On social networks, more and more doulas are extolling the merits of the “lotus baby” after childbirth. A practice deemed “useless and dangerous” by the National Order of Midwives. What are the risks ?
A lotus baby is a baby who keeps his umbilical cord attached to the placenta until the cord dries and falls off on its own. “It can take 3 to 10 days to fall”, tells us the liberal midwife of Espace Natal, Anaïs Amiach. But more and more doulas are extolling the merits of the lotus baby on social networks, encouraging future and young mothers to keep their placenta after childbirth. A way, according to them, to protect the child from infections, promote their immune system and strengthen the mother-child bond. Faced with this trend which seems to be growing, the Order of Midwives is alerting young parents. This practice is considered “unnecessary and dangerous”, without scientific basis, and can cause infections.
What are the risks and disadvantages of this practice?
Since the placenta contains blood, it can become infected. However, as the midwife explains, “via the cord, the placenta is in communication with the baby, so there can be an infectious risk“. This is the case if the base of the cord becomes red, purulent or swollen. And then, it is not easy to transport the child with his placenta. “We can’t move him too much, the mother must stay by his side“, she warns. Finally, logistically, due to safety and hygiene, maternity wards do not practice this type of birth which is generally done at home, with a doula. “The placenta must be preserved otherwise it will rot. This therefore involves placing it in a basket or an airtight bag, changing the sheets every day, putting coarse salt to improve conservation, aromatic flowers possibly also to mask the smell a little, small amulets. explains Anaïs Amiach to us.
“It’s quite a spiritual approach”
According to her, parents opt for a lotus baby “more for spiritual than medical reasons, because we realized that it was not necessarily more beneficial to leave the cord.” Some people think that the baby can collect energy via the placenta, a bit like a chakra, where the baby could draw all the energy necessary to get off to a good start in life.
Where does the baby lotus practice come from?
Practiced for a very long time in certain tribes of Asia, in Indonesia in particular, and Africa, the term “lotus baby” comes from Hindu mythology who says that “it is from the lotus blooming from the navel of Vishnu that our world will emerge.” The lotus flower is also considered the flower of life par excellence in Buddhism, symbolizing purity and renewal. In France, this practice, which is not without risk, is rather rare.