...but I did get a "win" yesterday.

[chalynm]

In spite of all the insurance woes, I did have a small triumph yesterday. I got dh to agree to a lotus birth, which is actually a pretty big accomplishment considering that his first response was "Eww, gross, that's disgusting. Absolutely not. It will get infected and stink."

(For those of you who don't know, lotus birth is the practice of not cuting the cord, keeping the entire cord and placenta attached to the baby until it separates naturally.)

I'll be the first to admit that, when I first read the article in Mothering by Sarah Buckley about lotus birth, I thought, well that sounds really neat. I think I'd like to do that. It was sort of an ooo, let's do that moment. But then dh reacted so negatively, which made me totally latch on to the idea. It became a crusade of sorts, in the beginning anyway.

But the more I read about it, the more drawn I became to the practice. I know it's not for everyone, just like waterbirth or UC isn't for everyone either. But after all the research I've done, cutting the cord, even if it's delayed, seems like such an awful thing to do. To me, it feels like you're amputating a perfectly healthy peice of living tissue that isn't ready to be separated from baby.

I'm really not trying to be preachy or make anyone feel bad for cutting the cord. Like I said, I know it's not for everyone. I guess maybe I'm asking for a little bit of feedback. Have I just gone way off the deep end on this? I mean, do I sound totally nuts, or can you understand my thoughts on this, even if you don't agree?

[BirthFree]

It's not totally nuts at all, but I don't think I could do that by any means... I just would gross out too much (and that doesn't happen a lot) - I'm not sure why. I will wait until the cord naturally stops pulsing and is void of blood at all before cutting it but I'll probably still cut it.

I think it's a very au natural approach (not cutting it at all) and has some emotional significance to be sure. That's great that DH is open to it! :)

[mom2mimi]

I can totally understand your feelings, you are not nuts! It is not something I could choose to do, and I can't even imagine my DH being open to it. That is awesome that yours is on board!

[AutumnMama]

Yay! That's so great :D

If you would've asked me about lotus birth a year ago I would've thought you were kinda crazy...even a few months ago I would've been a little "Ew, that's kinda gross.", but I've been doing some looking into it and it's pretty intriguing.

I know my DH would flip, but we'll see.

[dani1130]

I wanted to do that with my 2nd DD, but DH vetoed it. I'm going to work on him with this one. I did get him to agree to a birthing center (He no no-ed home birth :crying . Guess I just have to keep trying.

If I have a boy I don't want him circ. so why do I want to cut off any other parts of my babies. I have 8 months or so to work on him for lotus birth. So maybe. :D

[bohemama]

LOL I just asked DH what he thought about us having a lotus birth. A very emphatic Absolutely not, no way! was his answer.

I don't think you are totally nuts for doing it. I find it very intriguing, but I don't think it's for us. I just finally got dh to agree to no circ, and he's just barely on the edge of agreeing. I'm just thankful he's agreed to that and a homebirth too.

Congrats on your dh being so open-minded!

[chalynm]

Thanks for the feedback, ladies. I hope this doesn't sound totally snotty or anything, but, even though we already decided to do it, it does make a difference getting encouragement and support. I know it's not a mainstream thing, by any stretch of the imagination, but it's still nice not to hear, Well, I wouldn't do it, but that's great if you want to (accompanied by the appropriate fake half-smile, of course).

I did tell my mom tonight that dh finally agreed. I just got a wrinkled up nose in response. I know she thinks it's weird and gross, but I also know that she won't make nasty comments or spread it around so other people can make the nasty comments for her, which is what my MIL would do, which is why we probably won't ever tell her that we did it. She won't be coming down until at least 2 wks after the birth, and it really should have fallen off by then. :D

[mom2mimi]

chalynm, I apologize if my post was condescending or fake sounding. It definitely wasn't intended to be, I was being honest in saying it wasn't for me but I support and celebrate your choice and your victory in convincing your DH. I suppose I should have left the it wasn't for me part out, in hindsight. :o

[chalynm]

No, no, no...I wasn't aiming my comments at anyone who had posted. I was just remembering the reaction I got from my brother's fiance when I was discussing the possibility w/ her. Like I said, I know lotus birth isn't for everyone, and that's OK. I didn't think you were being condescending at all. My apologies if you thought I was picking on you. :love