Saving your placenta after having a baby is a trendy thing to do right now. They say that it’s a prime source of nutrients, which has spurred a movement that involves taking it home and eating it. Thinking you want to give it a try? Not so fast! There are some things you should know about this practice before jumping on the bandwagon. Before you grab that placenta and run, here’s what you need to know about saving it.
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1. Discuss Your Wants
I’ve given birth three times and never even saw the placenta. That’s because standard practice is to toss it in the biohazard bin. After all, your baby doesn’t need it anymore. So, if you plan to save yours, make sure you tell the nurses and your doctor so that they are aware that it should be saved. If you have a written birth plan, make sure you include this as part of it.
2. Hospitals May Be Reluctant
It’s your placenta and if you want it, you should have it, right? That may not be the case. Some hospitals are leery of allowing you to remove your placenta from the building because of its biohazard risk. Because it’s filled with blood, it could be a sanitation or health related risk that many hospitals would rather not deal with. Find out before you’re in labor if you can keep it or not so that you can seek alternate options if you need to.
3. Bring Your Own Containers
The labor and delivery room is not a full service restaurant and your nurses aren’t going to lovingly bag up your placenta for you. In fact, if you want it, you may have to take that job into your own hands. At the least, you’ll have to bring your own zip top bags and a large airtight container to carry it home in. Don’t have those things? You might not get to keep the placenta after all.
4. Postpartum Depression Protection
Here’s one of the top reasons that women choose to eat their placenta after birth. Some research says that it helps protect against developing postpartum depression. This is because the placenta is a storehouse for the hormones that take a nosedive after delivery. I never would have thought to eat my placenta, but after suffering postpartum anxiety and depression after each of my babies, I might have given it a try, had I known.
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5. Encapsulation
Eating anything that comes out of your body isn’t exactly appetizing, right? That’s why most women who eat their placenta have it encapsulated into gel caps that they can simply swallow. To have this done, you’ll need to find a reputable place so that you can be sure you’re getting your own placenta and that it is processed safely.
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6. Only Eat Your Own
While eating your own placenta may have some benefits, it’s never a good idea to eat anyone else’s. This puts you at risk of disease. That’s why if you decide to take yours home and have it processed for eating, it pays to make sure you find someone certified to do it. Never, ever eat placenta from someone else. Yuck!
7. Besides Eating
Eating placenta is gaining in popularity, but there are other things you can do with it to. Placenta can also be transformed into skincare products that promise to moisturize your skin and infuse it with nutrients. It’s also touted as a way to fight aging. Placenta teddy bears and placenta wall art are other options.
Would you save your placenta? Why or why not?
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Comments
Olivia: Placenta wall art? Um, what?
Marie: As a nurse & a doula I must admit whenever someone mentions eating the placenta I try not to look at her with a face of horror. The author does a great job with advice: let the staff know ahead of time & bring your own containers! This might not even be an option depending on the hospitals policy. I had one mama who thought I was being rude when I declined to try her strawberry & placenta smoothie that she whipped up in her Magic Bullet the next day. Yikes! No thanks :(
Emma: I would never eat my placenta. Couldn't get past the gross factor
Karen: I know that in some third world places the after birth is saved and the new mother will eat it for her first meal to regain her strength & to nourish her milk for her baby. At least that is something that I heard/read about somewhere far enough in time that I can't remember just where I got that information. Whether it is still practiced, I haven't a clue, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is still done. Why would people stop doing something that is working for the family as well as it being done for longer than anyone can remember? If something that other people think is disgusting/horrifying but helps the mother & baby as well as help the mother to regain her strength faster, would you stop doing something that has been proven to be true, would you stop doing it just because you had been raised to do this, would you stop?
Kala95: Not for me sorry. But understand why some women want too.
karen: I lived on a farm and had a Coe that couldn't deliver do I had to pull the calf out myself.... my hair was waist length and I had gotten afterbirth/placenta all in my hair... after I got back to the house and washed my hair...I couldn't believe how soft it was, I couldn't keep my hands off it!!! I was tempted to follow the rest of the cows around to collect the afterbirth!!!
Katie: That sound terrifying, Karen! As for eating one's placenta, I'm aware of all the benefits, and how many animals do it, but I don't think I could get past the yuck factor!
J: So beyond disgusting. It's like cannibalism in a way. I wonder who the First Lady was to say 'hey give me my placenta I'm gonna go home and eat it'
Karen: While I understand the concept, & I have gone through postpartum depression with at least two of my three children, I really don't think I could eat my placenta no matter the benefits. Not only is it a disgusting concept for me no matter how it is consumed, I couldn't have done it with my second child as she was at least a week overdue. It was amazing that she was even delivered alive! When she came out her imbilicum cord was black & shrivelled up so badly, my doctor was amazed that she had survived the pregnancy at all & he conceded that I had been correct as to the actual due date. So, let that be a warning, ladies ... if you & your doctor disagree on your due date, you are quite possibly correct if that is the only span of time it could probably be, not what the doctor claims.
deeby: I probably wouldn't when that day comes. I'd personally feel weird doing it... But I can see the benefits/appeal xD
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