Placenta eating- my review! Share yours!

[njbeachgirl]

So, after having PPD with my first I decided to eat some placenta this time. I liked the idea of encapsulating it but was pretty sure I wouldn't have time to do it with a newborn and an 18mo, so I asked my MW to cut some up into small pieces for me to swallow like a pill. I swallowed one piece right after the birth, (well after the cord was cut-probably 1 hr after the birth) and then took one in the morning and one in the evening for a week after the birth. We also made a tincture or essence of it which I have been taking 3 times a day.

I have to say, I feel great this time. I don't attribute it solely to the placenta- I also had an easier and more empowering birth experience this time which I think made a big difference-and I have also been taking it easy instead of trying to be superwoman. But besides being a little hormonal and teary on the day my milk came in I have felt FABULOUS and I really do think it's been helpful. I have so much energy and am not even tired, even though DS nurses constantly and I am up with him a lot of the night. Taking the pieces was not gross at all- the only part I think I cannot deal with is actually cutting up the rest should I need it, and surprisingly DH said he would do it

So have any other July mamas decided to do this, and how did you feel about it? :

[Materfamilias]

My jury is still out. I know the hospital staff is gonna freak when I ask to keep the placenta. I'm thinking of burying it rather than eating it. Not sure I could force it down, YKWIM?

[hyz]

I want to keep it, but the Dr. said that the hospital doesn't allow it. I don't think that's true--they may frown on it, but I think they'll allow it. I have to look into it more. I also don't think I could force it down, either in chunk or smoothie form (I'm vegetarian, and even though I obviously have no ethical problem with it, something so "meaty" just kinda gives me the willies), but DH has valiantly agreed to encapsulate it for me, if we can get ahold of it. I'm eager to hear if others have good experiences with it.

[tabitha]

there is a simple form you sign to take home the placenta.

i havent given birth yet this time, but i ate my last one and will again, hopefully soon.

[quarteralien]

Originally Posted by hyz

I want to keep it, but the Dr. said that the hospital doesn't allow it. I don't think that's true--they may frown on it, but I think they'll allow it. I have to look into it more. I also don't think I could force it down, either in chunk or smoothie form (I'm vegetarian, and even though I obviously have no ethical problem with it, something so "meaty" just kinda gives me the willies), but DH has valiantly agreed to encapsulate it for me, if we can get ahold of it. I'm eager to hear if others have good experiences with it.

they have to make allowances for those for whom the placenta has religious significance, so it must be possible.

[delicious]

we put mine in capsules. actually, my midwife came back over and had dd and ds help her cut it up and told them all about how it works and stuff, and then we dehydrated it and put it in capsules. i didn't actually take any until yesterday, though. so i will have to report back about how it's working. i've been pretty hormonal, though.

i had no idea there would be so much.

[mrforbes]

I'm still waiting on baby, but hoping to encapsulate it so keep us posted on how people are feeling with taking the placenta. I'm a FTM but really looking forward to the experience overall and my DP is very supportive of helping me encapsulate it.

Regarding taking the placenta home: there's a website
http://placentabenefits.info/ - that has some info on the legal issues and getting your placenta from the hospital. You need to state, preferably in writing as well, that you have a profound religious belief in the placenta. It also helps to cite the recent case in Nevada where a judge ruled that the placenta belonged to the mother - not to the hospital, and that the hospital had to give it to her. I think citing legal action couldn't hurt. If you know you are going to a hospital I would try and take care of this in advance.

My midwife knows of one woman in our area (NYC) who got her placenta from the hospital lately, they had to get all sorts of weird 'approval' from higher ups in the hospital. I don't think keeping or using your placenta is that common here yet.

[hyz]

Hmm, thanks for the good info on bringing your placenta home from the hospital. My doula said she'd call the head midwife at our hospital and see if she can get a policy statement from her that we can present to the doc. If that doesn't work out, we can start pushing the legal angle. It sounds like we should be able to get it one way or another....

[xixstar]

i wanted to eat mine and just asked dh about it yesterday, I assumed it was in the fridge -- but it got put right in the freezer. Now I'm not sure about getting it out to thaw and then making up the smoothies out of it. I still want to, but it's not a job I want to regulate to dh and right now he's managing all of the meals.

[mtnmiss]

I was able to take my placenta home with dd#1...just had to sign a "biohazardous waste" form! Too funny...We planted ours under a tree that someone gave us for her...

[broodymama]

nak

i feel awesome! friend made me smoothies for3 days, then dried and encapsulated the rest. i had wicked ppd after dd so i'm hoping to avoid that this time. my milk was fully in by 48 hours post-partum instead of the usual 4-5 days. i usually bleed very heavily for 4-6 weeks, now (3 days pp) it is very very light. emotionally and physically i feel great! (dh is still weirded out.

[mossimo12]

My midwives encapsulated mine for me (thank goodness I never would have) I feel great this time. No baby blues like I had last time (though I also don't have the major breastfeeding issues I had last time also. Baby #2 is a breastfeeding champ!).

Sarah

[KindRedSpirit]

xixstar-Is it frozen enough to chip a peice off for a smoothie?

YAY to all you mamma's you've found the magic ingredient to a blissfull post-partum!Congratulations all around!

[thekitchenvixen]

I kept mine in the refrigerator for a few days. Then one night I made placenta prints and cut it up into small pieces (about 30 pieces) and I froze them individually wrapped in tin foil. Now I just take a piece out, unwrap it, and throw it in the blender with frozen fruit and soymilk. You can't even taste it at all! It dramatically improves my mood, thats for sure! :