Ingesting the Placenta: Is it Healthy for New Moms?

re: Ingesting the Placenta: Is it Healthy for New Moms?

Keikukaren — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:49:25 GMT

Interesting topic, have never heard of this before! I had to ask just to SEE the placenta. Gosh, it just supported a baby for almost nine months,it's an amazing "organ", but it doesn't seem to be the norm to show it to the new mom. So it's hard for me to think that people would just ask for it. More power to the women who would ingest it!

re: Ingesting the Placenta: Is it Healthy for New Moms?

TheOne — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 14:29:24 GMT

I ate it raw very shortly after the birth of my second child. I had it cut into very small chunks. I believe many of the beneficial properties are destroyed by cooking or dehdydration. The human placenta is large compared to other species' placentas, though and I couldn't imagine a woman eating a whole one directly after birth. It tastes sortof like sushi or steak tar tar. It's very mild.

I had a higher hemoglobin level at my postpartum appointment than I had after birthing my first son.

Besides the iron I believe the hormones are very important. The oxytocin not only lessens bleeding, but it may facilitate in bonding. The birth process invoves an intricate symphony of hormones. Distruption of those hormones has been shown to cause various & sometimes severe negative effects in other mammals. I believe that eating the placenta may be an important part of the symphony of hormones.

It's not true that humans are the only mammal that doesn't regularly eat their placenta. MOST mammals do eat their placentas, including chimps & most herbivores. Mountain Gorillas don't eat their placentas regularly.

Since there is no risk in eating one's own placenta & there are loads of possible benefits I see no reason to reject the pactice for arbitrary preceptions of "yuckiness".

re: Ingesting the Placenta: Is it Healthy for New Moms?

T_rex — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 20:04:21 GMT

FDA, GIVEN HALF A CHANCE, WOULD MAKE THE PRACTISE OF EATING YOUR PLACENTA A FEDERAL CRIME, BECAUSE IT CUTS INTO THE PROFITS OF BIG PHARMA (THEIR MASTERS), BY ELIMINATING POST-PARTUM DEPRESSION AND THE NEED FOR DRUGS.

re: Ingesting the Placenta: Is it Healthy for New Moms?

carolsj — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 23:57:40 GMT

I did eat the placenta back in 77. After a great home birth with a midwife, the placenta didn't eject. At the doctor's office, he basically pulled it out by the chord. In the process I lost a lot of blood and was left feeling weak and exhausted. When I got it together the next day I cut some pieces and broiled them lightly with Worcestershire sauce (as I had been doing with liver). So it was not cooked much and tasted similar to liver, but not as strong. I thought it was delicious. It didn't take long to feel the difference. It really brought me back, weakness gone. I would recommend it to anyone. As for the yuk factor, if you can eat liver it shouldn't be a problem. The remainder was buried under a tree in the yard.

re: Ingesting the Placenta: Is it Healthy for New Moms?

wholefoodevangelist — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:47:24 GMT

My babies were very overdue...the placentas were black and gray respectively (not pink or red as they should be). Guess those were worthless to eat or plant? I was very resistant to induction/c-section, but the colors of the placentas indicated my babies were dying inside me--I finally gave in to pitocin and my first birth still took 2 days. Some people are NOT candidates for home birth and I was one of them :( I even ended up with a c-section on the 3rd baby b/c she was breech with the cord around her neck and almost 11 lbs. (in my 110 lb. frame). We're finalizing an adoption soon for our 4th--my body just doesn't reproduce well!

re: Ingesting the Placenta: Is it Healthy for New Moms?

wholefoodevangelist — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:47:22 GMT

re: Ingesting the Placenta: Is it Healthy for New Moms?

tedmpt — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 01:35:19 GMT

monkeys throw their own poo --- should we go back to doing this too?

come on, people.

my wife has given birth to four babies, didn't eat the placenta, and did not get depressed. neither did anyone i've ever known.

it is a ridiculous practice.

re: Ingesting the Placenta: Is it Healthy for New Moms?

graysquirrel — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 01:27:09 GMT

my husband dehydrated and encapsulated the placenta from my sons birth 5 months ago. i took all of the capsules over the first three months. i had no problem with ppd which was a problem after the birth of my first child. i also take fish oil supplements and juice every day. lack of sleep has played a role in some bad days but overall i have been able to enjoy myself this time around the mommy-go-round!

re: Ingesting the Placenta: Is it Healthy for New Moms?

kfarias_203 — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 22:26:11 GMT

If one chooses to breastfeed than one would not need to eat the placenta to contract the uterus, breastfeeding does that. As a mother of four daughters who breastfed, I can tell you, when you breastfeed, you can get some real painful contractions of your uterus which takes care of any hemorraghing etc. My oldest daughter breastfed her two daughters, and my second oldest daughter is pregnant and is planning on breastfeeding her son. It sets an example for many women and I even went to my daughters lactation class. I became pregnant while still breastfeeding my 2nd child, and contined to nurse her thru the entire pregnancy, nursed a newborn and 18month old for several months. I then weaned the older one as obviously it wasn't necessary to continue for her. Everyone told me it would hurt the child I was carrying. Not so, she weighed in at 8lbs. Healthy as a horse. I can't even imagine why any woman would do anything other than nurse the life they were carrying. Eat the placenta? Naw.

re: Ingesting the Placenta: Is it Healthy for New Moms?

Frogstore — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 18:50:37 GMT

The title totally made me sick. So, of course I read the article. :)

I think that it was a good "in" for Mercola to discuss breastfeeding and home birth. Both of which I scoffed at 3 years ago and both of which I have done twice. :)

We looked into the home birth on line, and, after speaking with a midwife..were totally impressed. We received superior care and the experience (having the girls at home) was terrific (this coming from a person who cries when someone sticks me with a needle) There are other ways to manage pain without drugs.

Anyone with questions about home birth should definitely look into it. After researching, you'll see that it is actually safer than the hospital. Shelley

re: Ingesting the Placenta: Is it Healthy for New Moms?

bookaholics.anon — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 11:45:48 GMT

My theory (as a former biologist) has always been that mammals consume the placenta for two reasons:

1. The scent of the placenta could lead a trail of predators to the site of the temporarily weakened mother and the vulnerable baby

2. Protein-based foods for omnivores or carnivores are difficult to obtain and require expending energy (hunting, for example.) So a new mother would benefit from consuming the placenta by getting a quick meal and also would eliminate something that could attract scavengers or predators to her birth site.

Therefore, humans should not worry about eating the placenta unless they are facing malnutrition or attacks by nearby wild animals. This is no doubt a behavior that improved the odds of survival of some species. My view, feel free to disagree (or even laugh and jeer derisively!)

re: Ingesting the Placenta: Is it Healthy for New Moms?

etbsndc — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 08:45:09 GMT

This is a very interesting topic and discussion. Being a little familiar with the amazing placenta and its role in sustaining a growing fetus, it does not surprise me that other cultures have routinely ingested this organ. It makes sense to me that it could be valuable in smoothing the hormonal transition after birth. It seems a real shame that this tissue is discarded following the delivery. I think that, if I had it to do over again, I would seriously consider trying it at least once. (My three children were born in the early '70s; I was viewed as very unusual because I used the Lamaze method--climbed into my own bed following the delivery, then got up to walk to the bathroom a half hour later; no catheter; breastfed them all. The other women went the whole allopathic route. Midwives, doulas were not an option at the time.) Of course, any tissue that is discarded (circumsized foreskin, placenta, and whatever else the hospital personnel can get their hands on) is snatched up and sold to line their own pockets.

Anyhoo, nice discussion.

re: Ingesting the Placenta: Is it Healthy for New Moms?

Rose My Rose — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 03:38:59 GMT

I have had three home births and have saved all of the placentas. The first one we planted under an ornamental plum tree when our DD was one year. The other two placentas are in our freezer. We want to plant them as well, but have been house hunting and would like to have them in the yard and garden that we intend to grow old in. So, if anyone's up for trying some placenta in the mean time...

re: Ingesting the Placenta: Is it Healthy for New Moms?

Leanne M. — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 02:45:44 GMT

I had a home birth with a midwife and doula, it went really well. I kept my placenta, and after going through a rough post natal depression, my doula encouraged me to eat it. I am vegan and have lived an extremely clean diet and alternative lifestyle for years, I also knew that my placenta was full of everything I needed. I drink massive amounts of fresh vegetable juice everyday, so I cut it up and blended it up with my vegetable juice and had it everyday for five days. It made me feel better immediately with bursts of energy. It was hard to swallow at times but I would do it again if I had to. It helped me immensley. I definately suggest eating it raw and blending it with vegetable juice. Its miraculous!

Leanne

re: Ingesting the Placenta: Is it Healthy for New Moms?

ypsidixit — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 02:20:01 GMT

"If other animals do it, it must be OK." Hmm. My dogs lick their heinies and eat weeks-old beef knuckes in the yard--I guess that's OK for me to do too, then.

Why would the placenta have more hormones than any other part of your body? Has that been proven in clinical trials? Sounds like an urban legend to me.

Autophagy holds remarkably lilttle appeal to me. But if it did, I'd throw in one of my kidneys, too, for a proper stew.

Maybe a bit of my liver as well, for that piquant flavor. And dried portobello mushrooms, to bring out the subtle nuances of flavor in the placenta. Don't forget the blend of Italian herbs and spices.

Blech!