honoring the placenta
Despite the fact that the placenta is your baby’s lifeline, it rarely gets the respect it deserves in Western society. Considered in some cultures to be our first mother, the baby’s twin, or that it has its own soul, the placenta nourishes and provides oxygen to the fetus as they both grow together. Doesn’t it deserve more than a cursory glance?
It’s only right that you get to decide what happens to your baby’s placenta and you have many options!
Make art with it. This is at the top because you can always do something else afterward. Placenta prints are becoming more popular. The shape and formation of the blood vessels brings to mind the image of a tree. In fact, the placenta is sometimes referred to as the Tree of Life. You can use nature’s paint (blood), watercolor, or acrylics to commemorate this image in a print. Umbilical cords can also be preserved as cord keepsakes.
Bury it. This is a tradition that crosses many cultures. If you are in a house that you are unlikely to move from anytime soon, you can bury it in your garden or plant a tree over it. Ensure that it is several feet underground to prevent animals from digging it up. If you are more transient or live in an apartment, you can also bury it in a large pot with flowers or other small plant.
Encapsulate it. It might not be everyone’s first choice, but there are anecdotal reports that consuming your placenta has a variety of benefits. These include mitigating postpartum mood disorders; regulating hormones; restoring iron levels after birth; and increasing milk supply. There are some reports of individuals feeling overstimulated or anxious and a decrease in milk supply. Everybody is different so if taking placenta capsules is your choice, monitor yourself.
Eat it raw. Hear me out. First off, many mammals eat their placentas - so why don’t we? Eating a small piece of the placenta in the immediate postpartum hour has been said to reduce the risk of hemorrhage. One of the most popular ways to eat the placenta is to put small pieces at a time in smoothies with fruit, milk, or yogurt to help mask the taste. Other pros and cons are similar to those of placenta capsules listed above.
Freeze it. If you’re just not sure what to do with your placenta, you can always freeze it and make a decision at a later date. Just make sure it is well marked so there is no confusion!
Dispose of it. If you have no strong desire to keep your placenta for other purposes, your midwife or OBGYN can dispose of it for you.
No matter what your end choice is, I do encourage you to spend some time looking over your placenta. Ask your provider to show you all the intricacies of this life-sustaining organ. Offer thanks to it for doing the job of sustaining your baby as they grew in your womb.
I am not a medical professional. The information in this post is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with your intuition and your healthcare provider about what is right for you and your family.
