Wanting to see my Placenta

[Nattalie18]

I’m expecting my second baby in December. for my first I had an elective c section ( baby was breech), at the time, he was whipped out and I was stitched up. This time ( I will probably have another section) I am a little more curious and would like to see my placenta, I’m interested to see what it looks like but I’m worried everyone might think it’s a bit odd, and how will I feel seeing it etc? Does this sound unreasonable, my husband thinks it’s a bit grim 🤣

We asked to look it was quite interesting to be honest

Go for it! They're amazing. Midwives usually love talking you through all the structures too. However, it will be a little bit difficult to look at whilst you're lying down.

I honestly regret not looking at mine with DC1. It was offered, but I flippantly said that "once you've seen one, you've seen them all". While true (and I've seen hundreds), none of them came out of me, and I've regretted not looking since. I asked to look with DC2, but he was an emergency C-section. Thanks to the layout of theatre the midwife couldn't get it close enough to show me on the trolley, so all I could see was a red mass in a plastic kidney dish. Oh well. :(

I asked to see nit second 18 years ago.

Midwife showed me and explained where it was rough to the touch it was aging etc.

My lovely midwife staged my placenta for a picture with the cord in a heart shape! She loved it that I wanted to see it and have a picture

I was shown my third placenta and umbilical cord as the cord had a knot in it! Very rare occurrence apparently! They called other doctors and nurses in to see it too! Not as yucky as I thought it would be.

I have never seen one, however I know from other training one side is kind of smooth, the other lobed. Everyone I've spoken to considered it to be kind of gross. I'm not squeamish but I'm not sure I want to see mine 😂.

If you're interested by all means take a look, it's human curiosity and I don't think they'll find it weird, but don't expect to find it pretty!

Not weird at all. I’m going to encapsulate mine and have it as tablets. That’s probably weirder.

I have pictures of mine and had a very good look at it. My obstetrician told me it was a very good placenta, I was very pleased with myself. Always amazed that woman can grow an entire organ, extraordinary.

They showed me mine whilst I was chomping away on some toast. Looked kind of like liver. Was fascinated. I'm sure if you ask they will show you after c section.

Just ask to see it. Not a strange thing at all, curiosity is normal.

I saw it the first time, was surpsied by how big it was, and somehow thought it would be much more bloody/gross.
Umbilical cord was also massive! Didn't see the 2nd one, which probably would have been even more impressive as it had sustained twins! But that delivery there was just so much going on

I asked to see mine. It looked like a squashed brain with an indent where the baby had been laying

Oh ask to look at it! It's fascinating!

With my first DD I started haemorrhaging so they were too busy to show me. With my second it was lovely, the MW gave me a guided tour. I didn't ask for one but she must have sensed I'd find it interesting and she was so lovely. It's incredible what your body can create, it's so interesting - it's the organ that has been keeping your baby nourished for 9 months.

I remember when Tanya from Real Housewives of Cheshire did that (yes I'm sad and watch RHOC 😂). She said they made her feel amazing!

It was my midwife that suggested it after I said I was worried about PND. Apparently good for mood and also milk production.

I saw DD3's (4th child) after a C section, I asked to have a look and was shown and had it all explained to me, they are quite amazing. I really wish I had asked to take it home. I would have happily fried a bit with onions just for the experience and buried the rest in the garden with a tree on the top.

I asked to see mine as it caused lots of complications in my pregnancy and I needed to make peace with it. Was quickly shown it post-EMCS. Agree that it looked like liver and larger than I was expecting.

I had mine made into a smoothie, homeopathic pills, tinctures and capsules! DH brought it home and the lady picked it up and made the stuff.
I can't say for sure whether it's woo or not but I love all things natural.

I've always had a slight regret I never saw mine. I was so tired I didn't think at the time, but wish someone had offered. I did cut the cord and remember the texture clearly, so I suppose the placenta must have been in the vicinity.

Yes, I've heard that it's good for that too. My procreating days are well behind me now but I would have definitely looked into doing that if I'd had another.

My placenta was slapped down a table next to my head and I occasionally get flashbacks featuring that image (traumatic birth). It was absolutely enormous and bright red. I'm sure if you ask to see it they will show you.

the midwife voluntarily showed me mine. Wasn’t a c section though.

It's not that rare for people to ask to see it. About 30% of midwives routinely offer to let you see in theatre... They'll all let you if you ask...but just ask either before or relatively soon after baby is out as they get disposed of in plastic tubs that have locks on them so once closed they can't be reopened.

Theres laws on how deep they must be buried for those that want to (certain depths etc) but I'm an anaesthetist so don't know the specifics (midwives will tell you)

Definitely do-able in csections! Depends if it was anterior high or low. They do their absolute best not to cut through them as they have 700ml/min blood supply so bleed dramatically

I've got a great photo of mine! Midwife asked if I wanted to see it/keep it. I had no desire to take it away but was fascinating to see

It's big! Very big and bloody.