Lotus Birth compiled by Shivam Rachana

Price: NZ$39.00 (add to order)

Published in Australia 2000; 178 pages; 21 x 15 cms; black and white photos and some diagrams;

Contributors: Jeannine Parvati Baker, Anne Blanch, Sarah Buckley, Christal, Deva Daricha, Clair Lotus Day, Trish Douglas, Sunderai Felich, Naomi Herman, Branwen Hooke, Janet Ireland, Katrina Japp, Davini Joy, Anand Khusi, Jenifer Van Laanen-Smit, Simone Lukas, Dr Christopher Millar, Michel Odent, Karyn Patterson, Renuka Potter, Bodhi Priti, Shivram Rachana, Kerry Radford, Pacia Sallomi, Alice Scholes, Kairava Shan-Ra and Soni Stecker

Index to this page:

Table of Contents; About the Author; Book Reviews;

Table of Contents:

Foreword & Introduction (p.1)

Chapter 1: Womb ecology becomes world ecology (p.13)
Chapter 2: The story of childbirth (p.23)
Chapter 3: Leaving well alone: A natural approach to the third stage of labour (p.37)
Chapter 4: The placenta and cord in other cultures (p.53)
Chapter 5: Lotus birth and the psyche (p.61)
Chapter 6: Matters of life and birth (p.81)
Chapter 7: The benefits of Lotus Birth (p.93)
Chapter 8: Parent's stories (p.109)
Chapter 9: Midwives'; experiences with Lotus Birth (p.141)

References (p.157)
Contributors (p.162)
Further reading and resources (p.168)
Contacts (p.172)
International College of Spiritual Midwifery (p.174)
Dial a Doula (p.177)
Centre for Human Transformation (p.178)

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About the Author:

Shivam Rachana is the founding Principal of the International College of Spiritual Midiwfery. She has had 30 years teaching experience and has worked in the area of women's health, particularly childbirth, since the 1970's. Rachana has been attending home births since 1977, attended Austalia's first waterbirth and introduced Lotus Birth into Australia. She is a trainer of rebirthers and Tantra and the author of 'The Tantric Path'. The orginator of the initiatory Women's Mysteries five-day retreats, Rachana is a much-loved and respected teacher and her students practice throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Biographies of other contributors are contained in the book.

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Book Reviews:

From the book cover: 'At last Shivram Rachana has gathered together the Lotus Birth lore from around the world so that we might welcome babies more fully by honouring the fourth stage of labour'
Jeannine Parvati Baker

'Lotus Birth is the practice of leaving the umbilical cord uncut, so that the baby remains attached to the placenta until the cord naturally separates at the navel; exactly as a cut cord does; at three to ten days after birth. This prolonged contact can be seen as a time of transition, allowing the baby to slowly and gently let go of the attachment to the mother's body' Dr Sarah Buckley, 'Pregnancy Magazine' Spring 1988

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