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Is The Lotus Birth For You? – Part 2
November 2, 2018
Updated April 2023
In the second and final part of this series on the Lotus birth, we look at how safe the method is in other parts of the world, such as African countries like Nigeria.
Previously we defined the Lotus birth and described the process, learning its origins and parts of the world where it seems to be developing some renewed popularity.
We also learned about the special organ called the placenta and how it works.
To remind us:
A Lotus Birth is the process of leaving the cord and placenta to detach naturally in the days after birth.
This is different from the traditional method of cutting and clamping the cord after the baby’s delivery.
Now let’s consider how the practicalities may encourage the use (or not) of the Lotus birth method in some places.
How do the environment and culture in Nigeria and other West African countries affect Lotus Births?
Lotus births are different from some belief systems that give special significance to the placenta.
In these, some mums/families may wish to go home with their placenta and dispose of it according to their tradition.
In this scenario, the usual practice of cutting the umbilical cord occurs with bagging and delivery of the placenta and cord to the mum/her family.
However, the practice of Lotus birth is not popular in Nigeria and many other West African countries.
It is also not a component of the
Given general environmental challenges impacting health care delivery in most West African countries, one can understand the position of training and regulatory bodies on Lotus birth:
Firstly, the placenta is a fleshy, spongy tissue with a bed rich with blood vessels and blood.
It is, therefore
There are high rates of healthcare-associated infection in Nigeria and growing resistance to antimicrobial agents.
With a relatively weak healthcare system, the potential risks that Lotus birth exposes the baby and mum would outweigh its potential benefits.
Methods of preservation by Lotus birth practitioners include rock salt and flowers.
The latter helps to ward off nasty smells, and the former a preservative, but …is that sufficient?
Some people store the placenta in a cool bag kept beside the baby.
How would this work in the average Nigerian setting?
What about the availability of the cold bag used in storing the placenta and the additional costs in Nigeria?
What about the care needed in keeping the placenta clean?
Irrespective of socioeconomic class relative to affordability, what about the effects of relative humidity in local weather conditions?
What about the many visitors and well-wishers, naming ceremony events and other activities that happen just after birth?
These practices are embedded in local Nigerian and other West African cultures; how would the whole arrangement work?
So apart from the potential infections and related complications, Lotus Birth seems to be impractical as a birth choice in the Nigerian setting.
While DCC has benefits and should be encouraged, full Lotus birth protocol would bring additional challenges, especially in the Nigerian setting.
Even for Nigerians that can afford to have their birth attended in cleaner, more advanced settings locally, the risks of infection and the practicality must be weighed carefully against the benefits to make consequential decisions about birth.
What do you think?
As usual, your thoughts make up a great part of the story! Stay Well
More Reading:
Editing by AskAwayHealth Team
Disclaimer
All AskAwayHealth articles are written by practising Medical Practitioners on various healthcare conditions to provide evidence-based guidance and help promote quality healthcare.
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