Consuming raw placenta vs encapsulating?

[sattygirl99]

Okay so fact is, I can't afford another $200 to pay for someone to encapsulate. I don't think DH will be taking any time off other than birth (maybe a day or 2 so that I can work on BFing since we had so much trouble with DD) so he won't have time...

So, I'm considering consuming it raw. I was already planning to consume some of it raw in a smoothie after birth but what do I do with it further?

I have suffered PPD twice (now don't get me wrong, both births were unecessary c-sections and traumatic) and I want to do anything I can to prevent that again.

So... How does one consume the placenta? Do I eat or smoothie the whole thing right away? Cut it and freeze it and consume it once a week, once a month?

Help from those with experience!!

[Maela]

I had my mws cut it up and freeze it. then I made a smoothie with it every day for a week. I had a lot more to use after the week (just didn't feel like I needed anymore), so I'm assuming you could just keep going with the daily smoothies until you run out of placenta.

[mistletoe2382]

Would it be possible to have a friend or family member encapsulate it? That is what I am doing.

[PoppyMama]

I did the smoothie right after the birth and then my dh cut most of the rest into chunks. We kept enough in the fridge for 3 days and froze the rest. Blended with frozen berries and yogurt I couldn't tell it was in there at all so it totally worked for me. I didn't consider encapsulating for long since just the thought of the smell of that was awful.

[AutumnAir]

That's what I'm planning to do too - placenta smoothie straight after birth, then I'll get DH or doula to cut it up for me and freeze it - I guess I can take it straight out of the freezer to blend it, since I can blend frozen berries/ice cubes...

But not sure how to freeze it so it doesn't all stick together? Any ideas?

[1babysmom]

If you really DO want to encapsulate, it's pretty simple. I have done 2 of mine myself- just rinse it, remove cord and membranes, blend it, stick it in the oven at 200 degrees for 4-6 hours, then grind it up in a food processor or coffee grinder. I even fill the capsules by hand- last time I did it all at once and this time I just fill about a weeks worth at a time.

[Nicole730]

I had my parents encapsulate mine this time, but next time I'm going to do smoothies...less work and I honestly couldn't taste it. If I could, there is no way I'd be able to *gag* it down. I had two placenta smoothies this time, but it was being dried before I realized I would have been fine with just the smoothies.

To freeze it so it doesn't sick together, cut the chunks and freeze individually on a cutting board, once frozen, put into a bag.

Oh, and I wouldn't eat it all at once. Especially with a history of PPD. I would probably put a few chunks in a smoothie each day, for a few weeks at least. I am 6 weeks PP and still taking one pill a day.

ETA: Just thought of another way to freeze it, you could blend it and pour it into ice cube trays, then add a cube a day to the smoothie.

[mkmoro311]

I have mine in the freezer from 2 years ago, I wonder if it could help during my next pregnancy! I was keeping it to plant it which has not happened yet.

[micah_mae_]

Originally Posted by Nicole730

ETA: Just thought of another way to freeze it, you could blend it and pour it into ice cube trays, then add a cube a day to the smoothie.

Would the blending and freezing affect the nutrients/hormones more or less than encapsulating?

Also does anyone know how long a placenta will stay "good" in the fridge?

[Nicole730]

Originally Posted by micah_mae_

Would the blending and freezing affect the nutrients/hormones more or less than encapsulating?

Also does anyone know how long a placenta will stay "good" in the fridge?

From what I know about freezing, it is one of the best ways to preserve nutrients. So I think freezing it would be second best to consuming it fresh. I would think it would stay good in the fridge as long as any "meat", and I don't eat meat, so I have no idea what that is.

I think cooking first would take away some of the nutrients, just like cooking vegetables does.

[micah_mae_]

Originally Posted by Nicole730

From what I know about freezing, it is one of the best ways to preserve nutrients. So I think freezing it would be second best to consuming it fresh. I would think it would stay good in the fridge as long as any "meat", and I don't eat meat, so I have no idea what that is.

I think cooking first would take away some of the nutrients, just like cooking vegetables does.

Yeah I think I'm going to leave it in the fridge for a couple days and eat it raw (in a smoothie), then blend and freeze in ice cube trays for the subsequent days.