Is it safe to consume my placenta?
A study published in 2018 showed levels of arsenic, cadmium, iron, lead, selenium & mercury found in placenta samples to be below EU toxicity thresholds for foodstuffs. Your placenta acts as a life supply for your baby during pregnancy & if it were full of toxins this would make a very dangerous organ for your baby to be fed from. The placenta acts as a gateway for nutrient supply to your baby & waste from your baby is passed back to your body to be filtered through your organs.
What are the benefits of placenta consumption?
Whether you choose to encapsulate or use raw pieces in smoothies some anecdotal reports suggest a decrease in postpartum depression, restoration in iron levels, promotion of milk supply, decreased bleeding after birth, stabilization of hormones/mood, increased production of oxytocin, & more.
Are there circumstances when I should NOT consume my placenta?
Yes. If your placenta is sent to pathology for any reason I do not recommend consumption due to the risk of contamination. It is possible for hospital staff to swab or a sample of the placenta in your room if you request for that alternative & then freeze your placenta until the results come back. A few other instances would be if your placenta is not stored properly after birth, HIV or Hep B/C positive, & uterine or placental infection.
What’s the evidence on placenta consumption?
Will I taste the placenta if I do a raw smoothie?
Nope! The smoothies I make for my clients taste of nothing but fruit & berries. I give the option of three different flavors for your smoothie. I always use organic ingredients!
Can I still consume my placenta if I have a medicated birth?
100% yes! Be sure to communicate with the birth team that you want your placenta saved & to be put on ice or refrigerated asap.
Can I consume my placenta if I have a cesarean birth?
Again, yes 100%! I recommend placenta consumption even more so if you have a cesarean because there is so much more healing to be had. I also believe that having a smoothie post cesarean can speed up healing time & help you feel better sooner to support a healthier bond with baby.
Which is better, encapsulating or raw consumption?
Both! I like both because the immediate consumption of a raw placenta smoothie will support the body in immediate repair & then consuming the rest in pills. The many potent stem cells & growth factors found in the raw placenta may be the reason so many women report almost immediate reduced blood loss, increased breastmilk production, & increased energy within minutes after enjoying a raw placenta smoothie. Only a small amount of raw placenta (about 3 tbsp) is required & the rest can easily be made into capsules for ongoing benefits from the placenta.
What is the difference between the Simple and the Steamed Method? Which should I choose?
Basically, the placenta is either steamed before dehydrating (Steamed Method) or it is dehydrated from a raw state (Simple Method). The Steamed preparation is loosely based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles, with lemon (grounding), ginger (circulation) & chilli (warming) in the steaming water.
Feedback from mothers is directly comparable for both preparations, so whichever you choose, you end up with very potent capsules.
On a practical level, the Simple preparation tends to yield 10-15% more capsules than the Traditional and the majority of new mothers opt for this preparation.
If you are still stuck on which method to chose there is a helpful blog post linked here.
Do I need to fill out any special forms to release my placenta from the hospital?
It depends where you are birthing. Locally, Essentia Health is requiring a form to be filled out by the birthing person in order to release the placenta to me. St. Luke’s & Cloquet Memorial don’t currently require any special forms to release the placenta. These policies can change though so I would recommend that you ask your provider what is needed for the release of the placenta.
Do you have an agreement letter?
YES. Please be sure to review this document before booking.
What is your “on-call” period like for my estimated due date?
Typically, I like to make sure I’m available a week before & a week after your EDD. I still allow booking close to dates that I’m unavailable but it is important to be aware that I might have to delay pick up or defer service to my back up placenta specialist. If I need to defer pick up it is extremely important to store your placenta properly in the refrigerator within 3 hours of delivery OR in the freezer if pick up is delayed more than 3 days. Again, this is not common & I haven’t had to delay or defer service but I like to be sure to have a plan in place in the case that it does occur.