Why You Should Consider Placental Encapsulation

Consuming the placenta after birth is a seemingly modern trend that we tend to think crunchy mommas and celebrities choose to do to be different or something. But there are always many women who wouldn’t consider themselves crunchy and aren’t celebrities who are choosing to use this new trend in postpartum care for many reasons. Here are some reasons that you should consider placental encapsulation, or another way of consuming the placenta.

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{Before we go any further, remember I am not a doctor or medical professional. If you are considering placental encapsulation, I highly urge you to do your own research and consult someone trained in placental encapsulation and/or your care provider with questions.}

The History of Placental Encapsulation

Human Placentophagy= when the human placenta is consumed by someone other than the mother.

Maternal Placentophagy= when the placenta is consumed by the mother.

 

Human placentophagy has taken place for hundreds of years, but maternal placentophagy is a relatively new practice. Many Traditional Chinese Medicine tinctures and remedies were made using the human placenta, and in other cultures the placenta was used to cure illnesses, boost reproductive function, and keep evil spirits away.

Maternal Placentophagy is has been becoming more popular since the 1970’s as it is thought to help with postpartum mood disorders {PMD} and many other things.

How the Placenta is Processed

The placenta can be processed in a few different ways. Some women also consume it raw in smoothies, or under the tongue to stop postpartum hemorrhages, cook it into casseroles or other dishes using it as a piece of meat similar to liver or steak, or chop of small pieces that are similar to pill size and then freeze those and take similarly to the dried encapsulated version. You can also get your placenta made into a tincture.

However, if you are looking at encapsulation, there are two ways that it is processed- steamed or raw. Usually you will need to get the placenta to the trained professional who will be processing it for you as soon as possible after birth. You may need to sign some forms at your hospital to get it released to you. Once you have delivered it, you will usually get it back between twenty-four and forty-eight hours later. If you are having it steamed before encapsulation, it will be cleaned and then steamed with different herbs, dried, ground into a powder and then encapsulated. If you prefer the raw processing, it will be cleaned, dehydrated, ground, and placed into capsules.

Possible Benefits of Consuming Encapsulated Placenta

Because you cannot have a study that compares the same mother, birth experience, and postpartum experience, it is hard to give a definitive answer on the benefits of placental encapsulation. But there are many testimonies from women who have struggled with PMDs, low milk supply, and postpartum hemorrhage who say that when they consumed their placenta in subsequent pregnancies those issues were greatly lessened or did not occur. Below you will find reasons that you should consider placental encapsulation.

Possible benefits of consuming your placenta include:

• Increased milk production
• Having your milk come in quicker
• Lessening of PMD effects
• PMDs not recurring
• Lessened postpartum bleeding
• Better hormone control- feeling less ups and downs
• More energy
• Iron levels return to normal faster

Contraindications for Placental Encapsulation

There are a few times where you should avoid consuming your placenta. These contraindications are:

• If your placenta needed to be sent to pathology for any reason
• If you had a uterine infection- the infection is in the placenta as well
• If you are a smoker- the toxins build up in the placenta
• If your baby develops an early onset GBS infection after birth

Things that are Not a Contraindication for Placental Encapsulation

• Having a cesarean section
• Pre-eclampsia
• Induction
• Long labor
• Short labor
• Developing a fever during labor

You can read about why I have chosen to have my placenta encapsulated and some of the benefits that I noticed here.

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