Consuming Placenta

eg214 · March 2014

Why is this so taboo? Its like having a mental illness. I couldn't afford to encapsulate so my doula chopped mine up and put it into ice cube trays for me to use in smoothies. I am proud of that decision but always get seriously irritated when I see people saying how nasty, gross, stupid it is. To each his own. Whats the big deal?

spicysurro · March 2014

Its just uneducated arrogance. I encapsulated mine. Dont worry you are doing great things for you and your baby!!

eg214 · March 2014

Thanks. I guess I am just wishing it was more "normal" to people so I could talk about it, yet I feel like it's a big secret and has to be kept that way. So annoying.

On a side note, does anyone know when you're supposed to stop taking it? I have a little bit left and haven't consumed it in about a week. I'm 5 weeks PP.

eg214 · March 2014

@jennish11 I say it doesn't hurt, so why not.

My milk has been great and I haven't had PPD despite a lot of crappy circumstances, including being alone. Who knows if it has anything to do with the placenta, but again...it didn't hurt.

aylafsu88 · March 2014

I did it. I was worried about my supply and PPD. Honestly, it was just like any other vitamin pill you would take. You would never know what it was and it had no taste. I had a great supply and it made a difference with my energy levels. I think people get weirded out by the idea of it because they think of it raw. I know I could never do raw even in a smoothie. If someone wants to do it good for them. IMO life is all about different strokes for different folks.

spicysurro · March 2014

I have seen a huge difference in PPD. I am a FTM but I missed a pill one day and totally noticed I was weepy that afternoon and if I take one late, I really notice. Its seemed to help me. I don't think there are "proven" studies some say yes and some say no, but like PP mentioned it can't hurt.

MommyAtty · March 2014

Keep in mind you are eating an organ from your own body. Sorry, but that is weird and there is absolutely no science behind it. Would you eat your kidney if you had one removed? It's high in iron. Could help with anemia. Why not? There's some guy in China who lived to be more than 100 who credited his longevity to drinking his own urine daily. Do you do that too? If so, I don't need to know and neither does anyone else. I really am a "live and let live" kind of girl, but this is a private and non-mainstream decision you should not feel the need to discuss. If you need to talk about it, do it here with other people who think it's beneficial. But don't surprise people with your placenta smoothie news and not expect a reaction.

sschwege · March 2014

MommyAtty said:

Keep in mind you are eating an organ from your own body. Sorry, but that is weird and there is absolutely no science behind it. Would you eat your kidney if you had one removed? It's high in iron. Could help with anemia. Why not? There's some guy in China who lived to be more than 100 who credited his longevity to drinking his own urine daily. Do you do that too? If so, I don't need to know and neither does anyone else. I really am a "live and let live" kind of girl, but this is a private and non-mainstream decision you should not feel the need to discuss. If you need to talk about it, do it here with other people who think it's beneficial. But don't surprise people with your placenta smoothie news and not expect a reaction.

I get what you are saying and I agree that if people's reactions are bothering her then maybe she should only share with those who will be supportive. Same advice we give to girls when they are planning med-free births and people are being judgmental.

But I do not agree that it is private and she should not discuss it if she wants to. I am an extended BFer and with my first I really tried to keep it behind closed doors. I knew some would think it was weird to BF a toddler, was scared of what people would think, etc. But with DS I thought, things will never change if women feel they have to be closet nursers. So now I don't care who knows about it and maybe by not being secretive myself it will encourage others to BF longer if they want to, sort of normalizes it. I mean I don't go around telling strangers on the street about it, but a mother asked me recently how DS is doing on WCM and I just said, "He hasn't had it yet, I"m still nursing." I didn't try to explain it away as I probably would have done with DD.

FrodaBaggins · March 2014

I was seriously considering doing this, but then my doula, who offers it for $150 extra, explained to me that there is basically no real scientific data to prove the benefits (a study in the 50s that used no controls is not something I'm going to base my decision off of.) And she explained to me what the placenta actually IS and what its function in the body/for the baby is. After that I was definitely much more "meh" and probably not going to do it.

eg214 · March 2014

I think there are many things people need to learn to get over and be okay with talking about. Mental illness was something NEVER discussed because of the stigma. Being gay was another. Miscarriage another. Infertility another. When things are brought into the open, it creates awareness. Discussing ones sex life is an example of something that should be kept private. Eating a placenta is really NBD to me and to each his own. It's mine.

GPeterson24 · March 2014

There were older studies done on it but nothing recent however the antedotal evidence from mothers who have done it was enough to sway me to try it and then go on to become an encapsulator.

I always think it's strange when people say they won't do it because there's no scientific evidence yet they'll birth in a hospital when there's scientific evidence proving that homebirth is just as safe, if not safer. :-P

I am very outspoken in my community about "alternative" pregnancy/birthing options...the more things are talked about the more normalized they will become. You just have to be prepared for weird reactions from people.

Robi1 · March 2014

I did it (encapsulated) and loved it. I've never NOT done it so I guess I can't compare, but I think it helped a ton, my recovery was easy, breastfeeding was easy, great milk supply no PPD, etc. I also think that it's ridiculous to expect everyone with a "non-mainstream" idea to never talk about it. Hello, people can talk about whatever they want. As long as you're not telling anyone else they have to do it, you can talk about it all you want.

That said, it's not something I talk about a lot, it's just another thing I did. If it comes up in conversation, I'm happy to share my experience, but just like I'm not going to volunteer information about my favorite postpartum supplies or breastfeeding tips, I'm not going to just chat about it willy-nilly.

mghnmouse · March 2014

I have have encapsulated both of my own, I can totally agree that although I have no reference of not taking it, I can definitively say that I missed or needed an extra one, I could tell and it always helped. I now providethe sservices for other local mothers.

lalaith50 · March 2014

"What's the big deal?" Uh, you're basically eating a body part. Fine if you want to, but don't be surprised when you get reactions like, "gross!"

jenn43 · April 2014

It's certainly not going to hurt you, and it may help. If it makes you happy, who cares what people think?

marriedinaugust · April 2014

I'm planning to have mine encapsulated this time even though my husband is grossed out by it. I had milk issues last time and if the pills help then great, if they don't I won't take them. If rather have them on the off chance they do help.

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