Lotus Birth

[Lily's_Mom]

Oliver and his placenta parted ways this morning! It took 72 hours for the cord to separate from his navel.

We just kept his placenta wrapped in a prefold, which was wrapped in a receiving blanket and then swaddled with him. It was quite the bundle. Every time I changed Oliver's diaper, I changed the placenta's diaper as well.

After the first 24 hours, we salted it and I continued to salt it for every change on the 2nd day. Yesterday (the 3rd day) it seemed to have enough salt, so I just changed the prefold without doing more salting.

Last night the cord was just hanging on by a thread of goo, and this morning it came loose. The placenta barely has an odor, you have to put your nose quite close. It is just an inoffensive, earthy aroma, quite pleasant actually, compared to dd's cord stump which smelled like rotten garbage.

Anyway, just thought I'd share our experience with lotus birth. We didn't use any special herbs, oils or anything, just plain ol' Sifto table salt.

I can wear clothes now!

salty placenta (it measures about 4" now)

[Krystal323]

very interesting!

My dh is already weirded out enough that Nik's placenta is in the freezer (awaiting being buried in the ground, once we buy a home!)--but i have read about Lotus birth before and it sounds very gentle. What were your reasons for doing lotus??

[ExuberantDaffodil]

that is very interesting.

And I'm glad that I'm not the only one who took a picture of the placenta
(though I didn't do a lotus birth) Mine was heart-shaped. I found that fascinating.

[Lily's_Mom]

Originally Posted by Krystal323

What were your reasons for doing lotus??

When our dd was born, we waited until the placenta was out to cut the cord. In that moment it went against my instincts, that it was severing a connection, even though logically I knew the placenta wasn't attached to me anymore.

When I told my midwives how I felt last time about cutting the cord, they suggested a lotus birth. After doing some googling and learning that the cord falls off much sooner when it is left alone, dh was all for it too!

It was a very nice experience, and I would definitely do lotus birth again.

[SunShineSally]

I wanted a lotus birth but the hospital wouldn't allow it I am so happy you and your little beautiful boy!