Ashley and Jack's Homebirth Story
A Lotus Birth

Harper Marshall

Fully Bloomed: A story of a Lotus Birth Harper’s birth at home was more sweet than I could have dreamt it. I labored easily and powerfully with the loving support from my husband, doula, and midwife. When Harper’s bag of waters popped birth energy rushed through me and soon his little head began to emerge. There was a situation with a slight case of dystocia and a tight umbilical cord but we were safe in the skillful hands of our midwife. Then, all of a sudden, there he was - pink, alert, and beautiful.

As I sat in awe of this perfect, wise being I rubbed the creamy coating of vernix into his delicate skin and knew we had made the right decision to give him a Lotus birth. It was the most blissful beginning to follow the culmination of pregnancy and the sense of loss that often ensues.

Lotus birth is the process of leaving the baby’s placenta attached via the umbilical cord until it falls off at its own accord. Its purpose is both physiological and spiritual. Physiologically the baby receives the some 43% of the blood left in maternal/placental circulation.

Ever wonder why cord blood banking has become so popular? It is known that cord blood-or blood left in the cord and placenta that hasn’t made its way to the baby- is useful in helping to fight childhood leukemia later in that child’s life. Why not stop denying a baby this vital blood and allow it to pass to the baby after birth instead? Also, the placenta is the baby’s life preserver before breathing is established. As long as the cord remains intact and while it still pulsates the baby is being oxygenated.

Long after the cord stops pulsating and the physical transference is complete, the spiritual transference has only begun. This quiet time is when the baby’s aura, or spiritual presence, is being realized. The placenta originated from the same cells as the baby and because of this bond they are a genetic identical of one another. A Lotus birth allows for a respectful good-bye to the baby’s womb mate.

How does a parent care for an intact placenta? It was surprisingly easy. After Harper’s birth my husband and midwife placed it in a colander and rinsed all of the blood clots out. Then we rubbed it with sea salt and sprinkled it with lavender flowers. Harper’s placenta wore a cloth diaper just like he did and we changed it daily. We swaddled the "placenta package" right along with him so we were free to pick him up, nurse, and cuddle without the fear of tugging at his navel.

On the third day after his birth, Harper let go of his placenta. He was content and whole and ready to be free. We said good-bye to the organ that nourished and protected our son for his first nine months but we will see it again when we plant it at Harper’s first blessing way.

Harper is our second child to be born at home but our first Lotus birth. We now know that we would never have another baby without giving them a Lotus birth. It was three very mindful days that enabled us to remain in that warped sense of time that follows birth. We were surrounded only by love and close family while Harper made his earthly transition. There was plenty of time for lively celebration later that week but I will always be grateful for those precious days when Harper was Lotus born.