Aahhh the placenta eaters. There is absolutely no scientific evidence of any benefits to placentophagy in humans. I suspect a lot of women's positive experiences are pure placebo effect. If it were so beneficial or essential for human females to consume their own placentas, we would have retained an instinctual, biological urge to do so.
Also keep in mind that because there is little scientific study on this, there is also little known about the risks. Like @Jens_Hoes said, the placenta is like a filter, and by the time the baby is born it's likely full of things that you probably wouldn't want to be eating. That, accompanied with the fact that, as far as I know, there is no FDA oversight on placenta encapsulation, so the process isn't regulated at all, which alone is enough to put me off of it.
Honestly, I think it's a scam made up by someone wanting to make money by exploiting women in a vulnerable position.
Re: donating cord blood I'm totally going to donate LO's cord blood! It's well supported in the south (which was a surprise for me), but if your hospital doesn't support it right out of the gate, some organizations can send you a collection kit that you give to your nurses on your LO's birthday. It pains me that something as life-giving as good cord blood is simply incinerated with the rest of the hospital's biological "waste."
NTNP since Dec 2012 | TTC since Jan 2016 Dx: Unspecified IF BFP#1 Nov 2017 • Blighted Ovum + MMC • D&C at nine weeks BFP#2 Apr 2018 • It's a boy! • Born 13 Dec 2018
@runrinserepeat that makes sense with your mother's current health. Personally, placenta encapsulation sounds gross to me, and its woo-y, and I am so far from woo From what I've read there is very little scientific research for or against it, and most of the information on the internet is anecdotal. I am the type of person like that thrives with facts, so anecdotes aren't really my go to.
@echo-charlietango I tried to find a way to donate my son’s cord blood back in 2016, but my hospital was not part of the program. Is there someone I can contact if this is still the case?
@katy0990 "If your hospital is not listed, you may be able to receive a cord blood collection kit. Not everyone who meets basic guidelines will be able to donate because of the limited capacity of cord blood banks."
You'll have to contact them if your hospital isn't listed, so I don't know what the process looks like I'm going through bethematch.org
NTNP since Dec 2012 | TTC since Jan 2016 Dx: Unspecified IF BFP#1 Nov 2017 • Blighted Ovum + MMC • D&C at nine weeks BFP#2 Apr 2018 • It's a boy! • Born 13 Dec 2018
No to placenta encapsulatation. I’m on mobile and not good with linking facts. I think it’s strep b which can be passed from the mother to the baby from placentaphagy - facts from CDC.
Are you guys against delayed cord clamping? That's the first thing I started reading about and I am thinking we will ask for it. Any reasons NOT to do it.
I haven't heard any medical reasons not to do delayed cord clamping (as long as it's ridiculously delayed -- I'm not taking the placenta and cord home with me lol)
@scaredunprepared I think my hospital automatically does that, or at least they did when I used the midwives (which they no longer have...). I don't think I ever read of a reason not to, unless Baby (god forbid) needs immediate medical attention. I plan to ask it be done again this time, too.
Re: pets in the bed and bedsharing. When we had DS we didn't have pets, so I didn't have to worry about them being in the bed with all of us. And yes, we did bedsharing until DS was probably about 7-9 months, then put his crib next to our bed side-car style. This time though, we have two cats. One of which is always right next to me, the other occasionally comes in the bed but stays by my feet. The one that's always there, idk if she'll be an issue or not. She doesn't let DS get close, so I doubt she'll get close to this baby. I'm just going to have to see how things go and adjust as needed. When we shut the door they constantly meow and scratch at it, so idk if that would be better or not...
@scaredunprepared it's not that I'm against it. Not doing DCC didn't cause any problems for my older children, though, so I don't feel super strongly about doing it. I don't really understand what the benefits would be, but my babies were both back to birth weight by the time we left the hospital, with no issues of jaundice or anything, so...? I just don't have a good reason TO do it, but I do feel strongly about doing SOMETHING with the cord blood (whether banking or donating), so that's where I'm at on the issue.
@CecilB93 and @runrinserepeat thank you for your opinions. I think I'm still going to go the delayed cord clamping route, unless something prevents it. Though I can completely understand wanting to either bank or donate the cord blood so someone who really needs it can use it.
@scaredunprepared I can't really see any reason why delaying clamping for a minute or two would harm the baby, and I guess it seems like it might be a little bit beneficial? But like @runrinserepeat said, not doing it probably won't cause any problems either. As long as you aren't talking about lotus-birth, because that's effing gross.
@Jens_Hoes Haha! It's when you don't cut the cord at all, and leave the placenta attached until it separates naturally. People actually lug that nasty thing home with them and let it rot off their baby.
It's REALLY woo-y (and stupid, IMO). From lotusbirth.net:
"Lotus Birth is part of the continuum in the development and unfolding of the human organism. Lotus Birth is also part of the continuum of awakening consciousness expressing itself via the birth process.
"We need to relearn what a birth can be like when it is not disturbed by the cultural milieu. We need a reference point from which we should try not to deviate too much. Lotus Birth is such a reference point." Michel Odent
Lotus Birth is a call to pay attention to the natural physiological process. It's practice, through witnessing, restores faith in the natural order. Lotus Birth extends the birth time into the sacred days that follow and enables baby, mother and father and all family members to pause, reflect and engage in nature's conduct. Lotus birth is a call to return to the rhythms of nature, to witness the natural order and to the experience of not doing, just being."
@hkom@Jens_Hoes That’s the smartest idea ever. I am imagining evolutionary-wise, it would have super adaptive to leave a smelly bloody thing attached to your vulnerable newborn to attract all the wild animals in the vicinity.
What's the evidence that letting a hunk of rotting flesh remain attached to your newborn is closer to the "natural order," and not, like, chewing through the umbilical cord with your teeth and eating it raw or something? I'd like for the evolutionary biologists (not the evopsych wackjobs) to weigh in before I spend too much time or energy lugging around a slab of unrefrigerated offal, thanks.
Re: delayed cord clamping, I’ve heard it’s more important in impoverished areas where maternal health is a bigger issue. That said, I planned to do DCC for my son before his emergency situations at birth meant he had to be cut away sooner. I’m still trying to decide whether to do it for this one, or be a good person and donate
Me: 31 | DH: 31
Together since 2003 | Married 2010 TTC #1 January 2016 BFP April 18 2016 | EDD December 29, 2016 Welcome baby A! January 9, 2017
TTC#2 March 2018 BFP March 30, 2018 | EDD December 12, 2018
We had a calf that was born in April of this year, and guess what, no placenta being lugged around with her! And she was born natural and the mom wiped her clean and all was good to go.
I can't even with these people. If I ever brought a child to the pediatrician with the placenta still attached they'd send me to the local psych ward!
Oh my god I'm gonna throw up re: lotus birth. The umbilical stump newborns have is gross enough! Bleh.
Anyway, as for delayed cord clamping, I chatted with my OB about this last time and she said it's very beneficial for babies in developing countries where they might not have gotten all the nutrition they needed in the womb and/or directly after birth and it can help prevent anemia for them. BUT in first world countries, it's something that typically is not needed. She said there's no harm at all and she's happy to do it, but it is a thing that became a practice to advance newborn health in developing countries, so it's not as applicable, generally, here. It's certainly not something that would hurt, just not something you *must* do if you want a healthy baby, etc.
Re: placenta encapsulation, I am in total agreement with previous posters that it's not for me due to the filter function it has.
@hkom Haha, luckily it didn't actually make me puke! But yeah, the stump is SO gross and I feel like no one told me about it or warned me as a FTM? I was like wait, what???
@PensiveCrayon That made me think of that scene in Meet the Fockers when the foreskin from his circumcision is in his navy book and falls in the fondue. Yuck!!
The lotus thing sounds gross! Can you imagine going to the hospital to hold someone’s baby with the placenta still attached?!?!?!
Re: Delayed cord clamping, if it is medically possible (no immediate care needed) and we are unable to donate the cord blood, I’ll do it because there doesn’t seem to be a downside, but if it doesn’t work out, I won’t be upset.
Lotus birth is so gross and a lady in my birth class (first baby) asked about it and the nurse looked at her like she was absolutely bananas. Also, if you want to be extra grossed out google the little baskets they make to keep the placenta in. Ughhhh.
Here is a psa regarding the cord stump. Tell your husbands or partners that it falls off on its own before it happens. Mh was changing our daughter’s diaper when hers fell off and the panicked yelling that went through my house. Oh my goodness. I thought he knew!! Lol
Sorry if this is the wrong Questions thread, I didn't see a new one created for this week, but maybe I wasn't looking hard enough. Ha!
Okay, so this is very specific for military parents -- how in the heck am I supposed to get my kid seen by the on-base pediatrician? I'm just very confused. My OB told me to check to see how early the pediatrician at the Army clinic sees kids, and when I called today the appointment scheduler said "as soon as you get your child on Tricare Prime." So like...not two days after birth? Then who am I supposed to take her to?
Me: 31 | DH: 31
Together since 2003 | Married 2010 TTC #1 January 2016 BFP April 18 2016 | EDD December 29, 2016 Welcome baby A! January 9, 2017
TTC#2 March 2018 BFP March 30, 2018 | EDD December 12, 2018
@PensiveCrayon I certainly don't know, but I plan on chatting with the Peds clinic when obviously pregnant to try to set up a soft appointment for LO until he's in the system.
Unless I'm missing someone, I think the only MilSpouses in this month (besides us) are @texas_t and @trucksntutus. If others are lurking - should we make a Mil Thread?
NTNP since Dec 2012 | TTC since Jan 2016 Dx: Unspecified IF BFP#1 Nov 2017 • Blighted Ovum + MMC • D&C at nine weeks BFP#2 Apr 2018 • It's a boy! • Born 13 Dec 2018
@lexidawg we have a 14 pound dog that is 15 and there is no chance we are doing to take him out of our bed now even though he gets up once a night to pee which is frustrating. Too old to kennel at night.
Married: 5/09 ~ TTC Since: 10/10 ~ PCOS ~ Progesterone from 10/10 - 2/11 ~ HSG on 3/18 - Clear ~ Started Metformin 1000mg & Clomid 50mg 2/11 ~ Metformin upped to 1500mg 4/6 ~ 6/7 Now going to SG and put on Clomid, Ovidrel, Gonal F, Prometrium, Estrace ~ IUI #1 7/2 = BFP!!!!!! March 6th our little man was born.
6/17/13 - Ovidrel, Follistim, Prometrium ~ IUI #1 7/2 = BFP! March 17th our St. Pattys day baby arrived
10/29/17 - Started process for IVF, got pregnant & miscarried a 2nd time since summer. 2/22 started stims - Menopur, Gonal F, Cetrotide - retrieval 3/6 - , PIO, estrace 3xday - FET 4/18 = Beta 1: 616; Beta 2: 1342 = BFP
I'm starting to switch our laundry routine a bit to make it more baby-friendly. So far, we've switched our general detergent to Tide Free & Clear pods. I figure we'll use that for most everything and then a baby-specific detergent for baby items. That way, baby will have their clothes, blankets, etc washed in baby detergent, but they still will come into contact with fairly safe detergent when around our clothes, bedding, etc. My DH just gets too stinky and dirty to use a super mild detergent on his clothing. But, I figure we should switch our dryer sheets too. Maybe a safer dryer sheet for us and then nothing for baby's stuff? Any suggestions on baby detergent? What about dryer sheets? I'm a FTM so any suggestions or thoughts are welcome!
@binxybaby I have not found a sensitive dryer sheet without tons of chemicals, so I stopped using them. I used Dreft with DS because my mom bought us some, but this time I may just wash the baby’s stuff in with ours. I wash the majority of our laundry with vinegar and baking soda, so it should be safe. I do like the smell of Dreft, though.
Re: Questions of the Week - 6.25
Also keep in mind that because there is little scientific study on this, there is also little known about the risks. Like @Jens_Hoes said, the placenta is like a filter, and by the time the baby is born it's likely full of things that you probably wouldn't want to be eating. That, accompanied with the fact that, as far as I know, there is no FDA oversight on placenta encapsulation, so the process isn't regulated at all, which alone is enough to put me off of it.
Honestly, I think it's a scam made up by someone wanting to make money by exploiting women in a vulnerable position.
TTC #1 January 2016
BFP April 18 2016 | EDD December 29, 2016
Welcome baby A! January 9, 2017
TTC#2 March 2018
BFP March 30, 2018 | EDD December 12, 2018
I'm totally going to donate LO's cord blood! It's well supported in the south (which was a surprise for me), but if your hospital doesn't support it right out of the gate, some organizations can send you a collection kit that you give to your nurses on your LO's birthday. It pains me that something as life-giving as good cord blood is simply incinerated with the rest of the hospital's biological "waste."
Dx: Unspecified IF
BFP#1 Nov 2017 • Blighted Ovum + MMC • D&C at nine weeks
BFP#2 Apr 2018 • It's a boy! • Born 13 Dec 2018
From what I've read there is very little scientific research for or against it, and most of the information on the internet is anecdotal. I am the type of person like that thrives with facts, so anecdotes aren't really my go to.
I found this: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-placenta-encapsulation/
You'll have to contact them if your hospital isn't listed, so I don't know what the process looks like
https://bethematch.org/support-the-cause/donate-cord-blood/how-to-donate-cord-blood/
Dx: Unspecified IF
BFP#1 Nov 2017 • Blighted Ovum + MMC • D&C at nine weeks
BFP#2 Apr 2018 • It's a boy! • Born 13 Dec 2018
Started IF Feb. 2014
PCOS & MFI (low sperm count and motility)
3 Femara cycles w/natural intercourse over summer 2014, BFN
1 Clomid cycle w/natural intercourse Nov. 2014, BFN
IUI March 2015, BFN
IUI June 2015, BFN
IUI Oct. 2015, BFN
IVF Oct. 2016, fresh transfer, 2 day-3 embryos, BFN; nothing to freeze
IVF Nov. 2017, fresh transfer, 2 day-5 blasts, BFP; ectopic; 1 blast frozen
FET March 2018, 1 day-5 blast, BFP!
Re: pets in the bed and bedsharing. When we had DS we didn't have pets, so I didn't have to worry about them being in the bed with all of us. And yes, we did bedsharing until DS was probably about 7-9 months, then put his crib next to our bed side-car style. This time though, we have two cats. One of which is always right next to me, the other occasionally comes in the bed but stays by my feet. The one that's always there, idk if she'll be an issue or not. She doesn't let DS get close, so I doubt she'll get close to this baby. I'm just going to have to see how things go and adjust as needed. When we shut the door they constantly meow and scratch at it, so idk if that would be better or not...
DS2 due 12/12/18
@hkom
"Lotus Birth is part of the continuum in the development and unfolding of the human organism. Lotus Birth is also part of the continuum of awakening consciousness expressing itself via the birth process.
"We need to relearn what a birth can be like when it is not disturbed by the cultural milieu. We need a reference point from which we should try not to deviate too much. Lotus Birth is such a reference point." Michel Odent
Lotus Birth is a call to pay attention to the natural physiological process. It's practice, through witnessing, restores faith in the natural order. Lotus Birth extends the birth time into the sacred days that follow and enables baby, mother and father and all family members to pause, reflect and engage in nature's conduct. Lotus birth is a call to return to the rhythms of nature, to witness the natural order and to the experience of not doing, just being."
Re: delayed cord clamping, I’ve heard it’s more important in impoverished areas where maternal health is a bigger issue. That said, I planned to do DCC for my son before his emergency situations at birth meant he had to be cut away sooner. I’m still trying to decide whether to do it for this one, or be a good person and donate
TTC #1 January 2016
BFP April 18 2016 | EDD December 29, 2016
Welcome baby A! January 9, 2017
TTC#2 March 2018
BFP March 30, 2018 | EDD December 12, 2018
I can't even with these people. If I ever brought a child to the pediatrician with the placenta still attached they'd send me to the local psych ward!
Anyway, as for delayed cord clamping, I chatted with my OB about this last time and she said it's very beneficial for babies in developing countries where they might not have gotten all the nutrition they needed in the womb and/or directly after birth and it can help prevent anemia for them. BUT in first world countries, it's something that typically is not needed. She said there's no harm at all and she's happy to do it, but it is a thing that became a practice to advance newborn health in developing countries, so it's not as applicable, generally, here. It's certainly not something that would hurt, just not something you *must* do if you want a healthy baby, etc.
Re: placenta encapsulation, I am in total agreement with previous posters that it's not for me due to the filter function it has.
TTC #1 January 2016
BFP April 18 2016 | EDD December 29, 2016
Welcome baby A! January 9, 2017
TTC#2 March 2018
BFP March 30, 2018 | EDD December 12, 2018
The lotus thing sounds gross! Can you imagine going to the hospital to hold someone’s baby with the placenta still attached?!?!?!
Re: Delayed cord clamping, if it is medically possible (no immediate care needed) and we are unable to donate the cord blood, I’ll do it because there doesn’t seem to be a downside, but if it doesn’t work out, I won’t be upset.
"Your AFP (screening for neural tube defects) is negative."
Here is a psa regarding the cord stump. Tell your husbands or partners that it falls off on its own before it happens. Mh was changing our daughter’s diaper when hers fell off and the panicked yelling that went through my house. Oh my goodness. I thought he knew!! Lol
Okay, so this is very specific for military parents -- how in the heck am I supposed to get my kid seen by the on-base pediatrician? I'm just very confused. My OB told me to check to see how early the pediatrician at the Army clinic sees kids, and when I called today the appointment scheduler said "as soon as you get your child on Tricare Prime." So like...not two days after birth? Then who am I supposed to take her to?
TTC #1 January 2016
BFP April 18 2016 | EDD December 29, 2016
Welcome baby A! January 9, 2017
TTC#2 March 2018
BFP March 30, 2018 | EDD December 12, 2018
Unless I'm missing someone, I think the only MilSpouses in this month (besides us) are @texas_t and @trucksntutus. If others are lurking - should we make a Mil Thread?
Dx: Unspecified IF
BFP#1 Nov 2017 • Blighted Ovum + MMC • D&C at nine weeks
BFP#2 Apr 2018 • It's a boy! • Born 13 Dec 2018
Married: 5/09 ~ TTC Since: 10/10 ~ PCOS ~ Progesterone from 10/10 - 2/11 ~ HSG on 3/18 - Clear ~ Started Metformin 1000mg & Clomid 50mg 2/11 ~ Metformin upped to 1500mg 4/6 ~ 6/7 Now going to SG and put on Clomid, Ovidrel, Gonal F, Prometrium, Estrace ~ IUI #1 7/2 = BFP!!!!!! March 6th our little man was born.
6/17/13 - Ovidrel, Follistim, Prometrium ~ IUI #1 7/2 = BFP! March 17th our St. Pattys day baby arrived
10/29/17 - Started process for IVF, got pregnant & miscarried a 2nd time since summer. 2/22 started stims - Menopur, Gonal F, Cetrotide - retrieval 3/6 - , PIO, estrace 3xday - FET 4/18 = Beta 1: 616; Beta 2: 1342 = BFP