GPI’s Conversation with Rachana Shivam, Lotus Birth Author

“Lotus birth is the practice of leaving the umbilical cord uncut, so that the baby remains attached to his/her placenta until the cord naturally separates at the umbilicus, exactly as a cut cord does, at three to ten days after birth. This prolonged contact can be seen as a time of transition, allowing the baby to slowly and gently let go of their attachment to the mother’s body. This is a new ritual.

Although there are no written official records of cultures that leave the cord uncut, many traditional peoples hold the placenta in high esteem. For example, Maori people from New Zealand bury the placenta ritually on the ancestral marae (meeting place) and the Hmong, a hill tribe from South East Asia, believe that the placenta must be retrieved after death to ensure physical integrity in the next life. A Hmong baby’s placenta is buried inside the house of birth.” ~ Sarah Buckley, a New-Zealand- trained GP/family physician with qualifications in GP-obstetrics and family planning and author.

Read more about Rachana Shivam and her work at Birth Psychology, The Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health https://birthpsychology.com/content/lotus-birthlotus-birth-water-birth- malcolm-twins