Your Placenta....It's What's Good for You!!

“You ate your what?!?!”

“Ewwww….that’s gross!!  We’re not animals!”                  

“What are the benefits of doing that?”     

“How do you eat it?”

“Do you have to have a home birth to do that?”

“How do I find someone to help me with it and what does it cost?”

These are the questions/statements I hear most often when people find out that not only do I encapsulate placentas, but that I ate my own!  When people hear about placenta encapsulation, they usually react in one of several ways: 1) Curiosity, 2) Disgust, or 3) Fascination.  I’m going to answer the questions that many people ask when they want to learn more, and then you can decide for yourself if placenta encapsulation is right for you!

“You ate your what?!”

My placenta!  It’s the organ that my body created specifically for the purpose of keeping my child alive and producing beneficial hormones during the months of pregnancy.  It’s actually pretty incredible if you think about it.  The placenta consists of two sides, an amniotic sac and an umbilical cord. 

This first picture is of the fetal side that your baby snuggles up to (his first pillow! ;-) ).  See why they call it the tree of life?  The placenta looks like the branches with all the blood vessels, and the umbilical cord is the trunk of the tree.

The second picture is also of the fetal side, but closer and in color so you can the blood vessels running through it to the cord and into your baby, carrying nutrients, blood and oxygen.   Aren’t the colors pretty and vibrant?

This third picture is of the maternal side that attaches to your uterus.  Nutrients, blood and oxygen come from your body, into your uterus and then transfer to the fetal side through this part.  It definitely looks more “meaty” and less attractive, but it’s important nonetheless!

The fourth picture is of the amniotic sac stretched out so that you can see where your baby was living for the past months (except imagine there was no hole and it was filled with fluid like a big water balloon).  Those amniotic membranes are so strong they can withstand the weight of a 1-2 pound placenta being hung from it like that without breaking!

“Ewwww…..that’s gross!!  We’re not animals!”

Well, actually, we are.  We’re mammals, and oddly enough, the only ones who don’t regularly consume their placentas after birth.  I get that many people think it’s weird and gross to eat a placenta, but no more so than eating organ meat or drinking milk from another animal.  And, you get the added benefit of knowing that your placenta is safe, healthy, free of disease and hormones (so long as you are….it’s only going to be as healthy as you grew it to be). 

“What are the benefits of doing that?”     

Placentophagy (the act of eating a placenta), while relatively new to the United States, has been a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) since the 1500s.  The Chinese regularly use placentas in their medicines for treatment of many reproductive problems or disorders.  While there have been no large human studies performed, animal studies have shown the benefits of ingesting placentas and there are many women who claim it has helped them greatly as well. 

The claimed benefits of placentophagy are:

• helping to balance hormone levels and reduce feelings of depression
• reducing postpartum bleeding
• quicker return of the uterus to pre-pregnancy size
• maintaining or boosting milk production
• increasing iron levels
• increasing libido and energy
• decreasing or halting hair loss

"How do you eat it?”

There are several ways people can ingest their placentas for nutritional benefits: encapsulation, blended in a smoothie, raw or any other way they desire, just depending on the comfort level and convenience the mother desires.   

The raw method came about when a midwife had a mom bleeding too much postpartum, and she cut off a small piece of the placenta and placed it under the tongue of the mother.  The story goes that within minutes, the bleeding had stopped and the mother stabilized.  For women with whom this idea resonates, but who don’t want to actually taste their placenta, they can mix some small chunks of placenta with fruit and blend it into a fruit smoothie to drink within a couple hours of birth.  The taste of the fruit overwhelms any taste from the placenta (especially if you put banana in it).

The other main method is encapsulation.  This involves dehydrating the placenta into thin slices (like beef jerky) and then grinding the pieces into a thin powder to be placed in capsules.  You then take them like regular supplements a couple times a day.  It is important that there be absolutely no moisture present when they are placed into the capsules otherwise that’s when bacteria can grow.  When they are completely dry, bacteria and other organisms cannot survive and that’s what makes it safer for consumption over a longer period of time.

“Do you have to have a home birth to eat your placenta?”

You don’t need to have a home birth, but having an out-of-hospital birth definitely makes it easier.  Midwives typically don’t care what you want to do with your placenta because we consider it to be yours and therefore, it’s your decision.  Hospitals generally see your placenta as biohazard waste material and are very reluctant to release it.  Granted, I’ve had some hospitals just have you sign a waiver and that was it, but others, you had to pay to get a court order, and even then they wouldn’t release it.  If you are planning to have a hospital birth, call them or check with your doctor about the hospital’s policy so that you’re not surprised in the moment.

“How do I find someone and what does it cost?”

This all depends on what you are planning to do with your placenta.  If you are going with the raw method, you don’t need the help of a professional (though I would encourage you to treat yours like any other meat and keep it refrigerated, and know it will only be “good” for a few days).  If you are planning to encapsulate, you can either buy the necessary equipment and do it yourself (or rather find a friend to do it for you since you should be in bed resting!), or you can find an experienced professional.  Finding someone to encapsulate your placenta is generally fairly easy if you live close to a major city since you can google it.  Or ask a friend who has done it before.  Many placenta professionals are also midwives or doulas as well.  The most important thing is to make sure that the person you hire is experienced and very meticulous with cleaning and preparation protocols.  You want to make sure that you’re getting your own placenta and that it was prepared in such a way so that it will be safe for you to take.  Most professionals will charge between $200-$300 depending on the area you live in.

The decision to ingest your placenta isn’t something for everyone, but I think it’s definitely worth looking into and doing your research.  If you live in Lubbock or the surrounding areas, feel free to contact me for placenta encapsulation, I’d be happy to help!

Knowing Your Options & Creating a Birth Plan

Did you know that the average couple spends more time researching what car to lease or what house to buy than they do preparing for the birth of their child?  Don’t be a statistic!  Learn about your options so that you can make the best decisions possible regarding your pregnancy, birth and the start of your baby’s life.  In doing so, you can use these options and the ones that are important to you, to create a birth plan to share with your care provider and your doula to make sure you all are on the same page (and if you’re not, it’s time to think about finding someone who is).  Here are some choices you have that you may have never thought about or known were choices before…

Pregnancy

• Care provider

1. Midwife, nurse-midwife or doctor?

• Setting of prenatal visits

1. In your own home, or at an office or birth center? 
2. Can the time/day be when it is convenient for you and your partner or do you have to change your schedule to fit your provider’s?

• Length of prenatal visits

1. How much time would you like to be able to spend with your care provider? 5 minutes, 30 minutes or as long as you need?

• Laboratory testing (blood and urine)

1. Are you giving your consent and is your provider explaining what each test is for?  Are you being given your options or just being told that you need to do something?

• Ultrasounds

1. Are you having ultrasounds recommended to you only when they are necessary or at each visit to measure “size of baby”?  (Side note: ultrasounds in the 3rd trimester can be off by up to 1-2 pounds when it comes to measuring the size of your baby, so don't let this be the only reason why someone suggests an induction)

• Vaginal exams

1. Rarely are they medically necessary prenatally, so are you requesting one or is your care provider pushing for one? 
2. Is your care provider explaining their reasoning and asking your permission rather than just telling you to strip?

• Induction

1. Is your provider discussing induction when it is not medically indicated (ex: big baby, holiday/dinner/golf time approaching, etc)?
2. How long will your provider "let" you go past your due date before wanting to induce?

• Connection with your birth team

1. Do you feel everyone who will be at your birth is there for YOU and with YOUR best interests at heart? 
2. Do you have a relationship with your provider that makes you comfortable and excited to see them at each prenatal and at the upcoming birth?

Birth

• Location of birth

1. Home, birth center or hospital….hopefully not in a car!

• Who you would like present for your birth

1. See my other blog posting about who to invite to your birth

• Clothing

1. Your own clothing vs. an issued gown

• IV

1. Do you want a routine IV placed in your arm to provide fluids?

• Eating and drinking

1. Did you know that most hospitals don’t allow moms to eat or drink in labor?!  Who would have thought that was a “choice”?  (And no, IV fluids are not the same thing when it comes to caloric intake and providing energy in labor, so don't let anyone fool you otherwise)

• Having your water broken ("artificial rupture of membranes")

1. Ask about the benefits vs. the risks, and make the decision that’s right for you.  Don't be afraid to ask for privacy to talk to your partner alone when making a decision.

• Freedom to move however you’d like in labor

1. Would you like to lie down, walk around, be hands and knees, squat, etc? 

• Intermittent fetal monitoring, instead of continuous monitoring

1. This is very important if you want to be able to move around and have a better chance at an unmedicated or low-intervention labor and birth. (Side note: for moms who are higher risk, this might not be an option for you due to safety concerns for baby)

• Epidural

1. While there are benefits to epidurals and they can be helpful tools in labor, they also carry risks and can create a spiral effect of interventions for your birth (ex: urinary catheter, continuous monitoring, episiotomy, vacuum extraction, c-section, etc).  Be aware of the benefits and risks so that regardless of the outcome, you’re happy with your decision.

• Birthing position

1. Shockingly enough, babies can be born without moms on their backs and their feet in the air! (Though you'll be hard pressed to find a doctor who will agree to any other position)

• Water birth

1. Are you wanting to labor or birth in the water?

• Placenta

1. Would you like to be able to see your placenta? 
2. Are you wanting to take it home to plant or encapsulate?

Baby

• Delayed cord clamping

1. At time of birth, 30-40% of your baby’s total blood volume is still in the cord and placenta, so if your provider clamps the cord right away, your baby will be starting life on only 60-70% of the blood they should have had.  (And this is important for all babies, not just premature ones!)

• Skin-to-skin

1. Do you want to have skin-to-skin with your baby for a minute, 5 minutes, or over an hour?  All initial newborn exams and evaluations (ex: APGAR score) can be done with baby on your chest, so unless you think your baby might grow several inches in the first little bit of life, probably okay to delay measuring and weighing baby to give you time to bond.

• Breastfeeding

1. If you want to breastfeed, make sure no one will be giving your baby a bottle of formula/sugar water, or a pacifier

• Vitamin K

1. Do you want your baby to receive injectable, oral or no vitamin K treatment?  Definitely do your research as there are benefits and risks for all 3 options. 

• Erythromycin eye ointment

1. Does your baby need it? (ex: you currently have Chlamydia or Gonorrhea, or could possibly have contracted from your partner it without your knowledge)
2. Can it be delayed so that baby’s sight isn’t impaired during that crucial first hour of bonding?

• Hepatitis B vaccine

1. Does your baby need it? (ex: you’re going to be getting your child tattooed or allowing them to swap fluids with someone who has Hep B, you probably want to get it ;-) )
2. Can it be delayed or does it have to be given within a day or two of birth?

• Rooming-in

1. This is when baby stays with you the entire time instead of being taken into another room or to a nursery.

• Circumcision

1. Research both sides of the argument and inform yourself before making a decision either way.  I always recommend my clients read articles that are both pro- and anti-circumcision to see which resonates with them, as well as watching a video on how the procedure is done so you can be prepared if you choose to do it.  This is a very big decision for your son and you don’t want to make lightly.
2. If you choose to circumcise, can it be delayed until baby is a week old so that there are fewer risks involved?  (ex: hemorrhage, breast aversion, etc)

• Bathing your baby

1. Do you want your baby bathed soon after birth?  At 6 hours, 1 day, 2 days, or 1 week?  There are benefits to allowing the vernix time to soak into your baby's skin, rather than being washed off.  Also, soaps can be very drying to sensitive skin.
2. Who would you like to bathe your baby?  (ex: care provider, nurse, father of the baby, you, etc)  Keep in mind, who do you think will bathe your baby more gently?

There is so much to learn about pregnancy and birth, and I understand it can be very overwhelming for parents to have to consider everything and make so many decisions.  You may think ignorance is bliss, and want to leave all the decisions up to your care provider to decide what is best for you, but don't do it!  If you don’t know where to look to find information, or want to learn more about something, reach out!  Contact someone who does know about these things and have them point you in the right direction.  You can contact your care provider, child birth educator, doula, La Leche League member, or even me!  Regardless, whether you make the decision or you let someone else do it for you, that is still you making a decision....make sure it’s the right one for you.

Interview Questions to Ask Your Care Provider

When you are interviewing your care provider (midwife, nurse-midwife, or doctor) before signing on for care (and you definitely should!), it’s difficult to know what questions to ask.  Some people worry that by asking questions, they will inadvertently offend the provider, or that they will “ask a stupid question” and be looked down upon.  I’ll tell you this right now….if your care provider is offended or treats you poorly for asking a legitimate question, they’re not the provider for you!  So how do you know what questions to ask and how to go about interviewing a care provider?  I’ll walk you through it…

When a potential client calls me, I always ask them if they would like to meet me in person before they make a decision.  An in-person interview is a great way to see if you and your provider will make a good team and if the energy is right between you.  I know that sounds hippy-dippy, but it’s true!  Everyone has an energy to them and sometimes it works well with yours and sometimes it doesn’t.  If when you’re talking with them, they’re driving you crazy and you can’t wait to leave, that’s definitely not someone you want to be working with for 9 months.

Some other things to think about, before you even start asking your questions, are: Did this person make time for you without making you feel like you were inconveniencing them?  Were they easy to get ahold of or did they return your call quickly?  Are they charging you for this interview?  Do you feel rushed to hurry up or relaxed in their presence?  Do you feel comfortable talking to this person?  Did they address you and your partner or did they leave one of you feeling left out?  These might not be deal breakers for you, but they should definitely be factors in your decision.

So once you’re actually sitting down and talking (and hopefully the care provider is receptive to your questions), here are some questions I’d recommend you asking.  While all of these questions might not apply or be important to you, they’ll help you to figure out if your provider is supportive of natural childbirth and give you an idea of what you can expect with them…

Overall Questions:

• What is your philosophy regarding pregnancy and childbirth?
• What made you decide to become a midwife/nurse-midwife/doctor?
• What were your births or the births of your children like?
• How many clients/patients do you take on a monthly basis? 
• Will you be on vacation near my due date (especially important if you are due near a major holiday)?
• If I have a problem and it is after office hours, or on a weekend, how can I get ahold of you?
• Would you consider me to be a “higher risk” client/patient because of a certain condition/status? (ex: being age 35 or greater, having had 4 or more prior babies, history of miscarriage, past cesarean section delivery, BMI of 30 or more, etc)
• Can you provide me with letters of reference or contact information for past clients/patients (with their consent, of course) who could talk to me more about what it was like being a client/patient of yours?

Pregnancy Questions:

• What tests/procedures during pregnancy and birth are mandatory?  Which are optional?
• How long will I get to spend with you personally during each of my prenatal appointments?
• What does a typical prenatal visit look like?
• Can I bring my children to my appointments?  Can they be involved in my care (helping to measure belly, holding Doppler to listen to heart beat, etc)?

Birth Questions:

• How many of your clients/patients who intended to birth without pain medications actually go on to do so?
• What is your cesarean section rate?  Episiotomy rate? 
• What percentage of your clients/patients end up having perineal tearing that needs to be repaired?
• Do you routinely do delayed cord clamping?
• How long can my baby and I be skin-to-skin after birth without interruption?
• For what reasons would you ever want to induce my labor?  How far past my due-date can I be before you’ll want to induce?
• Can I eat and drink during labor?  Have freedom of movement? 
• How do you feel about intermittent fetal monitoring in labor?
• Do I have to have an IV during labor?
• Who will you have present for my birth (assistant, nurse, student, etc)? 
• Will you be present at my birth or do you work with others who might ever be there instead of you?
• Can I have anyone I want present to support me in labor or am I limited to who or how many people can be present?
• Can I have pictures taken of my labor and birth?
• What do you think of “birth plans”?

For Out-of-Hospital Midwives Only:

• What is your personal transport rate of clients who ended up at the hospital?  (not the statistical rate for across the country averages)  What were some of the causes for these transports?
• Who is your collaborating physician and what is his/her view of natural childbirth and midwives?
• What is your protocol in case you have 2 clients in labor at the same time?
• At what point will you transport me for an induction of labor?
• How do you feel about water birth?  Do your clients have many water births?

While it might seem like these are a lot of questions to be asking, I can assure you, they’re all important.  Your provider’s answers to these questions (both how they answer it and the answer itself) will help you to determine if they are the right fit for you.  You wouldn’t hire a nanny, general contractor, or employee without questioning them thoroughly, so why does our society view this any differently?  The person you choose could mean the difference between you having the birth you desire and every intervention imaginable.  You are PAYING this person for a service!  You are the customer!  Don’t settle!!!  If you've already signed on with someone when you discover they're not the right fit for you, don't be afraid to switch providers!  Sometimes the only thing that makes a pregnancy high-risk or keeps it from being everything you want, is your choice of care provider.