placenta ingestion

[EMAID]

Ok, next question.

Has anyone ever ingested the placenta after birth? An apprentice that my MW works with knows how to encapsulate it for a fee ($100 I think). I don't think I could take it any other way; I'm a picky eater and it just sounds a little gross to me. (No offense to those who have done it! You have a stronger stomach than I.)

My MW recommended it because I have a history of severe depression, and she said that this can help prevent PPD. I'm definitely interested in doing it if it really can help me either avoid needing to take antidepressants, or at least prolong the amount of time I go without them.

Anyone done this?

[chellebee]

Absolutely--for myself and clients. Go for it, it is totally worth it!

And $100 is a good price.

[PoppyMama]

I drank chunks of it raw blended to a shake with berries and milk. I couldn't taste it at all that way.

[AmyKT]

I'm taking capsules right now and I feel great at one week pp. I was severely anxious, if not depressed after my first, and I've had none of that this time. I also have prior history of depression.

Granted, this baby is far easier than my first was and it's not quite as much to adjust to, but the fact that I've had NO baby blues may very well be attributable to the placenta capsules, so I say definitely go for it. Fwiw, I'm also taking high dose of fish oil caps, which I think also helps.

[Juvysen]

It's not hard to encapsulate it yourself... that's what we did. We did it according to the rules of chinese medicine. You can find instructions online...

[hotharmony]

I'm planning on encapsulating my placenta myself as well, it took a long time for my milk to come in with my first and its supposed to help with that as well.

[Dmitrizmom]

I ate part of mine raw, plain and washed it down with water. No big deal... but I also like steak medium rare.

I wish that we had encapsulated the part that I didn't eat.

[EMAID]

Thanks! I think I'm just gonna suck it up and pay the $100. I'm afraid if I tried to do it myself I'd either mess it up or just never get around to it with a new baby. And while I'd be willing to try to eat it, I think I'd feel weird just knowing what I was eating and probably dislike it. I'm too picky. Encapsulated it would just be another pill to add to my regimen.

I do take Trader Joe's Omega 3's too, which I added as I weaned off my antidepressant during the first trimester. It's an absolute miracle that I have done so well with my depression throughout my pregnancy.

One more question: How many capsules does one typically get from a placenta? My PPD didn't kick in with #1 until she was about 4 months old (and continued through #2).