Authors

Inés González Nicolás1, Susana Marcos Peña2, Beatriz Fernández Pernía1, Estefanía Tomé Blanco1, Mª Josefa Olloqui Mundet1, Laura Albillos Alonso1

Position

1Enfermera Especialista Obstétrico-Ginecológica (Matrona). Unidad de Paritorio. Hospital Universitario de Burgos2Enfermera Especialista Obstétrico-Ginecológica (Matrona). Gerencia de Atención Primaria. Burgos

Contact address

Inés González-Nicolás. Avda. De Cantabria, 75. 09006 Burgos.

Contact email: inesgn1982@yahoo.es

Abstract

Objective: to review the scientific evidence regarding placenta care and newborn safety in Lotus Birth.
Methods: a narrative review. Different search strategies were conducted in the following databases and platforms: Pubmed, Cochrane, Ovid, Scielo, Cuiden, Clinical key, BMJ, Metas de Enfermería and Google Scholar. Terms used: Lotus Birth, umbilical non severance, cord clamping, care, safety, nacimiento lotus. Filters: 2016-2020, on placenta care and newborn safety, epidemiological studies.
Results: in total. 169 documents were located. Six articles were selected. Two articles discussed placenta care: they were washed with warm water during the first hours, dried and wrapped in natural fabric cloths, using salts and aromatic plants to accelerate the drying process, and placed at the same height as the newborn. The other four documents described six cases of infectious complications, which were solved with antibiotic therapy, in mothers who had presented prolonged broken sac, positive vaginal cultures, and lack of peripartal antibiotic therapy.
Discussion: Lotus Birth is a rare practice, traditionally associated with home births, which has been increasingly introduced in the hospital setting. There is limited evidence available about placenta care in Lotus Birth, and the safety of this practice for newborns.

Keywords:

Lotus Birth; umbilical non severance; cord clamping; placenta; care; birth security

Versión en Español

Título:

Cuidados de la placenta y seguridad del recién nacido en el nacimiento Lotus