After you give birth to your baby, you give birth to the placenta that nourished your newborn during his time in utero. A growing number of women are having their placenta processed into pills that they take during the postpartum period. Why on earth would anyone want to ingest their placenta?
A placenta is very rich in nutrients – it is the means by which nutrition from the food that a mother eats during her pregnancy is transmitted to her growing baby. Research has shown that consuming encapsulated placenta can ward off postpartum depression and give new moms an energy boost. Other benefits cited by placenta encapsulation specialists and practitioners of natural medicine include increased milk supply, replenished blood iron levels, and quicker return of the uterus to its prepregnancy size.
Personally, while I had heard of the benefits of consuming encapsulated placenta, I decided not to have mine encapsulated. The first reason is that I am very squeamish, and the very thought made me feel a little green around the edges. The other, and perhaps more important reason from an informational standpoint is that I suffered from preeclampsia during my pregnancy. When a woman has preeclampsia, her placenta is not healthy. It secretes stress proteins, among other things. Even if the thought of consuming my placenta was not unappealing to me, the idea of consuming an unhealthy placenta would be a deal breaker.
If you are curious about placenta encapsulation, check out some of the information online and ask your midwife about it. Be aware that many mainstream medical professionals see no benefit to consuming placenta. Also, some hospitals may have rules about where the placenta goes after it is expelled.
Photo by wintersixfour on morguefile.com.