called Lotus Birth. It requires some daily attention to the placenta and a mother needs to be well prepared and instructed by a Lotus Birthing midwife. Lotus Birth is not an option in the vast majority of hospitals. The cutting of the cord is symbolic of the true separation of mother and child. There are many old sayings about the “ties that bind” and about “adults who have never cut the cord”. If you have a desire to cut your own cord this should be pursued. Some women like their partner to do the honours. Whichever way you want to do it, simply express your wishes to the attending midwife or doctor before or soon after the birth.
 

	~Examining and Disposing of Your Placenta~

   After the placenta is delivered, if you are inclined, spend time examining it. It must be properly checked by the midwife to see if it is complete and has come away from the uterus cleanly. Failure to deliver a wholly intact placenta indicates retained membranes which can lead to an infection in the uterus, increased after-birth uterine pain and excessive bleeding. The placenta can also show indications of ill-health in mother or the baby. Examination is normally done by the attending midwife or doctor but you are quite entitled to get involved. I was always surprised at how big the placenta was.
   In many cultures there are specific rituals for the handling and disposal of the placenta where it is understood to have special psychic importance. In some places it is considered as part of the mother, and in others it is appreciated as part of the baby. Some Aboriginal tribes bury the placenta at the site of the birth, thereby tying the child forever to that land.
   More and more now, women have a stronger sense of attachment to the placenta, and rather than having it unceremoniously disposed of by a hospital, they like to take it home and plant it under a young tree for example. The sapling will benefit from the nutrients and the tree will be a constant reminder of your pregnancy and birth experience.
   There is also a growing number of women exploring the idea of eating the placenta. In the animal world all mammals immediately eat the placenta after the birth, partly to ensure it doesn’t attract predators and also because it is believed to be good for the mother. If ever you have a pet or other animal in your care who gives birth, do not interrupt this natural instinct to eat the placenta. For humans (especially the vegetarian ones) the desire to eat the placenta has long
 

been lost. But, I’m informed, the most palatable method is to freeze the placenta and shave off small portions each day for several weeks after the birth. Women who do this have reported less fatigue, increased energy, quicker recovery time. As yet I am not aware of any studies investigating these anecdotal benefits.
   So if you do want to take your placenta home, don’t forget to ask them to keep it aside for you.
 

	~Reflections on Growth Through Childbirth ~

   In my preceding 5 childbirthing stories, only some of the common aspects all women face in their different journeys towards motherhood were included. My own history is only one example of how we all grow from ignorance to knowledge, from weakness to strength, from control to surrender, from distress to bliss. Of course, in hindsight it is easy to see how things could have been done differently and to sprout the wisdom of past experience and maturation, but my aim has been to encourage the reader to assess their own situation in the light of what they would like to ultimately achieve rather than what is normally presented as possible.
   Whilst it may have taken me 6 pregnancies to get to my ideal of a completely natural birth, I don’t wish the reader to think they would need to have 6 babies to achieve their own aims or emulate my efforts! In fact, with the opportuni-ties and choices available today, and the sort of theory and practise I have explained in this book, I believe that most women could achieve this same experience on their first, if not second, baby. It has been estimated by some researchers that between 80% and 90% of women could, quite safely, if well prepared and supported, give birth naturally without need for any interven-tions(29). That being the case, homebirth and Birth Centres are in fact very realistic options for many more women in our society. It so much depends on where you start from and what you do for yourself along the way. The main thing is to start early – and then move forward to your dreams.
   I’ll end this chapter with my last birth story which I consider was the pinnacle of all my birthing experiences. From confusion to clarity, from complexity to simplicity, from intervention to self reliance – Omtara’s birth turned out to be a 17 year old dream come true.