What to do with the remainder of my placenta

[KSDoulaMama]

After my baby was born, I cut my placenta into pieces and froze the bits in ice cube trays to use in smoothies. The bits filled three trays. I used 1-2 pieces in smoothies almost every night for four weeks when I no longer felt like my hormones were quite so crazy, and I didn't need the smoothies any more. This used up two of the trays. My baby is almost 3 months old and I've been feeling great, but I still have one whole tray of placenta bits left. Anyone have a suggestion of what I might do with them? Can they go in my compost heap for my garden? Would it be beneficial for me to consume it in some way still? I did the smoothies for a month for the benefits but I am NOT willing to go that route any more because honestly, I think it's gross.

[dachshundqueen]

Suggestion

I donated my second child's placenta to a local canine search and rescue group that uses the placenta for dog training (to find lost people and the deceased). I intend to donate my third in the same manner. An entire placenta provides about 6 months worth of training material for the dog.

I didn't want to eat my placenta and DH really didn't want buried placenta in the garden or compost pile; we have enough varmint problems.

Liz

[terra-pip]

I've never done anything with my placentas, but I have a friend who buried hers with a special tree for her two children. I loved that idea. Seems the hole would be deep enough and have sapling roots over it so animals shouldn't be a problem.

[megan sacha]

Originally Posted by dachshundqueen

I donated my second child's placenta to a local canine search and rescue group that uses the placenta for dog training (to find lost people and the deceased). I intend to donate my third in the same manner. An entire placenta provides about 6 months worth of training material for the dog.

I didn't want to eat my placenta and DH really didn't want buried placenta in the garden or compost pile; we have enough varmint problems.

Liz

I've never heard of this before. How do you find out about it?

[broodymama]

I'm in a similar position with (the remainder of) DS2's placenta, I think I'm just going to bury the rest. One day. Maybe when I get around to burying 4 year old DD1's placenta that is still in the freezer.

Originally Posted by dachshundqueen

I donated my second child's placenta to a local canine search and rescue group that uses the placenta for dog training (to find lost people and the deceased). I intend to donate my third in the same manner. An entire placenta provides about 6 months worth of training material for the dog.

I did this with DS1's placenta (hospital birth, non-crunchy area, had never heard of smoothies or encapsulation), I was really happy to do this! Some of the SAR dogs that were trained with his placenta were later used for rescue/retrieval after Katrina. A friend of mine was one of the trainers, she happened to attend my birth so she just left with the placenta as a parting gift.

[terra-pip]

What do they do with placentas to train canines?

And what is encapsulation and smoothies?

[KSDoulaMama]

Originally Posted by terra-pip

What do they do with placentas to train canines?

And what is encapsulation and smoothies?

I don't know about the dogs, but encapsulation is when the placenta is dried and ground into a powder and then put into capsules to be taken in pill form to help with postpartum issues. I actually made regular smoothies to drink with yogurt, soymilk, and frozen fruit and added a small piece of the raw placenta to each one. Sounds icky but I think it really helped and I had neither the energy to encapsulate my own nor anyone in my area who I could hire to do it for me.

[EdnaMarie]

Originally Posted by dachshundqueen

I donated my second child's placenta to a local canine search and rescue group that uses the placenta for dog training (to find lost people and the deceased). I intend to donate my third in the same manner. An entire placenta provides about 6 months worth of training material for the dog.

I didn't want to eat my placenta and DH really didn't want buried placenta in the garden or compost pile; we have enough varmint problems.

Liz

Well, this is an amazing idea. I admit I was just curious but I commend you for going out of your way like that.

We used ours as fertilizer for a special tree.