placenta encapsulation

kittymae13 · September 2014

Thinking seriously about placenta encapsulation, would love any thought and experiences?

southernyankeegirl · September 2014

My thought is I don't get how this came to be a thing. No animals that I know of eat the placenta after birth. It was used to process waste during the pregnancy. Everything in there you already consumed at some point and is now in a different format, processed several ways, so I don't know why it would be beneficial.

With absolutely no scientific backing for this, my gut feel is all the benefits are placebo effects. And that it is as appealing to me as eating my foot if it were to be amputated.

(I don't care if someone else wants to do it - doesn't bother me one bit, I just purely don't get why anyone would want to.)

forthelove12 · September 2014

@southernyankeegirl‌ don't cats eat the placenta after birth? I think I've heard of a few mammals that do. Not that I think it matters...I won't be eating my placenta in any form, but more power to those who do!

honeybeee3 · September 2014

I recently did some research on placenta encapsulation because I too was thinking about doing it. I found that there is no scientific evidence proving or disproving the effectiveness of consuming the placenta post-pardum. Some people believe it has many benefits. While others believe it just causes a "placebo effect", tricking you into thinking it's doing something when it's really not. However it hasn't been studied enough for us to really know either way.

That said, I think every woman has right to do whatever they want to do with their placenta. I have nothing against it and if you want to try it then I think you should! I personally feel like it could be a waste of money and that's why I'm chosing not to do it at this point in time.

ETA: here's a .org website with some information :
https://www.scienceandsensibility.org/?p=6842

kc192 · September 2014

You know if it isn't unhealthy to do it, I don't see what's wrong with a placebo effect.

if it helps you feel better post partum and makes your milk come in faster and all that people claim happen.. Why not? I don't plan on doing it but not opposed to giving it a try if someone else did it for me.

ncampese · September 2014

I plan on encapsulation. I know there is a grey area in terms of studies and research but I figure there is no danger in giving it a try. Even if it is really is only a placebo effect, I may still benefit from it in one way or another.

kittymae13 · September 2014

I've tried to do research - and there really isn't much out there. Other than personal testimonials, which carry a lot of weight for me. All the feedback I have read is excellent. But it's not like there have been a lot of studies done on it. From what I've read, there is no "proof" that it's helpful, but as long as it's processed correctly, there's no harm in doing it either.

becks2012 · September 2014

I am one of those weird people that likes to eat liver fried up with onions and avocados, served with garlicky mashed potatoes.

The gross part of me wonders if it would taste similar.

southernyankeegirl · September 2014

I didn't know that about cats! I have seen farm and domesticated animals give birth, and am friends with a big animal vet, and never had heard of an animal doing it before. But covering up scent makes a lot of sense.

Like others said, there's been no proven (or suspected, even) harm from doing it. Whether placebo or real benefits, if you want to see if it works, go for it. Google will help you find a local midwifery service to encapsulate it. Talk to your doctor about preserving the placenta after birth.

I just keep picturing the very first woman to try this... Like she gave birth, saw the gooey mess, and thought, "I should take that and eat it."

becks2012 · September 2014

I just got back from google-ing placenta recipes. General consensus is that it has a similar texture to a beef heart, and sort of tastes like chicken liver.

TXUltraRunner · September 2014

southernyankeegirl said:

I didn't know that about cats! I have seen farm and domesticated animals give birth, and am friends with a big animal vet, and never had heard of an animal doing it before. But covering up scent makes a lot of sense. Like others said, there's been no proven (or suspected, even) harm from doing it. Whether placebo or real benefits, if you want to see if it works, go for it. Google will help you find a local midwifery service to encapsulate it. Talk to your doctor about preserving the placenta after birth. I just keep picturing the very first woman to try this... Like she gave birth, saw the gooey mess, and thought, "I should take that and eat it."

Actually many mammals eat their placentas but not all domesticated animals. This is because as mentioned before, it's a mechanism for protecting their young in the wild. Other animals love to eat the placentas of just born babies (and those tasty, tender babies too). It's an instinctual way for mothers to protect their young.

TXUltraRunner · September 2014

Oh and to add to the above, I'm not sure how your vet friend has never seen this. Cows eat theirs too

LaBellaVida · September 2014

I may be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure every animal eats their placenta.

I want to do capsules, so it depends if I'm able to have it done at a reasonable price and if the lady is available. If not, it'll be trash.

I have requested to look at it this time around, mainly because I have a velamentous cord, so I want to see first hand what it looks like and what's caused so much stress.

Plus. ..I find it fascinating.

southernyankeegirl · September 2014

TXUltraRunner said:
Oh and to add to the above, I'm not sure how your vet friend has never seen this. Cows eat theirs too

I phrased that poorly - I am sure the vet knows and has seen this, but we had been talking about placenta eating in humans a few months ago, and she never mentioned animals eating it (nor specifically said they didn't - it just wasn't mentioned, even with the topic of placenta eating). So I am the one who never heard of this, and I am surprised my vet friend didn't mention it during that conversation.

rachel+family · September 2014

I'm going to do prenatals, juicing veggies and overall healthy eating post birth. Mothers milk tea and raspberry leaf for milk making and uterine tonic... Personally I think that this is a better option than placenta. Mama natural did the placenta pills and said it didn't hurt but made her feel blue every time she took one???

rachel+family · September 2014

*mama natural blog that I find interesting
https://www.mamanatural.com/placenta-eating-experience/
I hope this link works

Stargirlb · September 2014

In the absence of a good donation option, we are burying ours again most likely. I was totes open minded to eating it but then I saw it and was like noooo

nursemarie925 · September 2014

I've seen waaaay to many placenta to count. And they never fail to make me queasy, which isn't an easy thing to do. I have absolutely no plans for doing anything with mine, don't even want to see it.

But that's what's right for me. I tend to fall on the "do whatever makes you happy" side of the fence as long as it's not hurting anyone else.

honeybeee3 · September 2014

You could always go the cheaper route and make placenta smoothies. Yum!!!

Here's a how-to video:

https://youtu.be/nqvFMcC4txw

kc192 · September 2014

Ok, I didn't even bother watching the video! Placenta smoothies?? Placentacos? Dinner party with placenta fajitas?? GAGGG!!! I'm pretty sure encapsulation is the only way I could ingest it!

Just curious... How much does it generally cost to have your doula or someone do it for you?

forthelove12 · September 2014

I'm making a purse out of mine.

rachel+family · September 2014

I know a doula who does it for $200. I think that's a pretty average price too

bigbobdole · September 2014

@stargirlb I'm going to risk sounding like a dumbass, but what the hell...

Why do you bury it? Do you bury it in the garden for a fertilizer type of deal?

In my mind I'm imagining a placenta tree growing from where you plant it, Unlimited supply of placentacos!

honeybeee3 · September 2014

@megan81112‌ After my stepmom gave birth to my little sister Rose, she buried her placenta in the garden and then planted a rose bush on top. Now that rose plant is special to her because it is a symbol or representation of her daughter and her birth. Idk if that makes sense? But that's one of the reasons you might want to bury it.

bigbobdole · September 2014

@honeybeee3‌ That does make sense. I was honestly curious. I think it's a sweet representation.

Stargirlb · September 2014

Yeah burying it for fertilizer reasons. Kinda nice to imagine it nourishing the soil rather than being disposed of in a landfill or wherever

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