WHAT IS PLACENTAL CONSUMPTION EATING AND ENCAPSULATION AND HOW COMMON IS IT?
The existing data on postpartum placental consumption is anecdotal and there are few if any scientific data on this subject. There are few if any cultures who view placental ingestion as an essential part of the postpartum period. Use of the placenta in the postpartum period is re-gaining popularity among a few women in the US, Canada and Europe.
In one review of placentophagy or placental eating the autors state that "maternal placentophagy may have had deleterious consequences for the overall fitness of mother, offspring, or both, leading to its elimination from our species' behavioral repertoire."
In a review of cross-cultural traditions of 179 human societies the authors found a "... conspicuous absence of cultural traditions associated with maternal placentophagy..". In other words, they found no human culture that includes eating placenta after birth.
The placenta can be consumed in many ways, raw or cooked however placental encapsulation is presently the most popular method. Placental encapsulation is done most commonly in one of two methods: Raw Dried Capsules and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In TCM, the placenta is referred for its “jing” energy and is compared to “drinking from the fountain of youth.”
During TCM placental encapsulation, your placenta is steamed with lemon, ginger and green chili and nothing else. It is then dehydrated for 8-10 hours and ground into a powder form at which time it is then filled into vegetable capsules. Other methods of encapsulation use only your placenta and no other ingredients and vary in the processing methods such as not steaming for raw consumption, etc.
Depending on varying factors, each placenta yields approximately 75-200 capsules and it is recommended that the refrigerated capsules be taken 2-4 times per day during the first 6 weeks of the postpartum period. If you consider placental encapsulation, please follow the exact instructions of the facility who prepared the capsules.
WHAT ARE CONSIDERED TO BE THE POSSIBLE BENEFITS OF PLACENTAL ENCAPSULATION?
As previously mentioned, there are no scientific data to support placental encapsulation. Doulas and midwives who try to convince women that eating the placenta is beneficial (and who make money off placenta encapsulation), claim many things such as that it works against insomnia and postpartum depression, and that it can raise your energy and breast milk quantity. However, there is no evidence whatsoever that these claims are true. If there are any benefits of placental encapsulation it is that it makes money for those preparing the capsules, anything else is mainly anecdotal and not scientifically proven.
IS IT SAFE? WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
There are no data available on the safety of eating placenta. In TCM, the capsules are considered “hot” or having “yang” energy and should not be used in the presence of infection or fever. this may exclude most placentas, as placentas are often infected, especially after long labors.
The Independent Placental Encapsulation Network (IPEN) reports side effects in less than 2% of their population and include things such as mild headache, stomach pain/abdominal cramping, other gastrointestinal disturbances such as diarrhea, loose stools or constipation, Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy (PUPPS) rash, pelvic girdle pain, unexplained lack of milk supply and PMS type emotional symptoms.
HOW DO I DO IT?
There are various services offering placental encapsulation and they can be found by doing a simple national or state wide internet search to find someone in your area. The most important thing about this process is feeling comfortable and confident in the encapsulation specialist you choose. Doing your research into their services, methods, certifications, etc. is important in ensuring you are confident in the services you receive.
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