Let's talk... PLACENTAS!

[itsajenism]

Anyone planning on eating theirs?

[Mommy2Austin]

Omm Nom Nom Nom


Most definately. It helped me out so much after my last kiddo. Plus I love freaking the guys out at work Muahahahaha.

Although I'm thinking about encapsulating it or at least turning it to powder because I ended up throwing a good chunk of it out after it got freezer burned.

But yes please pass my placenta...I'm ready for a smoothie

[TexasMum]

Most definitely eating mine. Encapsulating it.

[aramat]

Yes! Although my birth team is not entirely supportive... I'm the only one who believes in it.

[Mommy2Austin]

Originally Posted by aramat

Yes! Although my birth team is not entirely supportive... I'm the only one who believes in it.

My husband was skeptical when I said something about it with DS2. He thought I was nuts. He had to "prepare" it for me after birth and he noticed how it immediately perked me up. I was able to leave the house and go shopping 2 days after birth with energy to spare whereas with DS1 it took me almost 2 weeks. Now he's a firm believer

Not to mention with the issues I've had since my mom's death (anxiety and depression) its even more important that I have it this time.

[mamaonthefarm]

With our last baby, dh cut it up for me and we froze it. Whenever I wanted, I popped a tiny frozen placental piece as a pill. It helped with energy. We'll probably do it again with this babe.

[mtnmoonmama]

We'll bury ours - although I may end up eating a bit after the birth depending on the bleeding.

[Ficus]

Can someone give me the reader's digest version on what it does if you eat it? And how someone would go about "getting" it if they are giving birth in a highly medicalized hospital? This is intriguing! Looking for food for thought (pun totally intended).

[hippie_mommy]

I'm not sure if I'll encapsulate mine or not. I still have a lot of pills from my last placenta...

[TexasMum]

Originally Posted by mamaonthefarm

With our last baby, dh cut it up for me and we froze it. Whenever I wanted, I popped a tiny frozen placental piece as a pill. It helped with energy. We'll probably do it again with this babe.

That's a good idea. I may try that this time. My DH is totally supportive and wouldn't mind cutting it up in little pieces for me but I don't know if he could carry out the whole encapsulation process on his own. I found someone to encapsulate it for me but she wants $200 bucks to do it. I wouldn't mind saving that $200 bucks and just eating the frozen pieces like pills.

[itsajenism]

Originally Posted by Ficus

Can someone give me the reader's digest version on what it does if you eat it? And how someone would go about "getting" it if they are giving birth in a highly medicalized hospital? This is intriguing! Looking for food for thought (pun totally intended).

-- Can help stop hemorrhaging... and from what I've read about other Mama's doing it, it also helps with lochia.

-- Helps with post partum despression.

-- Helps restore your body with vitamins.

-- I've also read that it helps your milk come in faster.


I'm sure I'm missing some...? It's been awhile since I've looked up any information (last time I really looked was during my pregnancy with DS - 5 years ago), and I haven't had the chance to start looking again.

I'm not sure how easy it will be for you to get the placenta if you are having a Hospital Birth. That was one thing I had completely forgotten to ask when I arrived at the Hospital when in labor with DS.

[itsajenism]

I definitely want to eat it this time!

I'm still trying to decide if I'll just cut it up and freeze it or encapsulate it... and if I'll try to do it myself or have someone do it for me.


Does anyone know if how you eat it makes that much of a difference?
raw -vs- frozen -vs- dried... etc.

[aramat]

I don't know if anybody knows enough about this stuff to say whether it's better raw/frozen/dried/cooked... I've not been able to find much of anything about the differences so far, but would love to know, too!

Planning on icing a chunk right after delivery and swallowing it or holding it in my cheek. (If I can get anyone to agree to help me with it; I'm a bit nervous to ask for something so outrageous!) Then cut and freeze some for smoothies, and hopefully dry the rest if we have a dehydrator by then. Our freezer doesn't seem to be the best, so I don't want to risk any bits going to waste with freezer-burn.

Any thoughts on consuming the whole thing fast (couple of weeks) Vs. slow and steady (months/years)?

[itsajenism]

Originally Posted by aramat

Any thoughts on consuming the whole thing fast (couple of weeks) Vs. slow and steady (months/years)?

Good question! That hadn't even crossed my mind, but now I'm curious myself.

I'm going to try to find some information later when I can get more than a few minutes at a time on the computer.

[mtnmoonmama]

I remember with my first baby my midwives mentioned they used to make placenta bloody marys...seems like a good way to mask some of the taste. I'm vegetarian and although I know that the placenta is the one meat souce that comes from no harm, I still have trouble stomaching the thought of eating meat.

I've heard that the placenta pills are good to save and take during menopause.

[TIFF4NY]

I found this site today and have been looking around a bit. Maybe it can help answer some peoples questions... http://placentabenefits.info/index.asp

[Nicole730]

I want to eat it, but I don't know if I will be able too. Maybe I will try the tiny pieces frozen method...that seems to be the easiest sounding. DH is kind of creeped out by the idea, and I don't know if my mom could stomach cutting it. My dad might be able to handle though, but he definitely thinks it is crazy. I didn't have PPD last time, but quite a bit of "brain fog" or "momnesia", it would be nice to see if the placenta helps with that.

[itsajenism]

Originally Posted by Ficus

And how someone would go about "getting" it if they are giving birth in a highly medicalized hospital?

So I found that you will have to adhere to the hospitals guidelines. It's possible your hospital doesn't have any though.

Here is a link to get more information about Hospital Release of Placentas.

I filled out the little form to get information and this is what I got: Hospital Release Article w/ link to liability waiver.

[folkgirl]

I'm not going to eat mine, but I am going to donate it to train cadaver-sniffing dogs.

[leila1213]

Originally Posted by aramat

I don't know if anybody knows enough about this stuff to say whether it's better raw/frozen/dried/cooked... I've not been able to find much of anything about the differences so far, but would love to know, too!

Planning on icing a chunk right after delivery and swallowing it or holding it in my cheek. (If I can get anyone to agree to help me with it; I'm a bit nervous to ask for something so outrageous!) Then cut and freeze some for smoothies, and hopefully dry the rest if we have a dehydrator by then. Our freezer doesn't seem to be the best, so I don't want to risk any bits going to waste with freezer-burn.

Any thoughts on consuming the whole thing fast (couple of weeks) Vs. slow and steady (months/years)?

I plan on doing the chunk right after birth as well. (We have so much in common! )

As far as length of time for consumption, this is probably where the different methods will come in. Ie, if you want to save it for menopause, encapsulation is probably your best bet. But I would totally go ahead and keep it in frozen 'pill' form if you will be done with it in the first 6 months or so... But as far as nutritive value, I would think raw (or frozen/raw) would be preferable to dried, which would be preferable to cooked. But again, depends on when it would be consumed. That's why I think taking a little bit 'fresh' immediately is a safe bet to get the most benefit right away, followed by the other methods when the time is right for them. If that makes any sense.