You want me to consume WHAT!?!?

 

When people hear that I encapsulate placentas they usually just give me a blank-faced stare.  You do...what now??!  It takes them a moment to realize that I am serious.  To be honest, I used to have that same reaction.  Why on EARTH would any human being EAT THEIR PLACENTA?!?!  Well...for starters we are mammals.  All mammals eat their placenta.  Why do they do this?  Why don't animals bury it in the ground and simply get rid of it?  Well, God created the placenta not just for baby but for mama too!  There is so much nutrition and essential hormones in the placenta and it is vital to our recovery, and the health of our newborn.

Here are just a few of the healing abilities the placenta has:

*it balances your hormones

*enhances your milk supply

*increases your energy

*helps you recover quickly after birth

*brings your body back into balance

*knocks out the "baby blues" 

*shortens postpartum bleeding

*assists the  uterus to return to size

*increases your postpartum iron levels.

If you are wondering how this is possible...check this out!  Here are some of the healing nutrients found in the placenta:

Gonadotrophin: the precursor to estrogen, progesterone and testosterone,

Prolactin: promotes lactation,

Oxytocin: for pain and bonding; produced during breastfeeding to facilitate bonding of mother and infant. In pharmaceutical form this is a very addictive drug because it promotes a feeling of connectedness with others,

Thyroid stimulating hormone: boosts energy and helps recovery from stressful events,

Cortisone: combats stress and unlocks energy stores,

Interferon: stimulates the immune system to protect against infections,

Prostaglandins: anti-inflammatory,

Hemoglobin: replenishes iron deficiency and anemia, a common postpartum condition,

Urokinase inhibiting factor and factor XIII: stops bleeding and enhances wound healing,

Gammaglobulin: immune booster that helps protect against postpartum infections. 

There are several different ways you can consume your placenta

*Raw Smoothies

*Cooked (and eaten like meat)

*Encapsulated into pills

*Made into a tincture

The most popular way to consume the placenta is by encapsulation.  I use Traditional Chinese Medicine method to gently steam, dehydrate, powder and encapsulate the placenta.   I use some healing herbs during the steaming process to enhance the warming and healing properties of the placenta.  Once the placenta is steamed, I place it in a dehydrator.  Dehydrating it at a low temperature allows all of the amino acids, nutrition and hormones to remain.  Next, toss into my food processor along with some more healing herbs.  Once it's ground into a fine powder I put the powder into the capsules.  The amount of pills varies on the size of the placenta but it averages between 80-150 (I have had a placenta that made well over 200!).  I advise that the capsules be kept in the freezer. 

I also have the option to add some healing herbs specifically geared to optimal healing of the reproductive, urinary, & circulatory systems.  I like to discuss your labor and delivery and then personalize the herbs based on the needs of your body.

For the record, yes!  I have consumed my own placenta.  After the birth of my daughter I chose to freeze my placenta.  My initial intention was to bury it under a tree.  After doing MUCH research, I decided to encapsulate it.  And I am SO thankful I did!  I was so surprised at the amount of energy I got simply by taking these every day!  And to a mom of FOUR kids...that was great!!  There was a clear difference in my energy level and my emotions on the days that I took them and the days that I did not.  

I highly recommend placenta encapsulation to ALL moms.  Even if you never suffered from postpartum depression you will still benefit from consuming your placenta!   If you have any questions on placenta encapsulation please feel free to email me at:

Kathy@sbsdoula.com