Eating your baby’s placenta after giving birth is nothing new. Ancient cultures traditionally dried out the placenta and steam cooked it. In China, they even prepared it with lemon and green chilli.
Nowadays, many women decided to have their placenta made into capsules.
An increasing amount of new mums believe that the nutrients from their baby’s placenta can:
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prevent and treat post-natal depression
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help heal after a physically traumatic birth
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help replace nutrients lost from breastfeeding
Ten years ago the practice of consuming the placenta after birth was almost unheard of, but after celebrities admitted they had their placenta made into pills and waxed lyrical about the alleged health benefits it has become much more common.
Despite women claiming that taking their placenta in pill form has enabled them to beat depression and heal after labour, many doctors remain sceptical. Medical experts on US TV show ‘Doctors’ say there is ‘no scientific evidence’ that eating placenta can aid post-partum health issues.
However, this has not hindered women from trying out the alternative, self-grown supplement.
Tara Rivero Zea- who works as an acupuncture specialist in London and Essex- has had positive experiences taking placenta pills and recommends it highly to any expectant mums.
She told us: “Placenta encapsulation is many thousands of years old. Its an ancient Traditional Chinese remedy and is amazing for restoring energy levels after birth and replenishing lost iron stores as well other important vitamins such as Vitamin B6. Placentas contain stem cells which can really help to boost milk production. Women who take the placenta remedies report having much more energy, milk coming in sooner and having less mood swings after birth.
“I can personally vouch for it as I encapsulated my own placenta after the birth of the first my third child and I was amazed at the difference it made. I had a smoothie and the capsules was up and about the day after giving birth and felt so much better than I had after my first 2 deliveries. I wish I had known about it sooner. With 2 other children and a small baby to look after I really needed to have all the energy I could and placenta encapsulation really helped.”
The Placenta Network’s information sheet on placenta encapsulation states: “Studies have proven that the symptoms of post natal depression are linked with the severe lack of essential nutrients such as vitamin B6 and hormone CRH (our stress reducer hormone), both which are of high supply in the placenta.
“Consuming the placenta in raw smoothies or in capsules is thought to nourish the mother, replacing lost essential nutrients and hormones following birth and may entirely prevent the baby blues and post natal depression.”
With the Kardashians, Natasha Hamilton and actress January Jones championing placenta pills, would you do the same? Let us know in the comments box below.