I want to eat my placenta

[pinkkat37]

Hello All.

I mentioned this at work the other day and my collegues faces were of shock and horror!.

I am having a home birth and wondered if anyone has done this?.

Any advice on storage.. recipes and if the midwives will even let you keep it would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Kathryn x

Just why?

Glad you found it helpful pinkkat37

Out of interest what research was it that made you think you wanted to do it?

Good luck in coming months

My first ended up splattered all over the floor , the second I poked and prodded before the hospital disposed of it. No way would I consider eating it.

Revolting.

Why? Just why?

Can just about understand the pills, though I wouldn't bother myself, but just eating it as it is? No.

People who have consumed their placenta swear by it. Increased milk, reduced bleeding, lower risk of PND.
We're virtually the only omnivores that don't.

We dont lick out babies clean either.

Our

And we dont chew the cord off to release the babies either

my daughter has two in the freezer....
the concept to prevent ppd was good but the execution not so.
I've suggested burying them in the garden but her dh won't touch them...
can someone tell me if urban fox's would dig them up (they have foxes that roam through their yard).

Hmm I don't find it gross but I don't think I'd eat it, I'd encapsulate it though just to see if there were any benefits.

Is there any science behind its claims?

My second child's placenta had calcification, which can be linked to antacid consumption in pregnancy. Essentially collecting all the chalky stuff in Gaviscon and protecting the baby... So the article about other toxins would sway me against encapsulated placenta. But it is interesting to hear what other cultures do. Lotus birth is fascinating to me, but not something I could personally stomach!

Shall-animals eat their placentas and clean their young to stop predators tracking the smell of blood.

Animals also eat the placenta because they need the nourishment to sustain them as they give birth to multiple offspring. And the placenta keeps oxytocin coming which keeps labour moving nicely.

Humans have no need to do this. We are almost always perfectly nourished. Although i hear omega 3 supplements can help prevent PND.

I considered doing it - was planning on freezing it it small portions and putting it in smoothies.
In the end, I buried it in a huge plant pot....I'm waiting for my mini pear tree to really sprout. It's an amazing fertiliser apparently! There's a tribe (Native American I believe) who bury their placenta's as they believe it keeps the child "earthed" ie emotionally grounded which I thought was lovely. I put mine in a big pot because we are a military family who move around a lot - this way I can take my placenta pear tree with me

I worry that this thread suggests PND can be avoided if you try