experiences with placentophagy

yellowrose314

I have to do a presentation about a topic of interest from my community Maternal/Child rotation for my RN program, and I chose placentophagy or eating the placenta, as well as encapsulation, where they freeze dry or dehydrate the placenta and put it in capsules for ingestion. I'm doing research but I wanted some public opinion.

I just wanted to know what the opinions are about this... have you done it? Why did you decide to? Did you feel as if it improved your post partum health? If you didn't do it, why? What are you opinions on the practice? and anything else you have to say about the topic. 

Also if you feel this would be better posted on a different board or you think I'd get better answers on a different board let me know. I read this board the most so I posted here. Thanks in advance!

capinjen152

I did not. Absolutely no interest in ingesting placenta. I was fine, no complications, fairly smooth recovery after each delivery. Also, it was never mentioned, offered, etc by my midwife, birthing class, hospital staff, etc. Maybe it is something they do upon request, but like so said absolutely no interest on my end.

Helenahhandbasket

I have nothing to add, but I am dying to know if anyone here ate their placenta.  Just sayin'.

DebateThis

You might want to XP to the Natural Birth board. It's a common topic for discussion there.

Jags8

No kiddos yet, but I think I will probably have mine dehydrated and encapsulated. I've read about it, and it sounds interesting.

toribrite

Jags8 said:

No kiddos yet, but I think I will probably have mine dehydrated and encapsulated. I've read about it, and it sounds interesting.

Why do this? It doesn't seem religious. Scientifically, I don't think it does anything. So is it just emotional? Cultural? If you're thinking of doing it, I am curious what the benefit is. 

yellowrose314

From the research I've done thus far, the general consensus is there is no proven, scientifically evaluated benefit. Any articles or papers I've read that say it does are extremely dated, circa the 50's and 60's when placentophagy started trending. However some women, a few of my friends included (2 of whom have a history of PPD), swear it made all the difference with baby #2. 

Jags8

@toribrite - @fredalina said everything I would have said, but probably better written than I could have managed!

I am already prone to feeling anxious, and the occasional anxiety attack. I am realistic and know that I will probably have PPD and/or PPA after giving birth. In general, I try not to put unnatural things into my body. When I get a headache, I try pressure points before popping Advil. So why pay for meds from a big pharmaceutical company, when there is a chance that my own body created this natural medicine? Worse case scenario, it doesn't work for me and I end up taking pills from the doctor instead.

RNmomtoboys

I wouldn't do it and I have two kids and one on the way, some religions do it.

SmileyJay

I live in Alabama. Home birth is illegal and most women don't know anything about their birthing options. I think it is a regional difference and these things seem to me more common/accepted in progressive areas and large cities. I am laughing trying to imagine the faces in the hospital if I asked them to put the placenta in a bag for me. I'm 99% sure it is not an option here. 

I don't think it is gross and it probably can't hurt, so more power to you if you want to try it and have the support to do so. 

This would get more helpful responses on another board like natural birth. 

yellowrose314

@TheCraftyKoala, I thought so too, but I've gotten more responses on this board then NB board

yellowrose314

briannamarie87 said:

The placenta is chock full of hormones in the woman's body during pregnancy. One of the reason women feel post partum depression is the drastic change in hormones in the body from pregnant to either lactating or not if she decides not to nurse. It's kind of like withdrawal symptoms because your body misses the hormones. Eating the placenta allegedly helps the body "withdraw" so to speak from the hormones more slowly and reduces the feelings of PPD. As PP said, it is not scientifically proven but rather anecdotal. That said, I am always a little skeptical of the idea of something not being scientifically proven when there's no fiscal reason for someone to fund a study. If it did work and the woman's own body created the medicine she needs when battling PPD, then drug companies would lose billions in revenue from antidepressant sales. They certainly aren't going to fund a study. So the lack of a study in cases like this doesn't in my mind prove the reverse. Nor is it obviously proven to work. Nor is it proven to be harmful in any way, which is why I say go for it if it doesn't gross you out. Why not?

I think this puts it perfectly!

I love it when people who were educated, (rather than those who were simply opinionated) with something useful to say post. Becuase this lady hit the nail on the head!

This seems to go right back to anything else that you can tie to natural pregnancy or birth. It could be categorized right up there with the difference between having folate and folic acid in your prenatal vitamins right? Truth is, in nature lots of species eat their placenta (not that we are wild animals) but if animals who have nothing in lieu of assistance or medication after they give birth, eat theirs...(again this is a lose analogy so no one blow up at me) there has to be some naturual-ish / carnal purpose for it right? So although the research is still very limited, it stands to reason that if you have your personal thoughts for believing it would benefit you, than a better question might be - why not? Just food for thought ... pun fully intended

There are many theories of why some animals eat the placenta, the most popular being from an evolutionary perspective in that it prevents predators from tracking newly born young by not leaving any evidence behind.