Can you Lotus Birth and Still Encapsulate the Placenta?

Lotus Births are such a beautiful sight to see. Seeing photos of mamas cradling their vernex covered newborn just minutes after birth while the placenta sits in a bowl nearby with the umbilical cord still attached to baby is amazing. The look of relief on mom’s face and the smile of joy from everyone else who witnessed the strength of a woman is priceless. The decision to have a lotus birth is one of the best choices that a parent can make for their baby.

A lotus birth is when a baby is born and the umbilical cord is left attached until it falls off on its own which usually takes three to eleven days. This method allows for the baby to fully receive all the nutrients from the placenta and allows baby to make a much smoother transition into the world outside of the womb.

Many women who want to have a lotus birth are concerned that they themselves cannot benefit from the placenta through placentophagy (specifically placenta encapsulation). This is not the case. Mothers who want to experience the best of both worlds can absolutely do so with what is called a modified lotus birth.

In a modified lotus birth, the mother would leave the umbilical cord uncut for up to 4 hours while the placenta is covered and sits on ice. After the 4 hours has passed, the mother, her partner or medical staff personnel will then cut the cord or cut the placenta in half so that the baby can continue to receive whatever remaining benefits the placenta has to offer and the other half will be processed for the mother’s placenta capsules.

Of course, in a modified lotus birth, neither option yields 100 percent of the benefits. A mother will receive fewer capsules by not using the entire placenta and the baby won’t get every drip of the placentas nutrients either. However, this is a loving compromise. Both the mother and the baby are extremely sensitive during the recovery/postpartum period. Making sure that they both benefit in some way is essential to their overall health and well-being.

If you’re having trouble deciding on which is most important, relax. You don’t have to choose. Being a mother is a sacrifice in itself. This is something that you can share.

To book your placenta encapsulation service with Chrys (The Urban Umi), click here. If you have more questions or would like to have a conversation, you may contact us at theurbanumi@gmail.com.