Let's talk... PLACENTAS! - Page 2

[clicksab]

Hoping to encapsulate mine. I don't think I can stomach it any other way!

[Ninetales]

I plan to, but haven't decided what I'm going to do. Either grab a chunk raw right away, freeze little bites, or fry some up. Maybe a smoothie.

[moondiapers]

I want to, but am not sure if it'll be safe for me. I'm on anticoagulants, and I'm not sure if it's accumulated in the placenta or not. If my placenta is full of lovenox and heparin I doubt it would help with hemorhage.....thought it might not hurt either because supposedly heparin's not metabolized when taken orally. I'll have to give it some thought.

[amclure]

I am encapsulating my placenta. My midwife starts the process here. Although I don't know if she will now that I want the placenta left attached for around four hours (still toying with lotus) I had severe PPD last time and I from what I have read and the women I have spoke with I think encapsulation is the way to go.

My hubby has said I am not allowed to share this tidbit with everyone. I think it slightly disgusts him even though all other animals do it.

[Helsie]

I am the only one who finds the placenta eating concept just stomach-turning? If I was speaking American I would say it "completely grosses me out". Maybe it's because I am vegetarian. I have never even heard of it before I started reading this discussion board. I think I need educating; is it a common thing? Does it really have benefits?

[Ambystoma]

Originally Posted by Helsie

I am the only one who finds the placenta eating concept just stomach-turning? If I was speaking American I would say it "completely grosses me out". Maybe it's because I am vegetarian. I have never even heard of it before I started reading this discussion board. I think I need educating; is it a common thing? Does it really have benefits?

No, it "grosses me out" too, at least when I think about sticking it in a frying pan on my stove. If it were encapsulated, I don't think I would feel squeamish, but we don't have anyone to do that around here. I'm pretty sure I couldn't stomach it, but I'm trying to convince myself to maybe freeze a little for something. We're planning on burying it.

[SheBear]

The only way I could consume mine is in capsule form, and I am an unabashed carnivore....rare steak and all!

Since I have three placentas (the oldest is 5 years old!) languishing in my freezer along with good intentions of planting, I am re-thinking my plans with this one....my midwife is wanting to learn how to do encapsulation, so I'm thinking about giving her my old placentas....she can practice on them, and if she thinks the freshest one would still be edible, I might start taking it now. I don't think I'd care to mess with the 5.5 and 3.5 year old ones....she can practice with them if she wants, then toss them!

But if she's willing, I'd really like to try the capsules post-partum this time. Especially if this baby is a boy, as I suspect....I've been hearing (from my midwife...I need to do some more research) that there may be a connection for some women between the baby's sex and the mother's post-partum experience, ie depression, etc. Indeed, I can say objectively that I've had a harder time adjusting and feeling good after the births of my sons.

Anyway, considering that I'm already having a hard emotional time with this pregnancy/baby, I suspect that I should take every measure possible to protect against PPD.

And although I've always had an easy time with recovery from birth (physically speaking, that is), with four other very active kids to care for, I figure anything that even has the potential to help with the healing process is worth a try!

[hapersmion]

I think I could probably bring myself to eat it - raw meat of any kind is pretty gross when you sit down and look at it! (Ever looked at a raw slice of liver?)

But I want to donate mine for stem cells, like we did last time.

[Lillypop]

eating it raw, immediately after birth (well, once it's out and the cord's stopped pulsing and been cut and all that), as much as I can...like all the other animals out there do it! doing a UC, DH probably won't be here, it'll just be me and the doula and a friend to watch DS...and they all know and support my plan to eat it.

[NicoleS]

Originally Posted by Helsie

I am the only one who finds the placenta eating concept just stomach-turning? If I was speaking American I would say it "completely grosses me out". Maybe it's because I am vegetarian. I have never even heard of it before I started reading this discussion board. I think I need educating; is it a common thing? Does it really have benefits?

Me! And I'm no vegetarian. But I also can't even bring myself to taste my own boob juice either. Body fluid thing I guess. Something that comes out of me should not go back in to me. I've also not had any of the issues that placenta eating is supposed to "cure" so am a little skeptical as to the effectiveness of it...

Originally Posted by hapersmion

But I want to donate mine for stem cells, like we did last time.

Here too - we've donated cord blood with all three kids and plan to do so again if we are able.

[NicoleS]

Originally Posted by Lillypop

eating it raw, immediately after birth (well, once it's out and the cord's stopped pulsing and been cut and all that), as much as I can...like all the other animals out there do it! doing a UC, DH probably won't be here, it'll just be me and the doula and a friend to watch DS...and they all know and support my plan to eat it.

Ok...one question here - I thought animals did it because of the whole keeping their nest clean thing and avoiding any smells that might attract predators?

[SheBear]

Originally Posted by NicoleS

Ok...one question here - I thought animals did it because of the whole keeping their nest clean thing and avoiding any smells that might attract predators?

That's one reason, but only one....My mw and I were just talking about this, and she was telling me that there have been studies showing that if animals are not allowed access to the placenta, they exhibit signs of emotional distress, more often reject their babies, more frequently have physical problems recovering from the birth, have lowered milk supply, and even in some cases have lessened fertility later!

I'll see if she has specifics about the studies she mentioned and post it here later if I can remember.

[NicoleS]

Originally Posted by SheBear

That's one reason, but only one....My mw and I were just talking about this, and she was telling me that there have been studies showing that if animals are not allowed access to the placenta, they exhibit signs of emotional distress, more often reject their babies, more frequently have physical problems recovering from the birth, have lowered milk supply, and even in some cases have lessened fertility later!

I'll see if she has specifics about the studies she mentioned and post it here later if I can remember.

Interesting, I hadn't heard that - I always thought it was a cleanliness issue.

Though if eating your placenta improves your fertility, I need to stay far, far away from mine, LOL.

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

Originally Posted by folkgirl

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

I love this. We used to do SAR with our Shepherd - this hadn't occurred to me!

We will either leave it at the hospital (no idea about regulations at this point - will ask the midwives at our next appointment) or will bury eat. My poor husband, I would imagine burying will freak him out - eating would put him over the edge LOL!

[Rikki Jean]

We still have our first two in the freezer. After DS1 was born, when people would come over to see him or bring meals, DH would bring it out and say, "Does anyone want some steak?" One day, we'll bury them...one day.

I'm highly considering encapsulation. I'm a die-hard meat-eater, but I have a really hard time with the idea of eating my placenta. The thought of encapsulation doesn't gross me out though.

I had baby blues after DS1, and I really think that I was bordering on PPD with DS2, so I am all for consuming all kinds of placental benefits this time around!

Originally Posted by Helsie

I am the only one who finds the placenta eating concept just stomach-turning? If I was speaking American I would say it "completely grosses me out". Maybe it's because I am vegetarian. I have never even heard of it before I started reading this discussion board. I think I need educating; is it a common thing? Does it really have benefits?

It grosses me out thinking about myself eating it, and I am faaar from being veggie. However, I know that it's something that traditional cultures have been doing forever, and that mammals do everyday.

Originally Posted by SheBear

Anyway, considering that I'm already having a hard emotional time with this pregnancy/baby, I suspect that I should take every measure possible to protect against PPD.

This is a good point. I'm an emotional wreck this time around, and I've been wondering how much worse it might be after the baby comes. I think you've helped me make a 100% decision!

[MommaSomeday]

I am another one who says the idea of eating is something I just can't wrap my head around. I could maybe manage encapsulating it - though I don't do that great with pills, either.

Anyone have suggestions on DIY kits or online instructions for encapsulation? have any of you ever done it yourself?

[Rikki Jean]

Originally Posted by MommaSomeday

Anyone have suggestions on DIY kits or online instructions for encapsulation? have any of you ever done it yourself?

A friend told me about this site: http://placentabenefits.info/services.asp They sell the kits, and they have "specialists" that can do it for you. I haven't used them, and I'm still checking out the site, so don't count my reference as an endorsement.

[moondiapers]

Originally Posted by Rikki Jean

A friend told me about this site: http://placentabenefits.info/services.asp They sell the kits, and they have "specialists" that can do it for you. I haven't used them, and I'm still checking out the site, so don't count my reference as an endorsement.

when you ask for info on the best way to get the hospital to release your placenta....they send it in some crazy format that can only be openened in outlook.

[gini1313]

Originally Posted by Perdita_in_Ontario

My poor husband, I would imagine burying will freak him out - eating would put him over the edge LOL!

I have to chuckle a little at the thought of asking my dh to touch it, let alone cut it up for me to eat it.

He got dizzy at both of my births (the first one because it took "so long" that he had "time to see everything" and the second one because it was so quick that he "didn't have time to get used to it.") and is absolutely grossed out by EVERYTHING. I think asking him to look at/touch/cut up my placenta would put him over the edge. Especially if it was because I was gonna eat it!!!

Luckily for him, the idea sort of grosses me out (not touching it or looking at it, but eating it), too, so he is off the hook

[gini1313]

Originally Posted by SheBear

Anyway, considering that I'm already having a hard emotional time with this pregnancy/baby, I suspect that I should take every measure possible to protect against PPD.

Although I have had issues with depression with both of my other pregnancies (and this one too) but never had a problem with PPD... It seems like once the baby comes out, I am all good, it is just the hormones during pregnancy that make me blue