Eating the placenta?

[leesha]

I vaugely remember in antenatal classes going through what you can do with the placenta but I've forgotten why people choose to eat it?

Just curious as to what the benefits are of consuming it and why people do it?

I have no intention of ever doing it but it interests me.

[Nadine216]

I think it has to do with what type of religion you are.

Other than that ... I don't know much

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

After women give birth they are lacking in a certain vitamin (is it vitamin K?). Eating the placenta naturally replenishes the lost stores, that's why so many mammals do it.

[paradise lost]

It is full of hormones which were powering labour - if you eat them they are extremely good at preventing/stopping PPH as they cause the uterus to contract strongly - they are as effective as the 3rd stage sintocinon injection according to a mw i know.

In addition some hormones drop dramtically after birth in your blood, which is what causes the baby-blues (not PND, feeling wepy and "unstable" about 3-5 days after birth - your progesterone level in the 3rd trismester can be literally 300 times higher than that a few days after birth) and eating the placenta a bit at a time in the days following the birth can really diminish the effect of that progesterone crash (many women have it made into pills or cut into small pieces and frozen for this purpose). Some GP's even treat PND with progesterone creams!

The placenta is also a rich source of vitamins and minerals used up when growing a baby and eating it is a great way to get those minerals (especially iron, which most women need more of following birth) back into your body ASAP.

Plus i expect some people also like how it tastes.

Bx

[leesha]

Interesting!!! Thanks for the replys....Don't think I could stomach it myself but I understand the reasoning for it now!!

[LaDeeDa]

My MIL ate all 4 ...

It is very high in iron apparently

[catherineq]

The cat eat the placenta too after giving birth, so I think it must has its own benefits. Placenta is also kind of herbs in some cultures.

I wonder have anyone of you tried to eat it before? How do you prepare it? I am thinking of my options here, could it possible to bank the baby cord blood stem cells, in the meanwhile keep the placenta as pills form for me to eat?

Thanks and cheers,

[LoriRae]

Originally Posted by catherineq

I wonder have anyone of you tried to eat it before? ,

I'm wondering this too. Anyone? I just want to know how it tastes I don't think my dh would ever come near me again if I ate placenta, he vomited at the sight and smell of it when ds was born

In Chinese medicine, dried placenta ground into a powder is said to be good for a huge amount of ailments.

[catherineq]

Originally Posted by LoriRae

I'm wondering this too. Anyone? I just want to know how it tastes I don't think my dh would ever come near me again if I ate placenta, he vomited at the sight and smell of it when ds was born

In Chinese medicine, dried placenta ground into a powder is said to be good for a huge amount of ailments.

LOL
By the way, I have eaten dried placenta ground powder before, but I can't remember the taste because the whole soup taste bitter. So I guess, that powder taste bitter.

I have checked with biocell (stem cells for baby) and it's possible to collect the cord blood and leave the placenta untouched. But I wonder how to make it to powder? Anyone?

[Meekoh]

Hi all,

I ate some of my placenta - it is high in iron and hormones and it definitely works to lessen/stop the blues.

Cooking it ruins many of the good benefits so the best thing to do is cut it into small capsule/tablet sized pieces with a very sharp knife and freeze them. Just swallow two every couple of hours with lots of water - because they are frozen you cant taste anything.

It sounds gross but it honestly is very good for you. I'm no hippy and at first it seemed weird but it definitely makes you feel better!

It also helped that my partner cut the pieces up for me! My placenta was frozen so it took a lot more effort but it was worth it.

I took the placenta mainly on days when I was feeling exhausted or teary or when I remembered and found I didn't need it after week two so I didn't need more cut up.

Hope that helps!

[catherineq]

Awesome, Meekoh.

Since it's good, perhaps can have placenta party with mother, sisters, MIL. LOL, just kidding but I know it definitely contains good hormones for female.

[edaj84]

I am going to try this next time, i have had mild PPH with both of my bubs and PND with my 2nd. i like the cut it into little frozen pieces idea

[catherineq]

Anyone knows who offer services to make placenta powder capsule in Sydney? Thanks.

[maz]

Ive heard that the eskimo's freeze it, and do exactly what Meekoh has done.

A lady that had her son the same time I had V took her placenta home to bury it...she was a Kiwi.
Could someone please enlighten me to why this is done?

[~Mara~]

I agree with everything paradise lost said. it's meant to be soo beneficial with helping prevent PPH and PND and encouraging breastmilk production. I've also heard that it is packed full of Zinc which is another mineral that new mums can be deficient in after birth.

It's important to note though, that if you are thinking of doing this, eating the placenta is only compatible with a physiological third stage. So if you have a managed 3rd stage or a caesarean you cannot eat it (or so I've been told)

Not sure if eating the placenta is something I could do personally but I must admit the thought has crossed my mind after having PND like I did last time.

[blackduckies]

Yes i have heard of people eating it, but personally after having a good look at a couple of mine I don't think I could stomach it, maybe like someone said if it could be changed into another form a capsule??? MAYBE??? Another thing worth considering I have had a couple of overdue babies and i really don't think you would consider eating their placentas, they had a smell and were starting to break down, good thing bubs decide it was time to get out.
i brought one home and we planted a tree over the top of it, the tree grew very well.

[Teagz]

Wow, I'm so ignorant! XD I didn't think a hospital would allow you to eat or even take home your placenta here... how interesting.
I don't think I could do it though.. they're just so... squishy looking oO;;

[Talia*L]

When I was born, my parents were pretty much young hippies. After my birthing centre birth, they took home the placenta and dad put it in the fridge. Haha for a few days they kept looking at it and thinking about it. They considered eating it (good nutrients for both men and women) but they were both vegetarian so I think they opted out of that!

In the end, they burried it under a tree and a little bridge in a nearby park (a lovely public garden). I'm pretty sure dad sort of snuck out and did it at night hahaha!

They say that they thought the palcenta was very important, as it had nourished me and helped me grow for 9 months! So they hated the thought of it being put in a big Medical Waste bin. So I guess that's why people bury them - to give the important placenta a sort of kind and symbolic burial.

I think we will bury our placenta in our back yard, under a tree.