Vanessa Fisher made everyone shocked when she decided to leave placenta attached to her son for 9 days.
Her family was not happy with her decision but Vanessa stuck to her decision of not detaching placenta for 9 days.
Nick and Vanessa Fisher welcomed their son, Ashton and they left placenta attached for 9 days. Vanessa got this idea of leaving placenta attached when she started researching cord blood options. After researching about it, she chose lotus birth.
A lotus birth, which has started gaining popularity because of its benefits, is when the umbilical cord is not cut after birth. This is done for full placental blood transfer to the baby. The cord naturally detaches over the course of three to ten days.
Vanessa chose this option because of its benefits and went against the will of her family who was not familiar with lotus birth. After Ashton’s birth, she posted a message on Facebook for her family:
“Why I chose lotus birth?
Trust the natural process that God created for childbearing.
ADVERTISEMENT Allows for the health benefits associated with complete placental blood transfer.
Bonding: Creates a more fluid transition from mother, baby, placenta, & womb to mother, baby, father & world.
Emotionally lotus birthed babies tend to be more serene and peaceful.”
ADVERTISEMENT
It was only her husband, Nick who supported her decision of leaving placenta attached for 9 days. The couple spoke to Love What Matters about it:
“In my mind I imagine the baby spending 10 months in utero only knowing his mother giving him life, his placenta offering him nourishment and the umbilical cord connecting him to both.point 155 | After birth, the baby is normally taken from the womb and separated from his cord and placenta — a series of events that I imagine could be emotionally traumatic for the baby.point 301 |
A reintroduction to mother externally cannot be avoided, but a gradual separation from the umbilical cord and placenta seems more emotionally considerate of the baby.point 142 | ”point 145 | 1
“Other family members were not fond of the idea. I think that the most reluctance stemmed from the fact that it was unfamiliar. I didn’t find anyone’s objections valid enough to reconsider my decision.”
“The placenta is attached would require that they be even more careful with the baby. My son decided he wouldn’t even hold the baby until the placenta was done away with.”
Nick and Vanessa, are now very happy with their decision as it is beneficial for the child. They shared their experience with the world for those who want to choose lotus birth.
“In the days following his birth, Ashton’s cord became very dry and brittle like a twig. On day five, the cord snapped. The placenta was separate, and a portion of the cord remained connected to the navel. On day nine, the remaining piece of the cord detached from the navel. The process was successful. It didn’t cause any infection or discomfort to the baby.”