What are you doing with your placenta? - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[jodieanneanton]

I don't know what I am doing with it... but honestly, I just. can't. consume. it.  I will either bury it or have the midwife "dispose" of it however she does that.  I just figured I'd speak for "the other side."

[ClumsySugarPlum]

First time around, we let the hospital dispose of it. I just figured I had enough to wrap my head around as it was. This time around, I'm feeling more open-minded, and since discovering I'm anemic, maybe this might help my recovery. That being said.... I get grossed out just pulling the meat off of the Thanksgiving turkey, so.... I hope we can find someone to help...

[Melany]

Originally Posted by jodieanneanton 

I don't know what I am doing with it... but honestly, I just. can't. consume. it.  I will either bury it or have the midwife "dispose" of it however she does that.  I just figured I'd speak for "the other side."

I'm kind of with you. I can't even stomach meat on the bone, let alone eating this. I know it's good for you, but I will not be able to get my head wrapped around that one. 

A friend of mine who had a home birth in 2003 buried hers under the root ball of a tree they planted in their back yard. I kind of like that, where you can look at the tree and imagine the food you've provided for that tree to sprout in honor of the baby, but I'm really not sure I want to keep it in the freezer until the ground thaws enough for that one.

[scruffy too]

I, too, can't eat meat off the bone.  I can barely eat meat normally.  I want to eat it, but I think I would need more support than I feel in place - like someone who believes it's a good idea rather than a gross one - and that's not going to happen.  I'm perfectly content to freeze it until I'm able to plant a tree.  I'm quite worried about PPD though, and I guess if the placenta's just hanging out in the freezer, I can always change my mind and try to consume some.  But my current plan doesn't involve consuming.

[beautifulnm]

I can eat meat off the bone, and love a bloody steak.. and feel it could be great IN THEORY because of anemia and my hopes to ward off PPD.. but I don't think I'll be taking it home in a doggy bag and haven't heard/seen any encapsulation services available here. I can just see a placenta in the freezer next to DH's frozen eel and squid for bait. Oops, took the wrong one........ Yeah.

[cocoanib]

Everyone's reaction to consuming placenta are so interesting.

We are a veg*n family and so don't deal with animal meat at all.

You would think that slicing up placenta and consuming it would gross me out, but I actually find it comforting!

The only thing that does bother me a bit is the steaming process when some clients want the TCM method.

[LightForest]

cocoanib, i'm right there with you. our home has been meat free for over a decade. but for some reason eating my raw placenta doesn't bother me (as long as it's cut into small bits and frozen!). the idea of preparing then eating cooked placenta does, however, squig me out a little.

[cocoanib]

Originally Posted by LightForest 

cocoanib, i'm right there with you. our home has been meat free for over a decade. but for some reason eating my raw placenta doesn't bother me (as long as it's cut into small bits and frozen!). the idea of preparing then eating cooked placenta does, however, squig me out a little.

Odd that it's the cooking part that get's to us :)

[withlittlelungs]

I'm being told that since I am having multiples, my placenta is automatically sent to pathology and will not be released to me. I am super upset. I contacted the doula doing my encapsulation asking her if there is anything I could do and i'm going to talk to my OB about it (but I'm not sure if he will be willing to help). 
The filing fees to get a court order are way too high for that to be a possibility. The whole situation really pisses me off. It is MINE. To tell me that it is just protocol and therefore they are taking it is not something that I agree with. 
They are taking the piece of me that kept my babies alive for 9 months and it is making me extremely emotional. 

[beautifulnm]

I wonder what the reasoning is for it going to pathology.. Is this just a hospital policy?

[jodieanneanton]

Oh, withlittlelungs.  There HAS to be a way around that!  My thought is that maybe it is just protocol, but you should not have to consent to any medical testing... hmmm... I hope you get some answers.

[SamiPolizzi]

I'm definitely going to encapsulate and I might also try to do a few smoothies before that.

For people who have used it in a smoothie before... tell me honestly.... how gross did it taste?

[withlittlelungs]

Originally Posted by jodieanneanton 

Oh, withlittlelungs.  There HAS to be a way around that!  My thought is that maybe it is just protocol, but you should not have to consent to any medical testing... hmmm... I hope you get some answers.

I completely agree. I'm calling risk management in the morning to discuss it with them. Our encapsulator is being incredibly sweet and told me that if I have to get a court order she would encapsulate for the cost of gas. I'm really hoping it doesn't get to that point, but at least I feel like I have someone in my corner!

[cocoanib]

Originally Posted by withlittlelungs 

I'm being told that since I am having multiples, my placenta is automatically sent to pathology and will not be released to me. I am super upset. I contacted the doula doing my encapsulation asking her if there is anything I could do and i'm going to talk to my OB about it (but I'm not sure if he will be willing to help). 
The filing fees to get a court order are way too high for that to be a possibility. The whole situation really pisses me off. It is MINE. To tell me that it is just protocol and therefore they are taking it is not something that I agree with. 
They are taking the piece of me that kept my babies alive for 9 months and it is making me extremely emotional. 

They can just take a piece of it to do testing. If they do need to test for anything. Also, they can just hold it for a day until they see that your babes are healthy and then release it to you. There's no reason that they have to keep your whole placenta if there are no complications that warrant testing.

Originally Posted by SamiPolizzi 

I'm definitely going to encapsulate and I might also try to do a few smoothies before that.

For people who have used it in a smoothie before... tell me honestly.... how gross did it taste?

I didn't even taste the placenta. Just tasted of berries. I did orange juice, mixed berries, placenta and ice.

The only time I may have detected something was when DH made it for me. It was either lot's of placenta or the taste of floradix I had him add in. It came out too irony tasting.

[sunshinelove]

Oh no, Ellie, I'm so sorry . That is really, really awful. I hope you can figure out a way to demand they give it to you. Maybe speak to an attorney? You dont have to hire him/her but at least you'll get a better sense of your options. I'll be thinking of you!

[Melany]

Ellie, have you heard anything? Also, who was the person that told you it was an absolute "no?" Was it some random, insensitive comment from the nurse, or your doctor? Or, the hospital? And, what on earth do they test for with the placenta? Have they outlined what these "tests" are and why they are not only medically necessary, but where the list is that outlines these? You should be able to refuse any routine medical test. 

[SlimP]

Whaaat? Protocol or not, your placenta is your property. As Melany said, perhaps the person you spoke to was particularly insensitive and there is a way around it. Don't get upset until you know for sure.

[withlittlelungs]

Originally Posted by Melany 

Ellie, have you heard anything? Also, who was the person that told you it was an absolute "no?" Was it some random, insensitive comment from the nurse, or your doctor? Or, the hospital? And, what on earth do they test for with the placenta? Have they outlined what these "tests" are and why they are not only medically necessary, but where the list is that outlines these? You should be able to refuse any routine medical test. 

I put a call in to risk management this morning, but the lady had to check with someone else because she isn't familiar with the policy. I'm waiting to hear back from her, but won't be surprised if I don't. 
My OB didn't know anything about the policies except for the fact that pathology always takes the placenta after twin deliveries. Since he didn't know much, I called the L&D charge nurse and talked to her. She said the same thing as my OB. And I asked if they could take a piece of it and she said they take the entire thing.
If I wasn't having twins, there would be no issue. Once the placenta is birthed it would be passed to whoever I designated, and then they would need to get it off of hospital premises by the time I was moved to my PP room.
If risk management isn't helpful, I am going to see if I can talk to someone in pathology (I might just call them in a minute anyway). I am going to ask why they are taking it. 
I just read the Patient Rights and Responsibilities act that they gave me and found a few things that might work to my advantage. 

• Refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law
• Regard participation in data-gathering as voluntary and feel free to refuse to participate without compromising access to current or future care 

When I googled it, I found that twin placentas were examined for data-gathering. So if I can get someone to admit to that, I should be able to refuse. 

I also have the number for Family Advocacy. They will be my last resort before seriously looking into filing for a court order. 

I will keep you all updated. Going to see if I can get on the phone with someone from pathology right now. 

[scruffy too]

WLL - Good luck - I'll be sending good thoughts your way!!  It doesn't seem right that they would need the whole thing, like coconib said, why not just a piece?  I'm sorry this is causing you stress.

[withlittlelungs]

The person I talked to in pathology said it was per doctor's orders. I'm not sure if she knows what she is talking about, just because both my Dr and the charge nurse said "pathology always takes it". And my doctor has delivered multiples at this hospital plenty of times. 
I emailed my doctor about it and asked if he would be able to help me at all. He said, "if pathology doesn't care, we will release it to you". 

Well great, but how am I supposed to find out beforehand if pathology cares or not?!