這次有幸能夠參與小花花的生產,雖然因為速度太快又沒趕上,但這次去還是見識到了新東西──蓮花生 lotus birth

蓮花生(lotus birth),也就是完全不剪臍帶,把胎盤處理過後另外放在一個小籃子裡,通常大約一週左右臍帶會脫落的樣子。

P.S也有半蓮花生,通常是指胎盤娩出後大約三小時斷臍。

助產師首先把胎盤放在水中清洗,等到清洗乾淨後放在寶寶尿布上然後置於事先準備好的小籃子裡。

接著為了防止蟲蟲入侵與腐敗(因為說到底胎盤就是塊肉嘛哈哈哈),需要灑上香料。

迷迭啦、香草啦等等都可以,小花花媽咪直接把廚房裡平常料理用的綜合香料拿出來用了XDDD

香料似乎每天都要灑上一次,不用把舊的洗掉直接灑新的就好。

這樣就完成啦!

 

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因為我上網搜尋後發現關於蓮花生的中文資料實在少的可憐,所以稍微翻譯了一下http://lotusfertility.com/Lotus_Birth_Q/Lotus_Birth_QA.html裡面的一些問題,這是我第一次做英文翻譯,希望不會太糟糕~

 

 

Q:到底什麼是蓮花生呢?

A:蓮花生就是維持臍帶的完整,不切斷臍帶並避免臍靜脈感染的危機。又稱為"Umbilical Nonseverance"(不切斷臍帶)或"Navel Integrity
Practice."(維持臍完整)。寶寶、臍帶與胎盤被視為一個個體,因為他們從同一個細胞來源(精與卵)發展而來,且是同一個分子單位。半蓮花生(在產後臍帶脈動完全停止4~6小時後斷臍)是各地傳統助產學及固有傳統中常實施的作法,而完整的蓮花生(不斷臍,讓臍帶乾燥並自然脫落)是一種在早期美國東部歐洲移民者的紀錄中被提及的作法。

不斷臍在今日的Balinese Bumi Sehat Yayasan birth centers是很常見的,也是不論在何處生產(生產機構、居家、醫療院所),世界各地婦女會被知會能夠做的選擇。根據"Lotus Birth" 一文的編者Rachana Shivam,蓮花生已在澳洲許多教學醫院被實施,而針對此的醫學專業再教育也正在實行。

提供蓮花生這項選擇的專業人士必須遵守"Passive Management"關於第三產程的規章,並且不得以侵略性的方式固定/夾住臍帶。寶寶必須在出生後、胎盤娩出時連接著臍帶。寶寶須與臍帶相連,輕柔的被包覆在衣物中或被放置在母親身旁無覆蓋物的容器中,臍帶可以絲帶包裹。臍帶很快便會乾燥萎縮,通常在產後第三天脫落(有時在潮濕的室內環境中延長至一週),留下完美的肚臍。

有趣的是,延後斷臍(就算只是在寶寶出生後多等一個小時)會讓傷口更快復原,剩餘的臍帶會在平均只有一週的時間脫落,而這會對替換尿布的方便性造成很大的影響!

 

Q:  What is Lotus Birth exactly?  
A:  The practice of maintaining umbilical integrity and neonatal intactness - nonseverance of the umbilical cord and absence of any potential portal of navel infection.  Also called "Umbilical Nonseverance" or "Navel Integrity Practice."  The baby, cord, and placenta are treated as one unit, as they are all originate from the same cellular source (egg and sperm) and are a molecular unit.   Short lotus birth (severance of the fully internally sealed and shrunken cord 4-6 hours after birth) is a common practice in traditional midwifery and indigenous culture in all regions of the earth, and full lotus birth (nonseverance, allowing the cord to dry to sinew and naturally detach) was a practice mentioned in diaries of the early American West european settlers who produced some of the hardiest children known in American history... and valued everything they had.   

Navel integrity practice is a common protocol in the Balinese Bumi Sehat Yayasan birth centers today, and is an informed choice option for women throughout the world, regardless of where the birth occurs (birth center, home, or hospital).   According to Rachana Shivam, editor of the text entitled "Lotus Birth," lotus births have occurred at several teaching hospitals in Australia, and medical professional continuing education on the subject is occurring.
This informed choice practice requests healthcare providers to follow the protocols of "Passive Management" of Third Stage Labor, and also forego invasive cord clamping.  The baby is born and remains attached to its cord while the placenta is birthed.  The baby's placenta-cord is kept in-situ with the baby, gently wrapped in cloth or kept in an uncovered bowl near the mother, and the cord is sometimes wrapped in silk ribbon up to the baby's belly.  The cord quickly dries and shrinks in diameter, similar to sinew,  and detaches often by the 3rd Postpartum day (but up to a week in certain humid indoor air conditions) leaving a perfect navel.  
Interestingly, extended-delayed cord clamping & severing (just waiting more than an hour after the baby's birth),  results in quicker cord stump healing, with an average of only one week for detachment of the stump, which makes a big difference for diaper changing!

 

 

Q:為何要質疑斷臍?為何要改變傳統?

照顧過蓮花生寶寶的父母與照護者都表示這樣的寶寶明顯的更放鬆更平靜,並且不會有常見的(並且對寶寶與母親都很有壓力的)一磅新生兒體重流失與母乳哺育的黃疸,這樣的症狀常被與「正常的」斷臍後一週內寶寶聯想在一起,尤其是產後一小時內斷臍者。這些觀察仍有待大學醫院小兒科研究,雖然醫院中的蓮花生早已在澳洲被實施。無疑的,對寶寶與家庭有益的影響正是研究不斷臍這個選擇的動機。

這些蓮花生寶寶不用耗費能量在產後最初的幾個小時內穩定他們的生理系統,而這反映在所有的層面(放鬆、充足健康的體重增加、核心肌肉的力量、對週遭世界的靈敏觀察)。這可以被稱為「加速發展」,但這是用詞不當:蓮花生寶寶只是沒被壓力削弱,在這充滿壓力的社會中。

相較於過早斷臍的寶寶,他們對於放鬆更加的適應,這會讓他們在長牙及其他發展階段過的較為輕鬆。總而言之,蓮花生會帶給寶寶終生的競爭優勢。

 

Q:  Why bother to question cord-cutting protocols?  Why change family traditions?
A:  Care providers and parents who have experienced Lotus Birth babies observe that they are demonstrably more relaxed and peaceful babies who do not manifest the common (and stressful to baby and mother) 1 lb. newborn weight loss and breastfeeding jaundice that is associated with the first week of life after "normal" birth's cord cutting, particularly cord cutting within an hour of birth.  These observations have yet to be studied by university hospital pediatrics, though hospital lotus births have taken place in Australia.  Needless to say,  a beneficial impact on child and family development is what motivates the exploration of non-severance options.

These intact Lotus babies lose no energy just trying to stabilize their systems in the early postpartum hours and this shows on all levels (relaxation, bountiful healthy weight gain, core muscle strength, fine & gross motor skills, and alert observation of the world around them).  This could be called 'accelerated development' but that would be a misnomer:  Lotus babies are simply undiminished by stress in a very stressful culture.  
Their greater capacity for relaxation, compared to nurslings who had early cord severance and placenta loss, is apparently a metabolic foundation for life, and makes teething and other developmental stages much less distressful.  It could be concluded that Lotus birth gives babies lifelong coping skills.

 

 

Q:蓮花生跟瑜珈的理念有什麼關聯?

A不斷臍是練現代瑜珈的家長們在1980年代探索自然生產時復興,並開始被稱為「蓮花生」,連結了東方對於蓮花的尊崇與因維持完整而神聖的寶寶,及支持無暴力生產的行為(詳見法國產科醫師Frederick Leboyer所著Birth Without Violence一書)。Ahimsa,不殺生論,無暴力且將心比心,是一種瑜珈式生活方式的核心價值。從英國殖民主義中解放的印度正是源自於甘地這樣的價值與領導,而馬丁‧路德‧金的民權運動激發邊界地區的人迅速跟上。在生產時報持著這樣的理念可以釋放驚人的能量,讓「生產與早期的養育成為平靜的經驗」潛力發揮到最大。Ahimsa在很大範圍的程度幫助許多西方助產師與陪產員,而這取決於他們受到的訓練、價值觀與個人發展。

完整、覺知的寶寶有無限的潛力,就像帶著所有「盛放、持續興盛」所需營養的蓮花種子。從胎盤蜿蜒而出的臍帶有許多和蓮花葉及莖特殊的相似處,新鮮蓮花莖非常強韌、有彈性就像臍帶一樣,而蓮葉有著和胎盤胎兒面血管相似的葉脈。當然的,蓮子與根部在東方是對於恢復元氣非常有效的藥。

「所有的連結將消失」是瑜珈的自我控制哲學中一個核心的理念,而這讓很多現代成人花許多年才能領悟的教訓,是「溫和斷臍」就會體驗到的。另一個瑜珈理念是「產後40天(6週)寶寶與母親在家中受到大量支持」的神聖,當做了蓮花生,這段產後的時光通常會被更有意識的對待。

 

Q:  What is the connection between Lotus Birth and Yoga principles?

A:  The practice of "Non-severance"was revived by modern Yoga practitioner parents who were exploring natural birth in the 1980s and thus began to be called "Lotus Birth", connecting the esteem held in the east for the Lotus to the esteem held for the intact baby as a holy child, with a great esteem for practices that support birth without violence (See the book Birth Without Violence by French obstetrician Frederick Leboyer).   Ahimsa, (non-violence in action and thought within one's self and towards others), is a fruit of Yoga practice and a core value of the yogic lifestyle.  It is from the writings and leadership by Gandhi in Ahimsa that India was freed from British colonialism, and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s civil rights inspired marches followed soon after.  Approaching birth options with Ahimsa in mind is something that can create a tremendous liberation of creative energies, freeing the potential of birth & early parenting to be a peaceful experience for the human family at large.  There is a great range in degree of Ahimsa facilitated by various western midwives and doulas, depending on their training, values, and personal development.

The fully aware, intact human child carries an inner universe of potential, just like the Lotus flower whose seeds are actually plantlet embryos, containing everything needed to "Bloom and Continue to Bloom."  The umbilical cord stalk that rises out of the placenta has various unique similarities with the Lotus leaf pad and stem!  The fresh Lotus stem is very strong, yet flexible, like the umbilical cord.  The Lotus leaf has similar lacy vein patterns to the fetal side of the placenta.  And of course the Lotus seeds and root are a very potent, rejuvenative medicine in the east.

A core principle of Yogic self-mastery philosophy is that "all attachment will fall away," a lesson most modern adults spend years struggling with, but  perfectly experienced in the gentle 'breaking forth' of the dried cord.  Another Yogic principle is the sacredness of the first 40 Days (six weeks) postpartum as a meditative journey of mother-baby home seclusion with lots of domestic support.  The postpartum time is generally taken more slowly and consciously when there has been a Lotus Birth.

 

 

Q:如何實施蓮花生呢?

A:寶寶出生後臍帶將不會被夾住,且胎盤娩出後寶寶跟臍帶、胎盤將維持完整,臍帶不會被切斷。

蓮花生中,寶寶前幾個月在子宮中不停脈動的臍帶與充滿保護的胎盤都將受到高度尊重,且相當重要的,會降低肚臍感染的風險。(非常遺憾的,斷臍處的感染是不衛生的環境中可避免但真實的危機)

胎盤娩出後將會被放置在和寶寶相同的水平面,讓充滿營養的血液與荷爾蒙能完整轉移到寶寶身上,也讓寶寶新的呼吸器官完整膨脹、起作用,在生理系統沒有額外壓力的情況下得以更深層的完善。沒有必要急著對胎盤做什麼,它通常就是在完整的生產後最珍貴的前幾個小時的bonding(母子的結合,肌膚相親)中,在靠近母親的地方被包裹在柔軟的布料中。

接著,在適當的時機點將胎盤置於一個特別的碗或包裹在布料中(事先清洗,並去除亂糟糟的團塊部分)。薰衣草、毛茛、迷迭、苦楝葉等磨碎的香料適用於乾燥,且須每日重複塗上,亦可將海鹽大量塗抹於兩面來幫助乾燥及減少氣味。胎盤與臍帶就這樣被輕鬆的留在寶寶身旁,有些母親甚至在哺乳時把胎盤當成手肘的支撐。有些母親選擇將胎盤置於特殊的碗中,與通常產後幾個小時內乾燥的強韌、有彈性的臍帶在靠近他們的床上。

 

Q:  How is a Lotus Birth actually practiced?

A;  After the baby is born, the cord is not clamped and after the placenta is born, the baby and its cord/placenta are kept intact - i.e., the cord is not cut.  

In Lotus Birth, the fact that the baby's previous months contained the constant pulsing companionship of the cord in the womb, and the protective, pulsing placenta pillow, is highly valued, along with the significantly reduced risk of infection at the tender navel site.  (Infected cord stumps are sadly an unnecessary but very real danger for infants in unhygienic conditions).

When the placenta is born, it is kept at the same level as the baby to allow for full transfusion of nutrient rich blood & hormones and full expansion and function of the baby's new breathing apparatus, optimized on a deep internal level when there is no additional stress on their system.  There is no rush to do anything with the placenta - it is often just wrapped in a soft cloth near the mother during the precious first hours of bonding (the 'Primal-adaptive" period as named by Michel Odent M.D.) after the completed birth.

Then, at some point the placenta is placed in a special bowl or wrapped in a ceremonial cloth (it is helpful to rinse it first, and remove clots).  Powdered herbs such as Lavender, Goldenseal, Rosemary or Tulsi may applied for preservation during the drying process, and re-applied daily.  Sea salt is also applied generously on both sides to aid drying and minimize scent.  This small pillow and its cord are easily kept with the baby, and some women even use the Lotus pillow as an elbow prop during nursing.  Some mothers prefer to leave the placenta in a special bowl,  near them in the bed, with the sturdy, flexible cord mostly dried just a few hours after birth.

 

 

Q:難道不是全世界的人都在產後幾分鐘內斷臍嗎?

A:文化人類學是一個擁有相較於西方醫療習慣的立即斷臍不同,豐富的生產與產後傳統的領域。舉例來說,在平靜的巴裏島上的現代人民,一個尊崇所有事物的美麗的美妙文化,仍然持續古老的延後段臍作法(通常是產後2~5小時),且在家中與生產機構中有許多完整的蓮花生。

事實上,巴里島人相信,我們每一個人在出生時都有四個隱形的兄弟陪伴著我們:象徵著胎盤、臍帶、羊水及胎脂。他們相信這些守護者跟我們一起來到這世界,並且在我們的整個生命中保護著我們。孩子從有意識開始就被教導,不管他去到何處都有這四個兄弟相伴,且他們會永遠照看著他。這些兄弟棲息於一個人為了活得健康快樂所需要的四種美德:智慧、力量、友誼與詩意。透過對他們的了解與日常生活中和他們密切關係的建立,這些兄弟可以在任何關鍵性的時刻被召喚來救援或協助。而當你去世時,你的四個心靈兄弟將會為了接下來的旅程接收你的靈魂。寶寶出生的數個小時後,父母盡可能的多收集這些素材,將它們放在椰子殼裡然後埋到屋子的前門旁。(取自Elizabeth GilbertEat, Pray, Love, 2006, pp 251-252

根據巴裏島人,這是四個兄弟神聖的休息之處,而這個地點將永遠被照顧,就像個聖地。其他物品會被放置在胎盤旁,那些被相信會對寶寶的未來有很大的影響的物品。它們可能會包含象徵勇敢的紅絲綢、代表運氣的黃色花朵(例如茉莉和槿)、一隻鉛筆來代表智慧、香水來保持一個人聞起來很好,以及不同貨幣來讓孩子成功。胎盤會被當成寶寶的雙胞胎,所以寶寶的衣服也可能被拿來「打扮」胎盤,幾滴來自母親乳房的乳汁也可能被置於胎盤上。這個容器接著被父親包裹並埋在家門旁,男孩在右邊女孩在左邊。如果這個家庭搬家了,胎盤將被挖出來再埋到新家去。

欲更進一步了解巴裏島上Bumi Sehat Yayasan生產中心的蓮花生及助產主管Robin Lim讓處於危機中的婦女擁有極好結果的獲獎紀錄,請至https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwvRUrn0p90&feature=youtu.be

瑜珈家庭經常在埋之前的六週將絲綢包裹的乾燥臍帶與胎盤保存在家附近,因為知道那不明顯的影響所以在前40天感激且尊崇(在許多本土部落,胎盤被稱為「祖母」。)事實上在中醫文化中,胎盤最終會乾燥、被磨成粉、裝進膠囊,讓復原中的母親服下。因為它有現在連西方醫學都了解的、對那個母親的新陳代謝非常有益的荷爾蒙。

 

Q:  Don't all cultures in the world clamp and cut the cord within minutes of birth?

A:  Cultural anthropology is a realm rich with birth & postpartum traditions different from western medicine's immediate severance rituals.  For example, the modern islanders of peaceful Bali, a beautiful culture that esteems beauty in all things, still continue the ancient practice of extended-delayed cord clamping-severance (typically 2-5 hours after the birth) and have many full Lotus Births at home and in birth centers.

In fact, the Balinese believe we are each accompanied at birth by four invisible brothers – represented by the placenta, the umbilical cord, the amniotic fluid, and the yellow, waxy substance that coats an unborn baby’s skin.  They believe these guardians come into the world with us, and protect us throughout our lives.  The child is taught from earliest consciousness that she has these four brothers with her in the world wherever she goes, and that they will always look after her.  The brothers inhabit the four virtues a person needs in order to be safe and happy in life:  intelligence, strength, friendship, and poetry.   The brothers can be called upon in any critical situation for rescue and assistance, by knowing who they are, and cultivating a mindful connection to them as you live your day.  And when you die, your four spirit brothers collect your soul for travel.   Several hours after the baby is born,  the parents collect as much of these materials as possible, placing them in a coconut shell and burying it by the front door of the family’s house.  (from Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, 2006, pp 251-252)

According to the Balinese, this is the holy resting place of the four brothers, and that spot is tended forever, like a shrine.  Other items are placed with the placenta - items that are believed to affect the child's future so much thought is put into choosing them. They may include red silk to symbolize bravery, yellow flowers such as jasmine and hibiscus to represent luck, a pencil for intelligence, perfume for keeping a person smelling nice, and different currencies for prosperity. The placenta is thought to be the twin of the child so items of the baby's clothing may also be included to "dress" the placenta. A few drops of the mother's breastmilk may also be placed on the placenta. The container is then wrapped and buried by the father beside the front door of their home - to the right for a boy and the left for a girl. If the family ever move, the placenta is dug up and buried at their new house.

To read more about Balinese Lotus births at the Bumi Sehat Yayasan birth centers and Midwifery Director Robin Lim's award-winning protocols that create fantastic outcomes for at-risk women, click  here 

Yoga families often keep the dried silk-wrapped cord and Lotus-pillow in the vicinity of the home the first six weeks before burying it, being aware of the subtle impact of gratitude & honor the first 40 Days (the placenta was called "grandmother" in many native tribes).  In fact, in Chinese Medicine culture, the placenta is eventually dried, powdered, and encapsulated -  to be taken by the recovering mother, as it has potent hormones which are now known by even by western science to  be  beneficial and specific to that particular woman's metabolism.  

 

 

Q:我曾看過貓與馬無拘束的生產,而牠們就像其他哺乳類動物一樣吃掉牠們的胎盤。人類實施蓮花生不會是不自然的嗎?

A:事實上,不是所有的哺乳類動物切斷臍帶或埋葬胎盤!實際上,根據靈長類動物學家在1970年代的報告,當被認為是動物中最高等智慧的哺乳類動物靈長類黑猩猩(也是一夫一妻制,並且在社會方面支持彼此)在牠們的野生棲息地,牠們通常都不斷臍,這同樣發生在許多不同種類的猴子上。產後一兩天,當媽媽們在牠們的隱居處緩緩移動時,牠們是坐著的並且把寶寶與胎盤抱在手上。而當臍帶脫落後,臍帶與胎盤都會被留在土地上成為森林的滋養,然後這個家庭就這樣在樹林裡晃盪!

 

Q:  I've seen cats and horses give birth freely and they just eat their placentas like all mammals.  Isn't it unnatural for a human mammal to have a Lotus Birth?

A:  Actually not all mammals sever the cord and eat or bury the placenta!  In fact, the mammals considered to be of the highest animal intelligence, the primate chimpanzees (who are also monogamous and socially supportive of each other), when in their native wild habitat, generally do not sever the cord, as reported by primatologists in the 1970s.  The same goes for many different kinds of monkeys. The new mothers sit with the baby-placenta in their arms when they slowly move around a little in their retreat spot in the first day or two after the birth, and when the cord then detaches, the cord & placenta are left on the earth and become meat for the forest floor, and the new family swings from the trees!

 

 

大概就是這樣啦~

想知道更完整的資訊請到原文的網址囉~~

P.S這些翻譯是我花費很多時間一字一句翻出來的,想轉載使用的人請先和我說一聲喔!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

這篇文章花了我很多心血和時間,喜歡的話留言鼓勵我一下,幫我按個讓更多人知道吧

 

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