Encapsulating Placenta

emy730

Yes, I know, kind of a gross topic, but I'm considering doing this for this pregnancy. 

Has anyone done this? What did you think? 

susykat77

  I am a FTM but I am doing this for sure! And for what it's worth, I don't think it is gross The office where my doulas practice has a placental encapsulation specialist and my doula will take it to her right after birth. I am prone to anxiety and depression (but depression is more of an unconscious coping strategy for the anxiety - or so my therapist says) so I am willing to try anything to help after birth as I am off my meds.

KRB22

Also a FTM and also planning to do this if I can (via my doula). I'm prone to anxiety as well, and have dealt with adrenal insufficiency. There doesn't seem to be much downside or known negative side effects to placenta encapsulation, so I'm willing to try it if it might help with post partum recovery and hormone balance. 

katesmama0706

My SIL did it and swears by it. She said it helped with PPD (although she also took an anti depressant) and that it increased her milk supply and the thickness of her breast milk. Everything I've ever read said it's a placebo effect but I think if it works for you and you're not totally grossed out and there isn't any evidence that it hurts anything then I guess go for it. 

ThePax89

Didn't do it with my first. I'll look into it for this one. I've read that in 1/10 cases, it has the opposite effect, which worries me. I'm interested in trying though. 

One question, maybe someone knows, my first daughter had meconium, does anyone know if you can encapsulate a placenta with meconium? (Super gross) 

cjs260

The post-doc in my lab studied maternal behavior in rodents for his PhD and found that the benefits of eating the placenta were only seen if it occurred immediately after birth. The main school of thought is that in animals who give birth to multiple offspring at a time, it's helpful pain relief for the pushing out of the next one. Taking the time to get it encapsulated greatly reduces the vast majority, if not all, of the benefits injesting the placenta provides. You're much better off licking the baby immediately after it comes out of you for maximum benefit, if there is any benefit at all. But from the mildly extensive research I've done so far,  I personally think that any effects seen in humans is a placebo effect. Since the science behind it is iffy, I'm not doing either. 

katesmama0706

@cjs260 I'm not doing it either because of the lack of evidence that it does anything + the ick factor but the image of moms licking their babies is hilarious to me

ashanne88

This falls in the "you do you" camp for me.  I didn't do it with my first and won't be doing it this time.  Like PPs have mentioned, I think it's more of a placebo than anything else.  However, it's not harmful (that I've ever heard) and if it works for you, go for it.

raquel87

I watched an episode on bravo where the women had her placenta blended in a smoothie the day she had her baby and drank it! To each their own I suppose

colleenkevin

@cjs260 I want to see the look on the medical staff's faces if moms suddenly started linking their newborns

KRB22

@ThePax89 I don't think you can encapsulate the placenta if there is meconium. My friend planned to do it but her son also passed meconium and the hospital wouldn't release her placenta (probably for good reason). 

@raquel87 I've heard of people doing the blender thing. The idea of freeze dried and put in a pill doesn't gross me out so much, but I can't imagine drinking it straight up out of the blender!

edited for bad autocorrections 

cjs260

@katesmama0706 and @colleenkevin it's how the animals do it! Lol! However, I was thinking a more, wipe the finger across sticky baby, lick your finger type of mechanism, haha! But I am also 100% sure there are people out there who have done it. 

emy730

ThePax89 said:

Didn't do it with my first. I'll look into it for this one. I've read that in 1/10 cases, it has the opposite effect, which worries me. I'm interested in trying though. 

One question, maybe someone knows, my first daughter had meconium, does anyone know if you can encapsulate a placenta with meconium? (Super gross) 

I am so curious about the meconium. My DD aspirated meconium and her birth was insanely traumatic as a result. 

I might ask one of the places around here that does it if that would be an issue.

ThePax89

@raquel87 pregnant in heels! It was a legit milkshake. 

ThePax89

@emy730 same with my daughter. I really hope to hold this baby and do skin to skin right away with this one. 

rdh33

@ThePax89 and @emy730 From the research I've done, and doulas I've talked to who provide the service, encapsulation is not done if there is meconium. I'm pretty sure that is the standard across the board. 

MaryNog

I'm not interested in encapsulation, but if my baby is born meconium-free, can I donate it to someone who wants to do it but wasn't able to? If research is pointing toward a likely placebo effect, does it have to be one's own placenta?

edited to add: I've been to tissue engineering conferences where some research groups presented rather positive results of healing in burned corneas and skin using matrices made from cleaned and decelularized placentas. if you are giving birth in a research hospital, have no personal objection, and don't plan to encapsulate consider donating your placenta to a tissue bank!

TexasGal24

@raquel87 OMG i just gagged! That sounds so freaking disgusting!! SMH no, just no. Nope. Nu-uh. I'm out. 

emy730

TexasGal24 said:

@raquel87 OMG i just gagged! That sounds so freaking disgusting!! SMH no, just no. Nope. Nu-uh. I'm out. 

I completely agree. The only way I am doing this is if it's in pill form!

sagoon

It's not really my thing, but I know multiple women who have done it and they claim it has benefits.  Even if it is just placebo effect, it doesn't do any harm at any rate. 

TinaBelcher

I'm not totally against it because I'm all for mind over matter/ placebo effect for a lot of things. Meditation opened that door for me (if I can think my heart rate and blood pressure lower then sure I can think myself out of slight PPD/A!) but I caution everyone against relying heavily on it- if it fails/ if you end up with PPD anyway be prepared to seek professional help! 

I will not be doing it regardless because they usually take it for an in depth pathology report in twin pregnancies, I won't be able to have it immediately released to my doula. Also 

emy730

TinaBelcher said:

I'm not totally against it because I'm all for mind over matter/ placebo effect for a lot of things. Meditation opened that door for me (if I can think my heart rate and blood pressure lower then sure I can think myself out of slight PPD/A!) but I caution everyone against relying heavily on it- if it fails/ if you end up with PPD anyway be prepared to seek professional help! 

I will not be doing it regardless because they usually take it for an in depth pathology report in twin pregnancies, I won't be able to have it immediately released to my doula. Also 

100% agree with the bolded statement! 

zdmd_14

I looked into it but won't be doing it just because there doesn't seem to be much evidence behind it and I'm horrible at taking pills consistently anyway (horrible gag reflex). 

But whether you're going to do it or not, the parenting podcast Longest Shortest Time recently did a two part series in placenta encapsulation.  It was really interesting. 

MrsRahl

@ThePax89 my daughter also had high meconium, so I never even thought of that. Thanks for bringing that up! I 100% plan to encapsulate this time. I suffered from D-MER BAD last time around and I will try anything natural first to avoid that again. At least I am mentally prepared this time around. I also hope I get to hold my baby and get that skin to skin. I was team green and they whisked her away and didn't even tell me her sex!

ThePax89

I have heard that the pills begin to smell terrible after a while.  Ya know, the whole flesh thing haha. 

lydia-deetz

I guess this is a UO, but I'm considering it!  I'm using a doula, and they offer this as an option.  I struggled with BFing last time, and I'm willing to try just about anything to help me this time!

lydia-deetz

@MrsRahl, how awful!  I was also team green last time, and my husband got to announce the sex of the baby right away.  I hope you have a better experience this time!