eating the placenta?

[ChristmasTree]

can someone enlighten me in why this is done exactly? it made my stomach turn...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ijf5vAko4o

i first saw it in this birthing video, she ate a chunk of her placenta raw at the end of the vid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9UgVG0X2sg

[tabatha]

I have NOOOO idea, i'm NOT going to look at those links, but i'm sure you could google for the answer! if there is one.

[Sputterduck]

I find it disturbing. I really do. I first heard of it at the mothering.com forums.

[QuiltyConscience]

nope. No interest in doing that. ever.

[ChristmasTree]

yeah, i was just like...really sickened... but they made it seem so normal!

[Rieckah]

I think it is supposed to help with helping the bleeding stop or preventing infection...something. There *is* a reason.

[QuiltyConscience]

Okay I watched one of the videos and I am icked out by the dad sitting in the birthing pool with the placenta and stuff. IDk, not my thing.

[Sputterduck]

I think people do it for iron replacement from the loss of blood during birth, but... yeah...

[QuiltyConscience]

and dad just walking around naked?

[QuiltyConscience]

lol, "hey sarah, you want your placenta with membrane or without?"

[QuiltyConscience]

Oh My. In the first video somebody cools up the placenta, makes a Pate and served it to guest on crackers. They knew what it was and ate it.

There's a lot of things I can shrug off, but that's damned weird.

[ChristmasTree]

lol, "hey sarah, you want your placenta with membrane or without?"

yeah, i was like, wow, they act like it is a cracker with cheese or with out! really! i don't understand. it makes me want to never eat meat again! haha

[ChristmasTree]

Oh My. In the first video somebody cools up the placenta, makes a Pate and served it to guest on crackers. They knew what it was and ate it.

There's a lot of things I can shrug off, but that's damned weird.

yeah, that was...um, very interesting....to say the least...

[tabatha]

mmmm yummy! would you like some wine with that? perhaps some cheese as well.

[QuiltyConscience]

I think it is supposed to help with helping the bleeding stop or preventing infection...something. There *is* a reason.

but why would one feed it to nonbirthing guests?

[hidesome]

I made jerky and took it to work.

[ChristmasTree]

I made jerky and took it to work.


you are freaking kidding me right?? please say you are!?!

[bocarioja]

Nothing warms yer innards like a pipping hot bowl of Placenta Chilli...

[Sputterduck]

you are freaking kidding me right?? please say you are!?!


Of course he is.

[bocarioja]

Can't you see the chairman on Iron Chef ripping back a sheet to reveal the secret ingredient:

"Plaacentaaaa"

[TuetonicWillow]

Crunchy might be politically correct but fucking ew.

[ChristmasTree]

Can't you see the chairman on Iron Chef ripping back a sheet to reveal the secret ingredient:

"Plaacentaaaa"


hahaha! you are funny! just what i needed tonight! :)

[TuetonicWillow]

"This Top Chef Quick Fire challenge......each of you must cook human placenta into an Asian inspired amuse bouche. You have 30 minutes. Time starts....NOW."

[Miamimama]

I just sat here and watched about 7 births on you tube, lol.
I know in some cultures eatting the placenta is 'just what you do'

[Psyche]

I dried mine and put encapsulated it. Its supposed to help replace nutrients lost in childbirth and help with post partum depression. It can also be used to stop bleeding should someone give birth outside a hospital and not have access to pitocin.

Other indiginous (sp) cultures do it and all other mammels do it.

I personally couldn't eat it but did feel a benefit from supplementing with it.

[Babyhellfire]

I dried mine and put encapsulated it. Its supposed to help replace nutrients lost in childbirth and help with post partum depression. It can also be used to stop bleeding should someone give birth outside a hospital and not have access to pitocin.

Other indiginous (sp) cultures do it and all other mammels do it.

I personally couldn't eat it but did feel a benefit from supplementing with it.

I could see doing that.
i couldn't see eating it. I hear it tastes like liver- ewww.
-but this is coming from someone who doesn't like the taste of meat, so what do i know

[QuiltyConscience]

I made jerky and took it to work.

nutball.

[TuetonicWillow]

My sons would eat it. If it's meat and dried, they eat it. Turkey jerky, ham jerky, beef jerky, deer jerky...hell they'd eat any jerky.

[MrsKitty]

I found this online

Then comes the practice of placentophagia, eating the placenta, is also practiced in some parts of the world. There are even meal like recipes for cooking placentas, including placenta stew, placenta lasagna, power drinks with blended placenta and others. Though some mothers have been reported to eat placenta raw.

There are many reasons listed for eating the placenta, including it helping stem postpartum depression and it supposedly helps to contract the uterus after the birth. We know that many animals eat their own placenta, including as a means to hide the scent from predators.

In our modern world this may seem barbaric and some have even said that this could spread HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis. While this is very true if people other than the mother consume the placenta, normally it is only the mother partaking of the placenta.

In Chinese Medicine, the placenta is known as a great life force and is highly respected in terms of its medicinal value. However, in this field it is not cook, but rather usually dried. To dry a placenta you would simply dehydrate it in the oven, then using a mortar and pestle grind it up. From there you can mix it with food or ingest it within capsules. I have actually known one mother who did this drying technique. It is my only personal experience with placentophagia.

[ChristmasTree]

I found this online

Then comes the practice of placentophagia, eating the placenta, is also practiced in some parts of the world. There are even meal like recipes for cooking placentas, including placenta stew, placenta lasagna, power drinks with blended placenta and others. Though some mothers have been reported to eat placenta raw.

There are many reasons listed for eating the placenta, including it helping stem postpartum depression and it supposedly helps to contract the uterus after the birth. We know that many animals eat their own placenta, including as a means to hide the scent from predators.

In our modern world this may seem barbaric and some have even said that this could spread HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis. While this is very true if people other than the mother consume the placenta, normally it is only the mother partaking of the placenta.

In Chinese Medicine, the placenta is known as a great life force and is highly respected in terms of its medicinal value. However, in this field it is not cook, but rather usually dried. To dry a placenta you would simply dehydrate it in the oven, then using a mortar and pestle grind it up. From there you can mix it with food or ingest it within capsules. I have actually known one mother who did this drying technique. It is my only personal experience with placentophagia.

hmmm interesting!

[bocarioja]

"This Top Chef Quick Fire challenge......each of you must cook human placenta into an Asian inspired amuse bouche. You have 30 minutes. Time starts....NOW."


Eh eh... Bouche...

I hope they're all trained chefs. Cooks I've worked with in many kitchens would be arranging hot dogs and french bread into pornographic positions.

[bocarioja]

I could see someone making the arguement that if it is good enough to nourish your baby, why isn't it good to nourish humans in general?

I'm not sure that would be enough to make me want to try it, but I can definately see the logic.

[Sputterduck]

I could see someone making the arguement that if it is good enough to nourish your baby, why isn't it good to nourish humans in general?

I'm not sure that would be enough to make me want to try it, but I can definately see the logic.


The placenta itself doesn't nourish the baby, the blood running through it does. It's not like the baby eats it in any way whatsoever.

[HammBugga]

I didn't watch the videos but just reading this thread makes me want to vomit.

[bocarioja]

The placenta itself doesn't nourish the baby, the blood running through it does. It's not like the baby eats it in any way whatsoever.

Provides the means for nourishment.

Semantics.

Is the blood still present when the placenta is ingested?

[Sashahomeschoolmama]

A lot of women eat their placenta or, in my circle, dry it and encapsulate it to help prevent and/or treat PPD.

It can also prevent or stop hemmorhage.

[Sashahomeschoolmama]

In Chinese Medicine, the placenta is known as a great life force and is highly respected in terms of its medicinal value.

This is how I view the placenta. It's my son's first organ, nourishing him for nine months. It doesn't contain my DNA; it contains his.

It's pretty fucking amazing, if you ask me.

[PSMommy]

Ok,not good to read this thread with morning sickness!

[RedMamaBear]

This is how I view the placenta. It's my son's first organ, nourishing him for nine months. It doesn't contain my DNA; it contains his.

It's pretty fucking amazing, if you ask me.

I'm with Sasha on this one.
Mine is still in the freezer, waiting for a tree.
I don't see the gross factor in this at all, considering a lot of the crap that's in things like make up and hair care.
Don't want to eat it? Then don't. Someone else may have a different connection to it than you. Not better nor less, just different.
And I wouldn't say it taste like liver, I found it to be much more complex than that. But that's just me.

[Sashahomeschoolmama]

I agree, RMB.

Seryozha's placenta is in the freezer and in the spring I'm going to plant it with a persimmon tree. I'm not sure why, but I feel very strongly that it must be a persimmon tree.

[Joyto5]

I've read up a lot about it the last 3 years. Been playing with the Idea of having mine encapsulated. I have such a rough time with PPD that I'm willing to try anything. My midwife has also used it to help stop hemmoraging. She takes a small piece and the mom holds it under her tongue. She will do it if the Pitocin shot doesn't work. Says it works every time. Haven't done it myself as the shot worked seconds after receiving it.

[Sputterduck]

I agree, RMB.

Seryozha's placenta is in the freezer and in the spring I'm going to plant it with a persimmon tree. I'm not sure why, but I feel very strongly that it must be a persimmon tree.


That's because they are the best fruit. Yummy

[NewMum]

As it relates to breastmilk supply.....

Placentophagia can increase breastmilk production, especially in women at risk for low milk supply

For centuries, the Chinese have consumed the placenta as a way to increase insufficient milk production. In 1954, a study was conducted in which 210 women, expected to have low milk supply, were administered dried placenta. 86% of the mothers noticed a significant increase in milk production (http://placentabenefits.info/medicinal.asp). It follows, therefore, that placentophagia can be beneficial in stimulating breastmilk production, even for mothers who are not at risk for low supply.

Lots of other benefits, too.... read on... http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/289824/placentophagia_benefits_of_eating_the.html?page=2&cat=51

It's interesting, but I don't think I could. Now, encapsulated... maybe. And I'd definitely plant a tree.
I never even got to see mine/ds' after I had him. They put it in a pan and it was gone about a minute later according to DH.
At any rate, I'm glad I finally know what all those pregnancy books were talking about when they mentioned taking it home. : p

[Sym]

I would eat one only if it were thickly coated in chocolate.

If it were, I would not be able to resist.

[Meredith]

I dried mine and put encapsulated it. Its supposed to help replace nutrients lost in childbirth and help with post partum depression. It can also be used to stop bleeding should someone give birth outside a hospital and not have access to pitocin.

Other indigenous (sp) cultures do it and all other mammals do it.

I personally couldn't eat it but did feel a benefit from supplementing with it.

This. I kept mine, planning to encapsulate it, but I was way to preoccupied with the baby to get around to it. I ended up disposing of it. I made a print of it beforehand.

[Meredith]

I'm with Sasha on this one.
Mine is still in the freezer, waiting for a tree.
I don't see the gross factor in this at all, considering a lot of the crap that's in things like make up and hair care.
Don't want to eat it? Then don't. Someone else may have a different connection to it than you. Not better nor less, just different.
And I wouldn't say it taste like liver, I found it to be much more complex than that. But that's just me.

I agree. A lot of Rx drugs are made from animal and human body parts. Premarin, for example, is made from the urine of pregnant mares.

[JudyJudyJudy]

I ingest pig's thyroid every day.

[Meredith]

I ingest pig's thyroid every day.

Armour thyroid? :D I remember when my boss told me what that was made of when I was a pharmacy tech. I wondered why it smelled funky. LOL.

[AlrightyRoo]

I dried mine and put encapsulated it. Its supposed to help replace nutrients lost in childbirth and help with post partum depression. It can also be used to stop bleeding should someone give birth outside a hospital and not have access to pitocin.

Other indiginous (sp) cultures do it and all other mammels do it.

I personally couldn't eat it but did feel a benefit from supplementing with it.
This is what I planned to do last time, but wasn't able to. I plan to this time.

[Babyblue]

eating it raw is a bit squemish for me. however dried and ground and added to things I dont care. and I also dont condone eating anyones placenta other then your own for health reasons.

actualy a lot of old time horse breeders in the pa area would save the mares placenta and slice and fry it like bacon.

[Joyto5]

There are a few women in my area that will process and encapsulate it for the moms here for a fee. I don't have the time or experience to do it myself.

[SemperGumby]

I had plans to make a placenta smoothie and encapsulate it when we were planning DS's homebirth.

We'll be planning a homebirth with the next baby and I'll definitely make it into a smoothie and encapsulate the rest.

[Psyche]

FYI I tried the smoothie and it was down right nasty unless you put a banana in it. THAT masked the flavor. Before though :shudder:

[hidesome]

nutball.

Waste not want not I always say.

[QuiltyConscience]

lol

[JudyJudyJudy]

Armour thyroid? :D I remember when my boss told me what that was made of when I was a pharmacy tech. I wondered why it smelled funky. LOL.
It does smell nasty! I have found that if I get a batch that doesn't smell bad, it isn't fresh and doesn't work well.

[leosmommy]

My SIL is Vietnamese and she talked about bring the placenta home and either eating it or burying it. It was a cultural thing for her. I don't think they ended up doing either because BIL was a little weirded out, and the hospital was going to make it a PIA to do.

[Psyche]

My SIL is Vietnamese and she talked about bring the placenta home and either eating it or burying it. It was a cultural thing for her. I don't think they ended up doing either because BIL was a little weirded out, and the hospital was going to make it a PIA to do.

Yeah I was worried about that too. I got my doctor to sign off saying it didn't have to go to pathology and called the head nurse a couple months before I delivered (she remembered me, lol). I had a speech about my "profound belief" in the "sacred nature" of the placenta (which I don't really believe at all) if I got any flak. I didn't but its my body dagnabit and if I don't want it leaving my site, its NOT.

[pawprint]

DH and were totally fascinated by the placenta. I mean, I grew a whole spare organ and then got rid of it when it's job was done? How freaking cool is that? We poked it and felt it and the like. We didn't eat it. I might try it just to say I did. But I do think it's really interesting.

[Iconoclast]

I don't have a problem with it. I had a bit of one of mine in a bloody mary (heavy on the grey goose, lol) after one of my births since I was bleeding quite a bit. Worked like a charm. and I know several women who have done the same. Placenta chili is a gross thougt though,I'll grant that one! A few of mine have been planted, a few are in the freezer and a few are dried and encapsulated. I am post menopausal now, and I take placenta for related symptoms from time to time. You can buy it from Chinese medicine stores but it is very expensive. I think I recall a bottle of 30 caps being about $100. I'm not certain I'd be comforatable taking anyone elses, but I take mine along with a geritol and don't give it a thought.

[VegasLactivist]

My close friend Jodi Selander does Placenta Encapsulation. It's pretty big here in Vegas. She owns and runs PBi. She does training all over the US.

Placenta Benefits (http://placentabenefits.info/)

I would absolutely ingest placenta capsules were I to have another baby (which I can't). I have seen the HUGE benefits to my clients here.