This is something I'm definitely considering and about 80% sure that I'm doing. I won't be telling ANYONE, though, for fear they'll think I'm a wack-a-doodle!
I always thought this was a little crunchy granola for me but a close friend that I really trust did it for her second and swears it was the reason she had a much easier post-partum recovery and increased milk production. I need scientific studies so if anyone finds any studies or articles that are legit, send them my way! I'm still skeptical.
Me: 32 & DH: 37
Married: November 2014
TTC #1 Since: October 2015
BFP #1: 11/18/15 - CP BFP #2: 2/8/16 - EDD 10/20/16 IT'S A BOY!!!! DS Born 10/16/16
My close friend did this, but she had a sister in law as a midwife that did it for her. When going to the hospital can you ask to keep your placenta? First time mom here...
You guys. I just went to a website for someone in my city that does this... she also offers - get this - dream catchers made from the umbilical chord. I have no words.
Julia70286 said:You guys. I just went to a website for someone in my city that does this... she also offers - get this - dream catchers made from the umbilical chord. I have no words.
In my head the umbilical cord dream catcher is the stuff of horror movies!
You guys. I just went to a website for someone in my city that does this... she also offers - get this - dream catchers made from the umbilical chord. I have no words.
I laughed so hard at this.
Me: 32 & DH: 37
Married: November 2014
TTC #1 Since: October 2015
BFP #1: 11/18/15 - CP BFP #2: 2/8/16 - EDD 10/20/16 IT'S A BOY!!!! DS Born 10/16/16
@mrscorker I am STILL laughing at how crazy that sounds. Upon further reading, I read she also offers prints (like foot prints, but in blood) of the placenta. I am dying laughing at the thought of having that framed in my home and people asking about it.
In seriousness though, I AM open to encapsulation and while there's little to no scientific evidence to back op the benefits part of me was thinking "well it can't HURT, can it?". I am reading about the "cons" of encapsulation or the lack of evidence and an interesting point was brought up. That is, that the placenta is suppose to be a filter for toxins and crap to protect the baby, so now I'm just imagining eating an old dirty air filter.
I really wanted to with DS but I spiked a fever in labor and the hospital refused to release it to me before they completed pathology on it (2-3 days minimum) and the encapsulator said she wouldn't accept a placenta that'd been out of my possession at any point. I felt robbed
I'm considering it for this go round but it's either that or a doula.
The one thing I caution people on is that the placenta is filled with progesterone, which in some women can inhibit/decrease lactation (same caution given to nursing women going on progesterone-based birth control).
I spoke to my OB last time about this and she told me that most of the benefits of placentophagy (the act of consuming the placenta in any form) is mostly anecdotal. She told me that the act of doing so goes back centuries but it's kind of like how people think rhino horn powder helps cure cancer or things like that. She basically told me its inconclusive whether or not there are any actual benefits, but if I wanted, she would save mine for me. This is just the opinion of my doctor and I declined so I don't know personally if it would have any possible effects to postpartum recovery.
Nope. I'm sure there are vitamins or something that help out without the ick factor. But I do recognize the ick factor as mental - just like I'll eat cow but not bunny rabbit.
This is something I'm definitely considering and about 80% sure that I'm doing. I won't be telling ANYONE, though, for fear they'll think I'm a wack-a-doodle!
I'm not telling anyone either!
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With my first baby I had really bad ppd. When I got pregnant with my second child I researched everything possible that might help, one thing I found was to get the placenta encapsulated could possibly help. So with my second baby I did get my placenta encapsulated and noticed a huge difference. I had more energy, I was less hormonal, I cried a lot less, and overall felt way better. I will definitely get it done this time around as well. My friends have now also done it and really like It and had really good experiences after birth. My encapsulation was around 200 dollars. My pills just looked like pills with herbs in them and they had no taste.
I'm not grossed out by it, but I did just read a blog post by a gynecologist - I wish I could remember where -- arguing that if eating the placenta were beneficial to human mothers, natural selection would have favored those women who wanted to eat it, and thus most of us would now crave it. We'd be having threads like, "I can't wait to eat my placenta, how about you?"
With my first baby I had really bad ppd. When I got pregnant with my second child I researched everything possible that might help, one thing I found was to get the placenta encapsulated could possibly help. So with my second baby I did get my placenta encapsulated and noticed a huge difference. I had more energy, I was less hormonal, I cried a lot less, and overall felt way better. I will definitely get it done this time around as well. My friends have now also done it and really like It and had really good experiences after birth. My encapsulation was around 200 dollars. My pills just looked like pills with herbs in them and they had no taste.
That's great to hear you reacted so well to it. I had PPD with my first and that's seriously nothing to joke about. I want to avoid it at all costs.
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I'm not grossed out by it, but I did just read a blog post by a gynecologist - I wish I could remember where -- arguing that if eating the placenta were beneficial to human mothers, natural selection would have favored those women who wanted to eat it, and thus most of us would now crave it. We'd be having threads like, "I can't wait to eat my placenta, how about you?"
A OBGYN though is not typically crunchy. This is considered a crunchy thing. Since there is no prescription they don't believe in it. They also don't typically think red raspberry leaf tea or evening promise oil helps condition the body for labor. Even though midwives and doulas recommend all of it!
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So I did this with number 1... Which is surprising even to me because it sounded disgusting to me at first. But I figured, what the hell why not!
Not to repeat myself a gazillion times but DS was breech so I ended up having a CS. I was on the all natural plan, my padsicles and peri wash was ready to go. I booked my placenta doula and honestly that's about the only thing that went as planned. I had a CS and was determined to keep as much of my natural plan as possible. We delayed cord clamping, skipped the first bath, did skin to skin immediately, and I fought and fought to breastfeed.
I got the pills two days later, also the same day I was going home, and started taking them right away. I have no idea if it was the placebo effect or legitimately from the placenta but I had so much energy. I recovered insanely fast. I was completely off ALL pain meds within a few days. My milk came in fast and I was ready to rock this mom stuff. I lived in a 3 story house and had no issues moving around or recovering whatsoever. I kind of felt like a freak of nature but also felt so empowered. I will hands down be doing this again and recommend it if you're even the least bit curious.
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16) DS born 12.13.14 DD born 10.15.16 BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18 BFP 4.25.19, EDD 12.31.19
I wanted to do it with DD and had it all set up, but my placenta fell apart as they were taking it out via c-section. I was super bummed. I had a horrible recovery. Not many things gross me out. Especially after having a kid. I'm in the camp "Why the hell not?" It's not going to harm me, and might actually help me. It's dehydrated. It's like taking any other vitamin (to me).
I also had a c-section but I declined placenta encapsulation and my recovery was speedy as well. My milk came in the last day I was in the hospital (the 4th day) and I was mobile in my home, too. Just wanted to give some perspective that it might help or it might just give a placebo effect.
My close friend did this, but she had a sister in law as a midwife that did it for her. When going to the hospital can you ask to keep your placenta? First time mom here...
My doctor asked me last time, right before delivery, if I was planning on saving it so I imagine so.
I will add, if you are grossed out by the thought of the placenta encapsulation, you're in for a wild ride with newborn poops and first solids!
Especially when a poopsplotion happens in your lap, or during a diaper change and it somehow ends up in your hair and on your face (not even joking).
Right?! It's like a rite of passage.
I mean, prepare for pee and/or poo to get in or around your mouth/face/eyes at one point.
2 years into this and never had poop, pee, or vomit in my face. I'm not sure how this happens to people. Pee down my sides? Vomit down my back? poop on my hands? heck yes, often! I've always managed to keep my face out of the way.
I ended in a c-sec after 20 hours of labor. My milk came in somewhere round 30-48 hours, I was driving a week later, and off pain medication in 4 days. I didn't do anything outside the hospital guidelines, I didn't have my placenta encapsulated or anything similar. When reading abut it last time, aside from some small research on PPD, I couldn't find anything was wasn't anecdotal.
I will add, if you are grossed out by the thought of the placenta encapsulation, you're in for a wild ride with newborn poops and first solids!
Especially when a poopsplotion happens in your lap, or during a diaper change and it somehow ends up in your hair and on your face (not even joking).
Right?! It's like a rite of passage.
I mean, prepare for pee and/or poo to get in or around your mouth/face/eyes at one point.
2 years into this and never had poop, pee, or vomit in my face. I'm not sure how this happens to people. Pee down my sides? Vomit down my back? poop on my hands? heck yes, often! I've always managed to keep my face out of the way.
Lucky you. My son got some on my hand and before I realized it, I had rubbed my cheek. It definitely happens to people!
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16) DS born 12.13.14 DD born 10.15.16 BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18 BFP 4.25.19, EDD 12.31.19
So, I looked up some peer-reviewed scientific articles. Unfortunately it is highly unethical to perform these kinds of studies on pregnant women so no "solid" research exists in humans. In non-humans it has been shown to have benefits. The primary hypothesis for why humans DON'T engage in placentophagy is the "fire hypothesis", basically that early humans were exposed to large amounts of fire and ash, which the placenta supposedly filters out and stores, meaning that eating it could be toxic. Also, humans are MUCH more complex and social bonding is considered to be vitally more important than any kinds of vitamins. So, it MIGHT have some minor benefits or it MIGHT have some minor disadvantages, basically it doesn't matter whether you do it or not, the placebo effect will be much greater. So if you truly believe it works, do it, if you don't, don't do it.
You guys. I just went to a website for someone in my city that does this... she also offers - get this - dream catchers made from the umbilical chord. I have no words.
Oh yeah, there is all kinds of weird stuff out there. Bracelets or rings made of umbilical cord, stamp art made with placenta, trees planted on top of placentas in honor of each child, necklaces made of preserved breastmilk... You could fill your whole house with birth memorabilia!
@books&icecream interesting. Obviously I get the premise for why it was done, so the mother could take back in the nutrients she may have lost. But nowadays it's much easier for most people to get the nutrients they need through food, vitamins, etc. I didn't realize people are able to put it into pill form and did this. I wonder how many countries do this?
Also, the mother isn't pregnant anymore when they're taking the pills so I wonder why they can't do studies. Unless they just choose not to.
Re: Plascenta encapsulation
Me: 32 & DH: 37
BFP #2: 2/8/16 - EDD 10/20/16
IT'S A BOY!!!!
DS Born 10/16/16
BFP #1: 7/15/15, SB: 11/14/15
Rainbow baby DS born 9/29/16!!
BFP #3 3/26/18 | Due 12/3/18
BFP #1: 7/15/15, SB: 11/14/15
Rainbow baby DS born 9/29/16!!
BFP #3 3/26/18 | Due 12/3/18
Me: 32 & DH: 37
BFP #2: 2/8/16 - EDD 10/20/16
IT'S A BOY!!!!
DS Born 10/16/16
In seriousness though, I AM open to encapsulation and while there's little to no scientific evidence to back op the benefits part of me was thinking "well it can't HURT, can it?". I am reading about the "cons" of encapsulation or the lack of evidence and an interesting point was brought up. That is, that the placenta is suppose to be a filter for toxins and crap to protect the baby, so now I'm just imagining eating an old dirty air filter.
BFP #1: 7/15/15, SB: 11/14/15
Rainbow baby DS born 9/29/16!!
BFP #3 3/26/18 | Due 12/3/18
I'm considering it for this go round but it's either that or a doula.
The one thing I caution people on is that the placenta is filled with progesterone, which in some women can inhibit/decrease lactation (same caution given to nursing women going on progesterone-based birth control).
Me: 32 & DH: 37
BFP #2: 2/8/16 - EDD 10/20/16
IT'S A BOY!!!!
DS Born 10/16/16
I used to think no way, but I've read so much about it, I'm actually really considering it.
E born 6/2014
They dehydrate it and put it in capsules.
Not to repeat myself a gazillion times but DS was breech so I ended up having a CS. I was on the all natural plan, my padsicles and peri wash was ready to go. I booked my placenta doula and honestly that's about the only thing that went as planned. I had a CS and was determined to keep as much of my natural plan as possible. We delayed cord clamping, skipped the first bath, did skin to skin immediately, and I fought and fought to breastfeed.
I got the pills two days later, also the same day I was going home, and started taking them right away. I have no idea if it was the placebo effect or legitimately from the placenta but I had so much energy. I recovered insanely fast. I was completely off ALL pain meds within a few days. My milk came in fast and I was ready to rock this mom stuff. I lived in a 3 story house and had no issues moving around or recovering whatsoever. I kind of felt like a freak of nature but also felt so empowered. I will hands down be doing this again and recommend it if you're even the least bit curious.
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16)
DS born 12.13.14
DD born 10.15.16
BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18
Not many things gross me out. Especially after having a kid. I'm in the camp "Why the hell not?" It's not going to harm me, and might actually help me. It's dehydrated. It's like taking any other vitamin (to me).
Fell in love: Dec 2005 // Married: Feb 9, 2013
Little Miss Rosalie Harper--Born Jan 9th, 2014
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16)
DS born 12.13.14
DD born 10.15.16
BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18
Fell in love: Dec 2005 // Married: Feb 9, 2013
Little Miss Rosalie Harper--Born Jan 9th, 2014
I mean, prepare for pee and/or poo to get in or around your mouth/face/eyes at one point.
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16)
DS born 12.13.14
DD born 10.15.16
BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18
BFP: February 2016 EDD: October 17, 2016
BFP: February 2016 EDD: October 17, 2016
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16)
DS born 12.13.14
DD born 10.15.16
BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18
So, it MIGHT have some minor benefits or it MIGHT have some minor disadvantages, basically it doesn't matter whether you do it or not, the placebo effect will be much greater. So if you truly believe it works, do it, if you don't, don't do it.
DS#2 due 25 April 2019
Also, the mother isn't pregnant anymore when they're taking the pills so I wonder why they can't do studies. Unless they just choose not to.