Has anyone done this? I know it might sound bizarre and icky to some and completely normal to others. I am interested in doing it after the amazing things I've read about it, but I would love to hear people's thoughts on it--especially if you've done it or know a lot about it!
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I'm not interested in it, but I understand the appeal. If you are considering it, I found this article interesting- it's against eating the placenta, but I think it's important to read things on both sides besides Oh it's great or Ew it's gross!
http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/i-regret-eating-my-placenta/ -
Thanks for posting that article - it's the first anti-placenta encapulation story I've ever read. I was starting to think I'd talk to my Dh about it, knowing full well he would freak the F out. I might still consider it but research is never a bad idea.
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A blog that I follow did this. Here are two of the posts talking about her plans to encapsulate the placenta, and then one after the baby was born talking about it again.
http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2012/03/babyhtp-27-weeks.html
http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2012/06/mind-and-body-after-babyweek-1.html
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I experienced the same negative effects as the woman in the NYTimes article. My husband was very scared for me and after 6 days or so I stopped the pills cold turkey and was pretty much immediately better. That being said, every woman is different. I was very "pro placenta" an wasn't grossed out at all it just didn't work for me. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I had an "older" placenta (11 days overdue)
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I didnt do it, I;ve heard negative things about using placenta after my friend had a hair treatment that contained placenta. I heard its been linked to aggravating certain types of cancers. I dont know how true this is.
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Is this eating the placenta? If so, no way jose.
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@highwire: That's how I first heard about it too.
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Wow...thanks for this post. I had considered this, even though I don't really "want" to do it. It's great to hear actual stories. I never thought about the fact that it's unregulated. That does kind of scare me (as does carrying my placenta out of the hospital).
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@maybebaby: Here are a few blog posts about it!
http://www.hellobee.com/2012/02/01/placenta-encapsulation/
http://www.hellobee.com/2012/05/23/placenta-encapsulation-2/
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@regberadaisy: haha, the placenta is made into capsules, so it is ingested but not like chewed and eaten lol
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@Mrsbells: haha - still no.
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@Foodnerd81: @highwire: thanks for the articles!
@anacarlin: Thank you for sharing your story--that must have been very scary.
@regberadaisy: I wouldn't eat it, but I am interested in researching getting it encapsulated (into pill form)
@mrbee: thank you! reading now.
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@regberadaisy: lol! I dont blame you
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Yep!
As a doula I offer this service to my clients. My husband will be encapsulating mine for me at home - he's seen me do it and the process isn't too complicated, so he's on board with doing it himself. I'll supervise from the couch and give advice as needed... lol -
@Foodnerd81: I found this article somewhat odd, because I don't use "cleansing herbs" or any herbs for that matter, when I encapsulate a placenta. I completely understand people being uncomfortable with taking a pill with unidentified herbs - I would be too!
My pills are 100% placenta, unless I'm doing it at the Mama's house and the smell bothers her, in which case I might add a slice of lemon and a chunk of ginger root just to take care of the scent while cooking. I would certainly never put something in the pills without the Mama knowing exactly what is in there. -
@Arden: Your way sounds a lot better than in the article I posted (well, article is too official-- blog post). I would feel a lot more comfortable with it the way you describe it. I guess the thing is, how would a new mom know one way or another, unless they already KNEW to ask what was going in it. Have you heard of other doulas you know adding things or does everyone you know do it the same way? Maybe the doula in the blog was just weird?
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@Arden: Oh, and i just pictured my husbands reaction if I asked him to encapsulate my placenta! It took a little bit of effort to explain that a 'midwife' isn't just for hippies, to give you an idea of what I'm working with! Good for your husband knowing how to do it (with direction)!
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@Foodnerd81: I have heard of some doulas adding herbs (but they always disclosed exactly what they were to the Mama), but most of the ones I know just use the placenta alone.
As a pregnant Mama myself, I certainly wouldn't be comfortable with someone adding things to my placenta pills without my knowledge and consent.
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@Foodnerd81: Haha, well a couple years ago he might have reacted the same way, but after years of being around pregnancy and birth and placentas and everything else, he is desensitized. lol
He thinks of it as making jerky - you slice up some meat, dehydrate it.. and then you throw it in a coffee grinder to make it a powder and use a machine to encapsulate it. He'll probably wear gloves, but he doesn't think it's any more gross than regular meat. Did I mention he's a lifetime vegetarian as well?
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I hate to share without citing.. but I honestly don't remember what book I read it in. The author wasn't arguing for or against, but pointed out that some doctors think the placenta is full of stress hormones and adrenaline from delivery, and that ingesting it subjects you to all of it again.
I personally won't be doing it, but I hope that if you decide to, it helps you!
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Bumping this thread! Now that we're nearing the 2nd half of the pregnancy, I've been thinking about everything we can do post-partum. Placenta encapsulation (pure, no herbs) is towards the top of my list of possible measures I'll take for a better recovery.
I'd love to hear more about ladies who have done this recently. Do you think it worked? Even if it was a placebo effect (not saying it is), and was it really hard to swallow the pills (I'm a little queasy thinking about it).
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I've done it twice, once almost 5 years ago and the second time 11 months ago. Would do it again in a heartbeat if we have another. I can't stress how much it helped! Next time we'll also make a tincture (I can't believe we forgot to do that this last time!). I think it worked and it looks just like any other herbal pill (It's all ground up and stuff) so it wasn't hard to swallow at all.
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@Vegmama: I did it pure, we made them ourselves, and O totally think it worked. I'll be doing it again next time.
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I'm considering doing it for my next pregnancy, but DH made me promise not to tell anyone IRL because he thinks it's too 'out there' for our circle! lol!
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