Re: encapsulated placenta discussion

[Guest guest]

Considering that no other mammals consume placenta for months after birth, I see no biological basis for this. My understanding has always been that it was eaten to protect the babies - gets rid of the scent of birth. There may be a nutritional element as well, but certainly such nutrition could easily be provided in other ways for most moms.

Honestly, I really just don't get this.Sharon

 

The reason mothers mommals eat the placenta is survival. most are not protected, giving birth in the open field (eg cows) and they must protect themselves and their pups and so they are eliminating all traces of birth.For this reason, many puppies are on their feet few minutes after birth, and able to run after their mother (eg zebra).We humans tend to adopt some behavior and i'm not sure we can take all mammals behavior and adopt humans.

To not understand me wrong, it is clear that breastfeeding is part of our nature, and what's unique to us as human beings do with the fact that we are primates and not mammals pedestrians-on-four like cows / dogs / cats /etc.

Sagit LevIBCLC, LLLIsrael

 

This is very interesting to me as this is gaining popularity in my area among both hospital and homebirth mamas. Has their been any research done related to placenta pills and milk supply?

Kim Guelig

IBCLC, RLC, LLLL

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Re: encapsulated placenta discussion

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Sun, Apr 1, 2012 4:44:04 AM

 

Yep. As a midwife I hear so often other midwives recommending to their clients to take placenta pills. I don't personally recommend it. The rationale is that animals eat their placentas.

Here's my thought:

Placentas can contain great nutrients (if mom has had a very non-toxic, organic diet with no exposure to toxins while pregnant). Animals eat their placentas right after birth. I think if a mom has a healthy placenta, eating it within a few hours post birth, raw/smoothie would definitely provide some great nutrients.

But prolonging the placenta/progesterone exposure for 1-2 months postpartum? I just can't see how this can be good for supply and I'm not surprised to hear you keep having low milk supply moms who eat placenta pills.

>

> Hello,

>

> I've been interested in the discussion on Lactnet these past few days regarding encapsulated placenta and supply issues.

>

> I have had quite a few LLL (and now LC contacts) with moms who have had home births over the past 4 years. Some of these moms have told me that they are taking encapsulated placenta. I have seen all of them because of supply issues. So I am thinking that it may be one of the factors and have shared these concerns with these mothers.

>

> Being in PP, we are in a unique situation population wise as we are probably more likely to be working with the homebirthing families than LCs in a hospital setting and I was wondering what others have noticed.

>

> I would like to say that I am not an alarmist, but when I see moms who should have a more robust supply, doing everything possible to increase it, and the only common denominator is the placenta caps, I think its worth further investigation and considering discontinuing for a short period, not unlike the suggestion I make to moms with a diminishing supply who are taking the mini pill, to stop for a few days, breastfeed constantly and see what happens.. if its the problem, they should notice a difference pretty soon..

>

> Another question to put on our intake forms as I rarely think to ask this and what would the category be.. herbs, medications, foods.. doesn't fit any of them!

>

> Have any of you seen this possible correlation as well?

>

> Celina D, IBCLC, LLLL

>

-- שגית לב

יועצת הנקה מוסמכת IBCLC

Doula

www.sagitlev.com

בלוג: http://lifeasibclc.blogspot.com/

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052-2827900

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[Guest guest]

There is a doula in my area doing a study right now on placenta encapsulation.  Bf issues/milk supply will be looked at.

Hale says hormones are not very orally bioavailable.  I wonder what the 'dose' of progesterone in a placenta cap is.

Healy

Seattle, WA

[Guest guest]

Yes the benefits of consuming the weeks or months after is the question I always had as well. I have heard that animals in the wild eat their placentas to protect their babies, the scent thing, but I thought that it is useful to stop the mother's bleeding as well.

Lou Moramarco IBCLC

Considering that no other mammals consume placenta for months after birth, I see no biological basis for this. My understanding has always been that it was eaten to protect the babies - gets rid of the scent of birth. There may be a nutritional element as well, but certainly such nutrition could easily be provided in other ways for most moms.

Honestly, I really just don't get this.

Sharon

The reason mothers mommals eat the placenta is survival. most are not protected, giving birth in the open field (eg cows) and they must protect themselves and their pups and so they are eliminating all traces of birth.For this reason, many puppies are on their feet few minutes after birth, and able to run after their mother (eg zebra).We humans tend to adopt some behavior and i'm not sure we can take all mammals behavior and adopt humans.

To not understand me wrong, it is clear that breastfeeding is part of our nature, and what's unique to us as human beings do with the fact that we are primates and not mammals pedestrians-on-four like cows / dogs / cats /etc.Sagit LevIBCLC, LLLIsrael

This is very interesting to me as this is gaining popularity in my area among both hospital and homebirth mamas. Has their been any research done related to placenta pills and milk supply?

Kim GueligIBCLC, RLC, LLLL

Yep. As a midwife I hear so often other midwives recommending to their clients to take placenta pills. I don't personally recommend it. The rationale is that animals eat their placentas.Here's my thought:Placentas can contain great nutrients (if mom has had a very non-toxic, organic diet with no exposure to toxins while pregnant). Animals eat their placentas right after birth. I think if a mom has a healthy placenta, eating it within a few hours post birth, raw/smoothie would definitely provide some great nutrients.But prolonging the placenta/progesterone exposure for 1-2 months postpartum? I just can't see how this can be good for supply and I'm not surprised to hear you keep having low milk supply moms who eat placenta pills.>> Hello,> > I've been interested in the discussion on Lactnet these past few days regarding encapsulated placenta and supply issues.> > I have had quite a few LLL (and now LC contacts) with moms who have had home births over the past 4 years. Some of these moms have told me that they are taking encapsulated placenta. I have seen all of them because of supply issues. So I am thinking that it may be one of the factors and have shared these concerns with these mothers.> > Being in PP, we are in a unique situation population wise as we are probably more likely to be working with the homebirthing families than LCs in a hospital setting and I was wondering what others have noticed.> > I would like to say that I am not an alarmist, but when I see moms who should have a more robust supply, doing everything possible to increase it, and the only common denominator is the placenta caps, I think its worth further investigation and considering discontinuing for a short period, not unlike the suggestion I make to moms with a diminishing supply who are taking the mini pill, to stop for a few days, breastfeed constantly and see what happens.. if its the problem, they should notice a difference pretty soon.. > > Another question to put on our intake forms as I rarely think to ask this and what would the category be.. herbs, medications, foods.. doesn't fit any of them!> > Have any of you seen this possible correlation as well? > > Celina D, IBCLC, LLLL>

--

ùâéú ìáéåòöú äð÷ä îåñîëú IBCLCDoulawww.sagitlev.comáìåâ: http://lifeasibclc.blogspot.com/áôééñáå÷: http://www.facebook.com/SagitLevIBCLC052-2827900ëôø îðçí, 79875

[Guest guest]

Yes, some midwives have a woman chew on the placenta right after it is birthed

for the reason of stopping bleeding.

I don't know if any studies have been done so far to prove that it helps...

there probably would be some oxytocin in the placenta and placebo is a wonderful

thing (it really is!), for moms and midwives. If you think of something wild

enough, that could make sense, and tell a mom to do it that it will stop her

bleeding, well, the belief alone goes a long way.

Placenta pills I think are the same. I hear lots of moms rave about how great

they felt 'because they were taking their placenta pills.' But, they have a new

baby and new baby hormones, and extra money (to pay for placenta encapsulation

and thus probably midwife and or doula, lactation help etc), also the oxytocin

probably really is present in the placenta, which is a nice hormone, all the

general excitement going on for 6 weeks postpartum... I really would be

interested to see a study on what's in the placenta, how much progesterone, how

much oxytocin, toxins from inorganic food etc.

If it really does help and doesn't harm, I would consider recommending it,

though at present it just doesn't seem natural to me to do prolonged placenta

pill taking. I have no problem with eating the placenta immediately post birth

(if moms diet was low toxin, low mercury, organic, gmo-free etc).

Any one have any studies they'd like to share? : )

> >

> > Hello,

> >

> > I've been interested in the discussion on Lactnet these past few days

> regarding encapsulated placenta and supply issues.

> >

> > I have had quite a few LLL (and now LC contacts) with moms who have had

> home births over the past 4 years. Some of these moms have told me that they

> are taking encapsulated placenta. I have seen all of them because of supply

> issues. So I am thinking that it may be one of the factors and have shared

> these concerns with these mothers.

> >

> > Being in PP, we are in a unique situation population wise as we are

> probably more likely to be working with the homebirthing families than LCs

> in a hospital setting and I was wondering what others have noticed.

> >

> > I would like to say that I am not an alarmist, but when I see moms who

> should have a more robust supply, doing everything possible to increase it,

> and the only common denominator is the placenta caps, I think its worth

> further investigation and considering discontinuing for a short period, not

> unlike the suggestion I make to moms with a diminishing supply who are

> taking the mini pill, to stop for a few days, breastfeed constantly and see

> what happens.. if its the problem, they should notice a difference pretty

> soon..

> >

> > Another question to put on our intake forms as I rarely think to ask this

> and what would the category be.. herbs, medications, foods.. doesn't fit any

> of them!

> >

> > Have any of you seen this possible correlation as well?

> >

> > Celina D, IBCLC, LLLL

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> --

>

> ùâéú ìá

> éåòöú äð÷ä îåñîëú IBCLC

> Doula

> www.sagitlev.com <http://www.sagitlev.com/>

> áìåâ: http://lifeasibclc.blogspot.com/

> áôééñáå÷: http://www.facebook.com/SagitLevIBCLC

>

> 052-2827900

> ëôø îðçí, 79875

>

[Guest guest]

1. If chewing on the placenta has something to do with the oxytocin and clamping down the uterus, why don't we give oxytocin orally? Yes, I know that "back in the day" we used to give *buccal* pit, but women didn't chew on it because it wasn't effective.

2. Furthermore, why aren't we just trusting breastfeeding to do the job of clamping down the uterus? Seems to me there would be a lot more oxytocin release UNLESS mom has been given IV Pit to stimulate/induce labor, in which case, there is probably some blockage of her endogenous oxytocin.

3. I too thought the mammals ate their placentas to protect their babies from predators -- and possibly for food since they wouldn't be going off immediately to hunt for food after the babies were born.

Jan

Yes, some midwives have a woman chew on the placenta right after it is birthed for the reason of stopping bleeding.

[Guest guest]

I don't like to pidgeon whole people, but when I worked as a hospital midwife in

London UK back in the 80's there was a certain group of women that chose to eat

their placents. Basically they took their placentas home with them some would

eat them raw while others cooked them. There was no encapsulation available

that I know of. This was really pre HIV and also when the labour wards

collected and sold placentas to the consmetic industry so I dont kow if things

are different there now.

Vikki Kidd

> > >

> > > Hello,

> > >

> > > I've been interested in the discussion on Lactnet these past few days

> > regarding encapsulated placenta and supply issues.

> > >

> > > I have had quite a few LLL (and now LC contacts) with moms who have had

> > home births over the past 4 years. Some of these moms have told me that

> > they are taking encapsulated placenta. I have seen all of them because of

> > supply issues. So I am thinking that it may be one of the factors and have

> > shared these concerns with these mothers.

> > >

> > > Being in PP, we are in a unique situation population wise as we are

> > probably more likely to be working with the homebirthing families than LCs

> > in a hospital setting and I was wondering what others have noticed.

> > >

> > > I would like to say that I am not an alarmist, but when I see moms who

> > should have a more robust supply, doing everything possible to increase it,

> > and the only common denominator is the placenta caps, I think its worth

> > further investigation and considering discontinuing for a short period, not

> > unlike the suggestion I make to moms with a diminishing supply who are

> > taking the mini pill, to stop for a few days, breastfeed constantly and see

> > what happens.. if its the problem, they should notice a difference pretty

> > soon..

> > >

> > > Another question to put on our intake forms as I rarely think to ask

> > this and what would the category be.. herbs, medications, foods.. doesn't

> > fit any of them!

> > >

> > > Have any of you seen this possible correlation as well?

> > >

> > > Celina D, IBCLC, LLLL

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> --

> ש×'ית ל×`

> יועצת × " × ×§× " מוסמכת IBCLC

> Doula

> www.sagitlev.com

> ×`לו×': http://lifeasibclc.blogspot.com/

> ×`פייס×`וק: http://www.facebook.com/SagitLevIBCLC

>

> 052-2827900

> כפר מנח×, 79875

>

[Guest guest]

While Hale says that hormones are not very orally bioavailable, we all have gotten reports from mothers taking oral progestin-only birth control pills who have low milk supply. Mothers respond in different ways to progesterone exposure, even from retained placenta. Some will have low supply, some will not notice any difference, and some will have oversupply issues. It would seem to me that the same variation in how women respond to progestins in birth control and progesterone in retained placenta, will also play out in how women's milk supplies respond to extended (beyond day of birth) consumption of their placenta. I too have received calls from mothers struggling with low milk supply who are still taking their placenta capsules.

Dee Kassing

There is a doula in my area doing a study right now on placenta encapsulation. Bf issues/milk supply will be looked at.

Hale says hormones are not very orally bioavailable. I wonder what the 'dose' of progesterone in a placenta cap is.

HealySeattle, WA

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I've been following this discussion with interest. The old saying comes to mind

" don't knock it til you try it " The first time I heard about placentophagy, I

had the same reaction most people do (like, I think I just threw up in my

throat). But the more I learned about it, the more I realized that I wanted to

try it. And I did after my daughter was born and, of course I was experiencing

the " high " of being a new mom, but I am telling you, I was high for a month. I

consumed mine in smoothies (because you can consume it raw without having the

taste/texture/smell) and every time I drank one I would get a rush and felt very

happy/giddy.

I promote placentophagy in my childbirth prep classes. I have seen/heard from

MANY mothers that they felt wonderful because of taking/consuming it. Also, just

to be clear, you don't usually take it for months after, you take it for weeks.

A placenta usually yields 80-120 capsules.

There is more than progesterone, there is iron, oxytocin, prostaglandins, etc.

Not to mention, it is a life force - the life energy it contains will never be

able to be studied.

There is an interesting book about it called " Placenta: The Gift of Life "

http://www.midwiferytoday.com/books/placenta.asp

which discusses the history of the use of the placenta (it was our first

medicine) and how revered it is in most cultures (and used to be in 'Western'

culture).

This website cites some research:

http://placentabenefits.info/research.asp

Be well,

Massillon, IBCLC

San Francisco, CA