Week 29: Placental Encapsulation
Posted on | December 6, 2009 | 2 Comments
Wow. I thought I’d heard it all in terms of natural childbirth and all the baby and mom friendly options we pregnant mamas have to think about. In pregnancies past I’ve taken Bradley Method Classes, Hypno Birthing Classes, read Birthing From Within and done prenatal yoga all second and third trimesters long. I’ve used birthing balls, water and birthing bars to help my kids enter the word drug free. My husband was on the receiving end of my first two deliveries. I held each baby on my belly even as the cord still pulsed. We asked to have the eye drops held. I was the first to give each their first bath (an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world) and so on and so on and so on…
But with all the healthy, conscious birthing choices we mamas have to consider… I’ve gotta say, this latest one I’m considering seems the furthest out there (at least upon first talking about it.) It’s definitely the hardest one I’ve come upon for me to admit to considering. It’s placental encapsulation… another way of saying I am seriously considering the health benefits of eating my placenta(s) post delivery of our twins.
I don’t mean I’m going to sit down to a nice placenta steak dinner with onions on the side (though I JUST watched a video of a women doing just that!)… nor am I going to offer it to my husband, family or friends (yes! I also saw this – freaked me out – to each his or her own I always say.) No, What I’m considering is the health benefits of having my placenta turned into powder and encapsulated to take following childbirth. WHY?!?!!?! you ask? Great question.
I know at first it sounds a little freaky. Some of the YouTube videos I watched (mentioned above) just now while doing my research still have my stomach turning. But let me tell you what ELSE I learned before you judge the whole thing as completely wacko, and then if you still find the idea of placental encapsulation insane, let the cannibal comments begin. *wink*
Why? It’s my new friend Sarah. Her personal story has me considering this. A mom of two, Sarah delivered her first vaginally and the second (breech) via cesarean. I asked her if the healing was harder this go around, post c-section. I got this reply via email today and it seriously has me looking into all of this. She wrote:
“I had a wonderful experience taking my placenta capsules… it literally was a night-and-day postpartum experience for me, compared to my first birth when I had severe postpartum depression (PPD). I had SO much energy after this last birth, even though I was recovering from my c/section and was sleep-deprived…”
And I know the PPD following her first had been severe. I know this time around she had the added stress of a first born to tend to on top of a new baby AND abdominal surgery! I also know the odds of reoccurring PPD are high…. and yet, her experience this go around was better?!?!? The only real difference she could attribute this to was the placental encapsulation. So the fact that she had such an amazing experience following her recent delivery and attributes it to the capsules goes a long way with me.
I asked her a lot of questions. She explained how they hired a local women trained in placental encapsulation to transform hers into powder placed into capsules which she then took daily. She said the effects were immediate and undeniable. I asked for the ladies name and number…
So now, sitting here at my computer after hours of research, here is what I have found; the sum total of which, in addition to Sarah’s experience, has me nearly convinced to do this myself:
- The process is about $250.
- The process is fairly simple. I just have to ask the hospital where we’ll be delivering their policies around releasing the placenta. And if I meet any resistance, I’ll have this placenta release legal form ready to go.
- I’m supposed to have my placenta ready for pick up with in 72 hours of delivery.
- The process of making the capsules is not complicated: The placenta is heated at a low temperature (below 100 degrees F) for 8–12 hours, dried, ground up and placed in tasteless capsules. And bonus, I don’t have to DO or SEE any of this…. that is where the $250 comes in. The capsules are just delivered in a pretty blue bottle to me a few days later.
- The placenta is known to contain a high source of iron, protein and hormones. When given in the postpartum period it is thought that these hormones play a large role in preventing PPD (as it did for my friend.) It is also purported to help increase mama’s milk supply. (A good thing when having TWINS!!!)
- Most women takes 2 pills, 3 times/day for the first 5-7 days postpartum. Then, it’s reduced to 2 pills/twice day for a few weeks. And then down to 2 pills a day until they run out.. (Sarah told me her placenta made about 100 pills and lasted her 7 weeks but some people get as many as 200 pills.)
OK, all this said I have not talked to my husband or my doctor about this yet. (I thought I’d tell the free world first!) I’d love to hear from you. How does all this “sit” with you? Does it make your stomach turn just a little bit (as it does mine and I’M the one considering this?!) Have you done this? Known anyone who has? Have you had PPD and would you consider this your next pregnancy?
As I said, I’ll talk to my doctor (ultrasound TOMORROW… so psyched!!) and hubby and get back to you. But here’s your chance to weigh in. I promise not to be insulted… what do you think?
PS: Just fyi, on cord blood banking (which I wrote about week 24) … after much research, we’ve decided to donate our babies’ cord blood a public bank. I hope this becomes a new trend as then we’d all have plenty to turn to if need be.
This Zen Mommy Minute is published in partnership with Due Maternity, a great place for maternity clothes. xoxo
Suzanne Tucker, aka Zen Mommy
In addition to mommying to two magical girls born in 2000 and 2003 and expecting twins in Jan of 2010, Suzanne co-owns a holistic health center with her husband Shawn in St. Louis, Missouri where she practices as a physical therapist, Certified Educator of Infant Massage and health education teacher. Certified in a number of healing and life education approaches, Suzanne offers ongoing tips on parenting and is the co-creator of the Yogi Parenting approach to positive parenting.
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2 Responses to “Week 29: Placental Encapsulation”
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December 6th, 2009 @ 3:45 pm
Week 29: Placental Encapsulation http://bit.ly/6X25Jr
March 8th, 2010 @ 11:23 am
Wow. Good article
RT @babybumpdiaries: Week 29: Placental Encapsulation http://bit.ly/6X25Jr (I am still enjoying benefits of caps)