i've heard of :-
Lotus birth, or umbilical
nonseverance, is the practice of leaving the umbilical cord attached to both
the baby and the placenta following birth,
without clamping or severing, and allowing the cord the time to
detach from the baby naturally. In this way the baby, cord and
placenta are treated as a single unit until detachment occurs,
generally two to three days after birth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_birth
Lotus birth is the practice of non-violence. It is gaining more
and more momentum nowadays, as parents realize the importance of
birth for the psychological development and health of
children.
During my first birth, I have read about Lotus birth and wished it
for my newborn daughter. We have bought a special sieve, where we
put the placenta. We kept the placenta in the sieve a little higher
than Gabbie, while she had her first breastfeeding. The blood from
the placenta quickly went down into the baby, providing her with
the most precious nutrition. Having had an unassisted home birth,
we did not rush to cut the umbilical cord. We waited for it to
drain itself. Little by little the red throbbing stalk connecting
Gabbie and the placenta became white. Gabbie was very calm and
relaxed. She is still very self-confident and attentive. (Still my
first birth was not such, which I hope the second one to be. When a
doctor came, she cut the umbilical cord. I am thankful that at
least we had the wisdom to postpone her coming at least an hour
after the complete birth. Yet it was probably not wise to transfer
to hospital after such a wonderful birth at home.)
Lotus birth is a choice of non-violence. Not only the
umbilical cord is not cut, it just withers away usually in the
third day. The child has the time to accustom to the world, without
the sudden breaking from this caring warm friend, it had in the
womb for nine months.
The placenta is part of the baby. The placenta begins developing at
implantation from the same source as the baby - the blast cyst. The
fetus relies on the placenta, not only for nutrition, but also for
gas exchange, waste removal, endocrine and immune support. The
correct development of the placenta is important for the
development of the embryo and fetus.
When born, the baby still relies on the placenta. Leaving it
attached to the baby after birth, you make a natural transition to
take place. There is no rush, no sudden severance, and no
confusion. The baby has the feel for the placenta, and at the same
time discovers in its own time the new source of love, warmth,
nutrition in the mother. The gradual attachment to the mother helps
the detachment from the placenta as it dries and naturally
separates. The most precious nutrition, hormones, immune support
substances enter the baby body. Leaving the placenta intact, you
also keep the baby body from infection which might appear in early
cord cut.
All lotus born babies are more mature, quite and happy. They are
much more content, and faster maturing.
I myself embrace the notion of lotus birth for my current birth. It
seems the most natural practice. It was first conceived in 1974 by
Clair Lotus Day. She witnessed the way a mother Chimpanzee left the
placenta attached to the baby until it dropped off. Seeing this,
she thought it should not be harmful for a human baby and did the
same after the birth of her son.
Leaving the cord attached was a practice also cherished by the
Native Americans, the Thais. It was mentioned in Buddhist
traditions as well.
Lotus birth is revived today as a practice of yoga
parents, and many others who sense the benefit for their newborn
baby. It has been practiced even in hospital settings, after
Cesarean, or for premature babies.
<!-- ~~~~~ ~~~~~ -->http://www.achildbirth.com/lotus-birth.html
and..
Born with a 'veil'
Infant born with a thin membrane enveloping the fetus, denoting
that the infant is psychic. (i heard some masters or spiritual
people are born in this way).