Encapsulating the placenta

Capella99

Does anyone plan to do this? Why or why not?

I think that in theory it sounds like a good idea but the research I've done doesn't really have a lot of science to back it up. I'm on the fence but I do like the reviews I've read about it being good for postpartum. So, just curious as to what others think about this!

somewheresublime86

I'm having mine encapsulated. But I'm a big fan of chinese medicine and tend to be open to things that are a bit out there. My husband is not super thrilled with any of it. However, with a history of anxiety and depression I think it's worthwhile to do everything in my power to stay even keeled.

If you use the search function, you'll be able to find the long discussion @angi30‌ mentioned!

Claynese

I'm planning on it! I have low iron, and the pills make a huge difference.

bowman958

No, because nutrition is available to me in other forms, and I do not need to hide my newborn baby from predators.

Scarlettg

I wasn't here for the other discussion so I'll put my two cents in here.  If that's what you choose to do, I'm not judging you.  However, I'm not going to do it.  I have no issues with iron in my blood and the whole thing just seems... icky.  I get that animals do it, but there are a lot of things animals do that I'm not gonna.  Licking my own rear end comes to mind.  To me, it seems like a new-age, granola-y phenomenon and I'm not interested.  But again, that's just me and I'm not you and therefore I shouldn't be the one making decisions for you.  

I do know the practice is gaining popularity (there are phamplets at my OB's office now) and I don't think it's ever hurt anyone, so if that's your thing, be my guest.

Edit: hit "post" too soon.  I wasn't done yet!

Capella99

Swoon13 said:

Search function is your friend. There was a very long thread about this already.

Yes I now realize that there was a post about this but it was apparently a couple months ago and I missed it. I can't find the search function on my phone and I don't use the bump on a laptop. If people don't want to contribute bc they have already talked about it once that's okay with me! But I was just looking for opinions there is also a thread in the March bump but I wanted to know what you ladies thought about it!

Capella99

Claynese said:

I'm planning on it! I have low iron, and the pills make a huge difference.

So I take it that you've done it before? Is the process to get it encapsulated difficult? Expensive? And do you feel it helped with post partum? Sorry so many questions lol just really curious about this whole process!

ewilson74

Capella99 said:

Swoon13 said:

Search function is your friend. There was a very long thread about this already.

Yes I now realize that there was a post about this but it was apparently a couple months ago and I missed it. I can't find the search function on my phone and I don't use the bump on a laptop. If people don't want to contribute bc they have already talked about it once that's okay with me! But I was just looking for opinions there is also a thread in the March bump but I wanted to know what you ladies thought about it!

Mobile Search Instructions:
Scroll down to the bottom of the page. Enter word/words in Search April 15 Moms bar. Press Go. Change parameters to increase the number of days to search.

MitoRachel

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12477022/ok-whos-eating-their-placenta/p1 I found the link to the old thread for you. 

In that thread I think that I said I was thinking about encapsulating it. Well.... now I'm thinking about having it raw in a smoothie! I NEVER thought I would do that, but my midwife has encouraged me to try it and so far she has been amazing at taking care of me. She claims that not one of her brave mothers who have tried it have been able to taste anything. Also, I'm not holding my breathe for a good scientific study to come out on eating the placenta. What would be the financial incentive for such a study? So all we have is people's stories, which seem to be quite positive.

somewheresublime86

angi3o said:

I wonder what the first person who ever ingested their placenta was thinking. "This doesn't look too important, I think I'll eat it."

Ha!

Yeah. The only way I'm going to be able to ingest mine is by NOT thinking about it.

Capella99

MitoRachel said:

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12477022/ok-whos-eating-their-placenta/p1 I found the link to the old thread for you. 

In that thread I think that I said I was thinking about encapsulating it. Well.... now I'm thinking about having it raw in a smoothie! I NEVER thought I would do that, but my midwife has encouraged me to try it and so far she has been amazing at taking care of me. She claims that not one of her brave mothers who have tried it have been able to taste anything. Also, I'm not holding my breathe for a good scientific study to come out on eating the placenta. What would be the financial incentive for such a study? So all we have is people's stories, which seem to be quite positive.

I actually completely agree with you on the whole scientific study/monetary gain statement! I think I want to do it because 1. It can't hurt 2. If there's a chance it battles pp and gets me back to normal faster then sign me up! 3. If it helps with breast feeding sign me up as well.
I didn't get to breast feed my last child because I just never had my milk actually come in... I was so excited and had all the supplies and I had studied up and then the milk just didn't come. My baby started jaundicing and the pediatrician recommended I do formula with bf and it just didn't work out I really want it to this time!

Capella99

MitoRachel said:

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12477022/ok-whos-eating-their-placenta/p1 I found the link to the old thread for you. 

In that thread I think that I said I was thinking about encapsulating it. Well.... now I'm thinking about having it raw in a smoothie! I NEVER thought I would do that, but my midwife has encouraged me to try it and so far she has been amazing at taking care of me. She claims that not one of her brave mothers who have tried it have been able to taste anything. Also, I'm not holding my breathe for a good scientific study to come out on eating the placenta. What would be the financial incentive for such a study? So all we have is people's stories, which seem to be quite positive.

Oh and thank you for the thread link!!

nechmielewski

I'm not sure if I commented on the old thread or not, but I'm definitely doing it. I had really bad PPD last time and will do pretty much anything to prevent it from happening again.

OliveMom3

I didn't comment on this last one. But here are my thoughts:
Placental encapsulation thoughts
First of all, animals in the wild do it for two reasons, not to attract predators, yes, but also as a source of nutrition for themselves since they will be limited in their foraging/hunting time since they will be taking care of their young. They eat it immediately after birth and they also lick their young clean of lanugo and uterine sac debris. Humans don't have to worry about predators (at least I don't) and my husband has two legs and can get up and make me food. Oh and I bathe my kids in a tub, I don't lick them clean.

Secondly, though eating your placenta may provide some nutrition, this can totally be found in other, less auto-cannabalistic ways. My body considers it waste and demonstrates this notion expelling it in the same way we expel our menses, urine or feces. If it was so nutritious my body would have found a way to auto consume it or make it appear appetizing to me which it isn't.

Thirdly, even animals in the wild don't encapsulate it and consume it slowly over weeks or months (it would rot before the animal is able to do this) so I'm not sure how this notion became popularized.

Fourthly, my work is in research and aside from very positive anecdotal accounts, there's nothing that proves scientifically that eating your placenta is beneficial.

If you want to eat your placenta, by all means, go ahead. May I suggest my prenatal class instructors "placenta primavera" recipe?!? (She messed up the pronunciation of placenta previa and kept saying primavera. I died laughing.)

OliveMom3

Right back atcha @rsaj0807‌