition by degrees to life outside the womb;<ref name=metro/> but it's hard to tell if the baby even notices. It also serves to "honor the placenta", which is doubtless grateful of the attention.<ref name=livescience/>

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK tries to be understanding of parents' choices but said in 2008: "No research exists on lotus births and there is currently no medical evidence that it is of benefit to the baby."<ref>[https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/news/rcog-statement-on-umbilical-non-severance-or-lotus-birth RCOG statement on umbilical non-severance or “lotus birth”], Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Dec 1, 2008</ref>

However, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee on Obstetric Practice claimed that delayed umbilical cord clamping increased hemoglobin levels at birth and improved iron stores in the first several months of life, which could possibly have a favorable effect on developmental outcomes.<ref>[https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Fulltext/2020/12000/Delayed_Umbilical_Cord_Clamping_After_Birth__ACOG.37.aspx], American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee on Obstetric Practice, December 2020</ref> How much delay? At least 30-60 seconds, not quite a Lotus birth.

==Tangible dangers==
As any doctor (aside from those who got their credentials from the university of natural medicine, ''et al'') can tell you, leaving a dead, necrotic piece of flesh on your body is bound to end poorly, with infection a particular risk.<ref name=livescience>[https://www.livescience.com/59270-are-there-risks-to-lotus-birth.html 'Lotus Birth': What Experts Say About Cutting the Cord], LiveScience, May 25, 2017</ref> Interestingly, a common practice by "lotus birthers" is to marinate the placenta in sea [[salt]] and herbs, to prevent it from becoming malodorous.<ref name=todaysparent/> Now, what makes flesh malodorous? It can't be that it is rotting! In fact, most proponents are aware it is rotting, and in order to prevent it from becoming a hazard, treat it as a cured meat, only attached to their baby. Now how's that for natural medicine?

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Birth]]
[[Category:Nature woo]]

Categories: Birth, Nature woo