Who wants to talk about Placenta Encapsulation?

hellomommas · January 2016

What do you think about it? Has anyone considered it? Done it? If you had your placenta encapsulated, did you feel like it benefited you postpartum? In what ways, etc.

HBamama2B · January 2016

hellomommas · January 2016

@HBamama2B haha! I feel like a lot of ladies are scurrying over to google to actually find out what that means.

mamabudd · January 2016

I had it done after my second was born and found the results so incredible that I now professionally offer the service to other women.

NLewis1 · January 2016

Personally, it's not my style. But I haven't tried it so I'm not about to knock it....

To each their own

VikingGirl12 · January 2016

If I could find overwhelming evidence that it does what everyone says, I would totally do it.

noslen0519 · January 2016

I am considering it since I had some PPD after my fist birth. I am following this thread to see other's thoughts. @mamabuddI would love to pick your brain about this!

CourtJack · January 2016

I considered it. It seems to gross a lot of people out but it doesn't bug me. But I don't know if I'll do it or not. It takes planning ahead and I don't think a lot of people in my area offer it as a service. @mamabudd - how much does it cost? How long does it take you?

samsonator · January 2016

If there was research to back it up (which there might be, I haven't looked in awhile), I would consider it. I would be nervous about somebody else encapsulating my placenta. What if I get someone else's? That's how my brain works haha.

ahernandez16 · January 2016

I honestly don't know much about it but I don't think I could get out of my own head enough to do it.

To each their own. I'm kind of curious about the cost and the whole process, though.

MamaNicoleof3 · January 2016

I've been debating it. I have a close friend who's pretty crunchy, had three homebirths, and has done it with each birth. She said she can tell when she forgets to take them....but like PPs have said, I'd like to see more science-based evidence that supports it

goldie987 · January 2016

To each their own....

That being said, I'll give a probably too long explanation of how I came to my opinion on it. I had been following a fairly natural-oriented blog awhile back that had a few posts about placenta encapsulation and the alleged benefits. No links to legitimate studies were provided and I couldn't find any myself when I looked into it but all the anecdotes regarding it had me seriously considering it for a future pregnancy.

Then the blogger had another child and encapsulated her placenta again. She ended up suffering from PPD despite the encapsulated placenta, to the point that she threw away the rest of the pill she made (she did them all herself at home with a dehydrater so no chance of a mix up or anything). That's when I realized that placenta encapsulation is likely either a. A placebo or b. The women who do it would have been fine either way, similar to stretch mark creams (some women swear by various creams or lotions to keep away stretch marks when they would have likely not gotten any marks to begin with).

Scientifically, dehydration to encapsulate likely kills most of the potential beneficial nutrients. Following the theory of "animals do it", yeah, but they consume it in its entirety right after birth, not over the course of a few weeks and they consume it raw. They also lick their baby clean of amniotic fluid so.....

Anyways, not for me. If we find actual benefits that are scientifically measurable I'll reconsider but there's just no real evidence that is does more than cost you money to swallow dehydrated organ pills.

CourtJack · January 2016

Sgoldberg247 said:
To each their own....

That being said, I'll give a probably too long explanation of how I came to my opinion on it. I had been following a fairly natural-oriented blog awhile back that had a few posts about placenta encapsulation and the alleged benefits. No links to legitimate studies were provided and I couldn't find any myself when I looked into it but all the anecdotes regarding it had me seriously considering it for a future pregnancy.

Then the blogger had another child and encapsulated her placenta again. She ended up suffering from PPD despite the encapsulated placenta, to the point that she threw away the rest of the pill she made (she did them all herself at home with a dehydrater so no chance of a mix up or anything). That's when I realized that placenta encapsulation is likely either a. A placebo or b. The women who do it would have been fine either way, similar to stretch mark creams (some women swear by various creams or lotions to keep away stretch marks when they would have likely not gotten any marks to begin with).

Scientifically, dehydration to encapsulate likely kills most of the potential beneficial nutrients. Following the theory of "animals do it", yeah, but they consume it in its entirety right after birth, not over the course of a few weeks and they consume it raw. They also lick their baby clean of amniotic fluid so.....

Anyways, not for me. If we find actual benefits that are scientifically measurable I'll reconsider but there's just no real evidence that is does more than cost you money to swallow dehydrated organ pills.

You're not planning on licking your baby clean?!!?

hellomommas · January 2016

CourtJack said:

Sgoldberg247 said:
To each their own....

That being said, I'll give a probably too long explanation of how I came to my opinion on it. I had been following a fairly natural-oriented blog awhile back that had a few posts about placenta encapsulation and the alleged benefits. No links to legitimate studies were provided and I couldn't find any myself when I looked into it but all the anecdotes regarding it had me seriously considering it for a future pregnancy.

Then the blogger had another child and encapsulated her placenta again. She ended up suffering from PPD despite the encapsulated placenta, to the point that she threw away the rest of the pill she made (she did them all herself at home with a dehydrater so no chance of a mix up or anything). That's when I realized that placenta encapsulation is likely either a. A placebo or b. The women who do it would have been fine either way, similar to stretch mark creams (some women swear by various creams or lotions to keep away stretch marks when they would have likely not gotten any marks to begin with).

Scientifically, dehydration to encapsulate likely kills most of the potential beneficial nutrients. Following the theory of "animals do it", yeah, but they consume it in its entirety right after birth, not over the course of a few weeks and they consume it raw. They also lick their baby clean of amniotic fluid so.....

Anyways, not for me. If we find actual benefits that are scientifically measurable I'll reconsider but there's just no real evidence that is does more than cost you money to swallow dehydrated organ pills.
You're not planning on licking your baby clean?!!?

I have done this licking ritual with both my babies--- it is the best bonding experience. Nothing like it.

MamaNicoleof3 · January 2016

babyweber3 said:

CourtJack said:

Sgoldberg247 said:
To each their own....

That being said, I'll give a probably too long explanation of how I came to my opinion on it. I had been following a fairly natural-oriented blog awhile back that had a few posts about placenta encapsulation and the alleged benefits. No links to legitimate studies were provided and I couldn't find any myself when I looked into it but all the anecdotes regarding it had me seriously considering it for a future pregnancy.

Then the blogger had another child and encapsulated her placenta again. She ended up suffering from PPD despite the encapsulated placenta, to the point that she threw away the rest of the pill she made (she did them all herself at home with a dehydrater so no chance of a mix up or anything). That's when I realized that placenta encapsulation is likely either a. A placebo or b. The women who do it would have been fine either way, similar to stretch mark creams (some women swear by various creams or lotions to keep away stretch marks when they would have likely not gotten any marks to begin with).

Scientifically, dehydration to encapsulate likely kills most of the potential beneficial nutrients. Following the theory of "animals do it", yeah, but they consume it in its entirety right after birth, not over the course of a few weeks and they consume it raw. They also lick their baby clean of amniotic fluid so.....

Anyways, not for me. If we find actual benefits that are scientifically measurable I'll reconsider but there's just no real evidence that is does more than cost you money to swallow dehydrated organ pills.
You're not planning on licking your baby clean?!!?
I have done this licking ritual with both my babies--- it is the best bonding experience. Nothing like it.

It really is!! Think of all the blood loss following birth. It helps build your iron back up.

MamaNicoleof3 · January 2016

^ I shouldn't have joked about that. I may or may not be gagging ATM....damn pregnancy. I normally have a stomach of steel.

mamabudd · January 2016

Feel free to message me with any questions @noslen0519!

The cost is pretty much the same from area to area, it seems. Usually about $200. The actual work part is usually only 3-4 hours (and half of that is the sanitizing/bleaching the ever loving hell out of all the tools afterwards), but because it needs to be dehydrated at a low temperature it does take up to 24 hours from the time I start to the time I finish.

There isn't much actual research about it, because who is going to fund it? There's no money to be made by a study like that. For me and anyone I know who has done it, the anecdotal evidence is enough to at least give it a shot. And as with anything else you suddenly start putting in your body, you have to pay attention to how it makes you feel. If you're noticing ill effects (with anything! Not just placenta pills) then stop taking it, of course.

Personally, I suffered pretty horrible from PPD after my first was born. I have battled depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember, and I was willing to try anything to avoid it again. My recovery with my second baby (who happened to be colicky) was incredible. At the end of the day I don't really care if it was placebo or not to be honest, haha I don't think it was, but as long as I dodged PPD then hooray!

Linsbins · January 2016

goldie987 · January 2016

mamabudd said:
Feel free to message me with any questions @noslen0519!

The cost is pretty much the same from area to area, it seems. Usually about $200. The actual work part is usually only 3-4 hours (and half of that is the sanitizing/bleaching the ever loving hell out of all the tools afterwards), but because it needs to be dehydrated at a low temperature it does take up to 24 hours from the time I start to the time I finish.

There isn't much actual research about it, because who is going to fund it? There's no money to be made by a study like that. For me and anyone I know who has done it, the anecdotal evidence is enough to at least give it a shot. And as with anything else you suddenly start putting in your body, you have to pay attention to how it makes you feel. If you're noticing ill effects (with anything! Not just placenta pills) then stop taking it, of course.

Personally, I suffered pretty horrible from PPD after my first was born. I have battled depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember, and I was willing to try anything to avoid it again. My recovery with my second baby (who happened to be colicky) was incredible. At the end of the day I don't really care if it was placebo or not to be honest, haha I don't think it was, but as long as I dodged PPD then hooray!

I've seriously considered telling doctors if I have an issue that likely could be just as easily treated by a placebo as actual meds, please, by all means, give me the damn sugar pills and don't tell me. Medical ethics and all probably prevent that but I really wish it were a real option...

BlueJuice · January 2016

I did it with my second. Like others have posted, I'm not totally convinced that it's scientifically sound, but I also don't think it's harmful/problematic, just potentially a placebo effect. I had it done by someone else, but she came to my home and did it here, so I wasn't concerned that it wasn't my own placenta. It's probably not really very difficult, but of all the things I don't want to deal with doing in the week following delivering a baby, cutting up and dehydrating organ meat is right up there.

I haven't really given a lot of thought to whether I will do it again this time around. On the one hand, it's not incredibly expensive, and it wouldn't hurt. On the other hand, I'd probably have to find a new professional if I don't want to deal with it myself (I don't), since I doubt the same persons are doing it in my area after 5 years.

HeartLikeMine3 · January 2016

I was going to do this with my first and had asked my Obgyn about it. She said I'm sure it would make you feel more sad because that stuff is gross!! Haha she also stated there was not enough evidence to support it at this time. But I don't think it would hurt anything.

Emztron500 · January 2016

I tried it with my first. I will acknowledge there's no real scientific evidence for it, which doesn't mean there's no effect, it just means there's no solid reason to believe it works. I was extremely concerned about PPD given my own personal history and experiences of some family members, so I took a lot of measures to avoid it, and I cannot chalk anything up to placenta pills exactly.

I will say that it was a lot grosser than I expected. They smelled horrible and were hard for me to get down. I dreaded taking them and ended up throwing at least half of them out because I didn't take them all within a year and was worried about them spoiling in the fridge.

I have heard of people chopping up the placenta into pill-sized pieces and freezing them, then taking them like pills. That would save you a lot of $$$ and probably not really be any grosser. Some people would also blend frozen pieces into smoothies. Like I said, the pills are surprisingly disgusting anyway. Might as well embrace the fact that you're eating chunks of placenta.

I won't be bothering with it this time (it is very expensive) but by all means give it a go if you're curious!

candicek15 · January 2016

Nope. I have a hard enough time keeping the prenatals down!

TwoBadMice · January 2016

I suffered from horrible PPD and I plan of trying it with this baby. I would eat it raw if it ensured I didn't have to go through PPD again. It's funny everyone gets grossed out by a dehydrated placenta pill but will eat raw fish and hunks of animals.

TunieBee · January 2016

I did it last time and took a few pills about 5 days after delivery. My blood pressure sky rocketed and I had to be admitted to the hospital. The doc and midwife pointed out placental hormones are responsible for preeclampsia (which I did not have during pregnancy), and they have seen cases where ingesting placenta postpartum can cause postpartum preeclampsia and even HELLP syndrome in one patient. I thought that was so interesting. I won't be doing it this time. Although I have heard good things from friends.

CopperLane · January 2016

I plan on getting my placenta encapsulated and a tincture made. I may/may not do it myself as the thought of it doesn't gross me out and depending if I can find someone to come into my house to process it.

I've also heard of women blending placenta into a smoothie to mask taste and smell.

mamabudd · January 2016

@Emztron500 I have to wonder if whoever did yours didn't do it properly. It shouldn't really taste or smell at all. Or maybe they gave incorrect storing instructions? Weird! And too bad.

june2016baby · January 2016

Wow, I'm glad I read this thread. It has been very eye opening! I could never do this, and would probably rather take prescription pills than eat my placenta for PPD. However, I do admire how "open" many posters have been to this idea. I'm sitting here very amazed at how many people have done this.

elenabrent · January 2016

A few of my friends recently did a placenta smoothie right after the birth and encapsulation. I was SUPER grossed out about the smoothie idea at first, but the more that they talked about it (and how it just tasted like berries), the more curious I was. Right now I'm planning on at least trying the smoothie and the placenta pills. Even if it's all just placebo, I'll take it.

Gwyneddlesliegrace · January 2016

Did it with my third and will do it with this one as well. It made a HUGE difference for me.

PressLove · January 2016

I considered it the first time and really hadn't thought about it this time.

This is the first time I've heard of "baby licking". @babyweber3 and @MamaNicoleof3
will you elaborate about your personal experience? Google gave me a good overview.

CourtJack · January 2016

PressLove said:

I considered it the first time and really hadn't thought about it this time.

This is the first time I've heard of "baby licking". @babyweber3 and @MamaNicoleof3
will you elaborate about your personal experience? Google gave me a good overview.

Lol. It was just a joke. I'm sort of scared to ask what google said...

ahernandez16 · January 2016

CourtJack said:

PressLove said:

I considered it the first time and really hadn't thought about it this time.

This is the first time I've heard of "baby licking". @babyweber3 and @MamaNicoleof3
will you elaborate about your personal experience? Google gave me a good overview.

Lol. It was just a joke. I'm sort of scared to ask what google said...

Hahahahah. The original baby kicking comments killed me but oh my god, I hope that this isn't a real thing somewhere. I won't Google it because I'm scared to find out the truth.

PressLove · January 2016

@courtjack- Initially, I thought it was a joke. However, there are a couple of blogs where moms mention that licking your baby is a natural mammalian response.

MamaNicoleof3 · January 2016

@CourtJack- I was totally kidding!! And I do NOT want to google that....

alitria · January 2016

I planned to do it with my son because I've suffered with severe depression and anxiety my whole life and figured it was worth a shot. However, I had a preemie and they took my placenta to run some tests so it didn't happen. I haven't thought about it much this time just because I'm already starting shots to see if I can keep this baby in for 36 weeks so I'm not making plans that include having access this time either.

pkwest04 · January 2016

My SIL encapsulated her own placenta after her last birth...which she also did at home in a bathtub despite being two weeks overdue...can't say I think I could manage any of the above. She documented the whole encapsulation process on her FB and I'm pretty sure 95% of people had to unfollow her. I don't think I could stop thinking about it being my placenta, even in pill form. I'm a FTM though so maybe my view will change as the day nears or when I give birth. She swears they really made a difference.
I gotta ask though...has anyone else ever done/or heard of people making artwork with the placenta prior to encapsulation? I never got up the nerve to ask what she planned to do with the art. I wouldn't think blood would preserve very well on its own, but maybe I'm wrong.

hellomommas · January 2016

@Emztron500 --- I agree with the other poster.., I think yours was done wrong. My pills did not have ANY odor or taste at ALL. I don't blame you for throwing them out! Ugh!

@Gwyneddlesliegrace remember how we are always secret BFFS? Haha. I eat placenta pills too. Why are we the same?

hellomommas · January 2016

It's cool to hear everyone's experiences! I am not a super crunchy person but I cloth diaper and shop local and eat cage free organic eggs and eat my placenta. Hahaha. BUT i birth in the hospital! So- there is that. ANYWAY.., thanks for sharing everybody. I just wondered who else had done it. I had PPD after my first (my dad also died in a motorcycle accident 4 months prior- so who knows what was grief and what was hormones--- either way, I was depressed and struggled with anxiety). I also had a hard time with lactation. So when it came to having my second baby, I thought: what the heck? I'll try placenta pills- as long as I can't recognize it by looking at the pills and it doesn't have a taste, I can do it. I would love to be brave enough to do the smoothie thing but- i don't think I can! Anyway--- I loved having them--- I was able to keep up my milk supply longer, and I was not as depressed (also totally different life circumstances after 2nd though)... So to echo others, while I have no proof it was the pills, I had a positive experience and will def do it again.

hellomommas · January 2016

@PressLove OMG! That is gross! I was definitely joking!

MissSaritaF · January 2016

I want to try the smoothie and encapsulation. I just need to find someone in the Hampton Roads area that does it. I have heard so many positive things and it doesn't gross me out, probably because I figure it's just my own body going back in...and as long as I can't taste, I will be good.

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Who wants to talk about Placenta Encapsulation?

Re: Who wants to talk about Placenta Encapsulation?

Mrs. H

Crohn's Dx: August 2008

Endometriosis Dx: May 2010

Married: 05/19/2012

TTC #1: June 2013

BFP: December 2013

DS: Born 08/29/2014

TTC #2: July 2015

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