<div><p>It is no secret that moms get very attached to their babies even before birth. After carrying a child for nine months and going through difficult labor, it only makes sense that they develop a connection unlike any other. </p><p>Some mothers even opt for non-traditional birthing methods to develop a better bond with their newborn child.</p><p>One of these alternative practices is lotus birth, a birthing technique that leaves the umbilical cord and placenta attached to the baby until it naturally falls off. The placenta is usually placed in a cloth and accompanies the newborn everywhere it goes. The cord will eventually dry up and detach on its own between 3 to 10 days after birth. </p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>Even though the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists does not support the practice, according to <a href="http://www.lotusbirth.net/index.php/the-value-of-a-lotus-birth">Lotus Birth: A Natural Birthing Practice</a>, there are multiple benefits to having the umbilical cord uncut upon birth. </p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/cord-baby.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/cord-baby_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/cord-baby_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/cord-baby_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Facebook/Jazmine Toria</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>They note that lotus birth helps keep babies healthier and contributes to their iron and stem cell supply. "The infant obtains 40 to 60 mL of "˜extra blood' from the placenta if the cord is not tied until pulsations cease."</p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>New mother Jasmine Toria, opted for a lotus birth when delivering her daughter and claims that she became "spiritually attached" to the placenta and she felt like she "lost a friend" when it fell off. She shared her story on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jazmine.theempress/posts/418237508547433">Facebook</a> in March and it has been raising a lot of brows. </p><div><amp-facebook data-href="https://www.facebook.com/jazmine.theempress/posts/418237508547433" layout="responsive" height="600" width="640"></amp-facebook></div><p>In the post, the two-time mother said she had an "absolutely phenomenal" experience with keeping her placenta despite warnings from the hospital staff. </p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>She wrote: "After her and the placenta was born we first bonded while allowing it to finish pulsating, after that we rinsed it off with warm water, drained it and placed it on an absorbent pad and covered & cured it with lavender essential oil, dried organic rosemary and organic sea salt. We then wrapped the absorbent pad around it and placed a silk wrap on it to carry it in. My fiancé did this twice a day."</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/placenta.jpg" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Facebook/Jasmine Toria</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>She noted that the placenta fell off after 3 days without causing an infection or leaving behind an odor.</p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>Asides from the reasons cited above, Jazmine stood her ground against doctors who wanted to cut the cord because she believes hospitals use the placenta and umbilical cord for profit. "Hospitals will never bring this to your attention because they profit off of your cord blood and stem cells. They're sent straight off to a lab to be frozen & sold to create medications, cosmetics, etc." </p><p>"I would definitely recommend this to any and everyone that is expecting. It was a beautiful & very beneficial experience," she added. </p><p>What do you think of lotus births? Share your opinions in the comments below.</p></div>