In a short period of time i´ve encountered 2 cases of lotus birth. As to my knowledge, no other mammal shows this `behaviour`? I wasn´t able to find any evidence of what the benefit (for the child) could be of leaving the placenta connected to the child. There are some suggestions that it would not benefit the child (in making the transition) and that it even could expose the infant to infection.  I´m curious what evidence you could provide or what you´re expert opinion is in this case.

Thank you in advance,

Minthel van den Berg, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, NICU, Netherlands

I have only come across this once IRL, in a private delivery unit where I did a few extra shifts some years ago, but have heard about it occasionally. My opinion - seems more like part of a Yoga trend of "naturality" than anything else. Like things, despite seemingly whacky, we "can afford" to do nowadays since all related risks to child-bearing and -birth are so small regardless what parents choose to do.

Just to check what was on Pubmed by a text search, almost only papers in midwifery journals that seems to be more of statements than original research.
Also found this write-up in Huffington Post with a few comments from the Ob&Gyn profession.