Placenta encapsulation is being touted as a new trend, however, the practice goes back centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. So, what exactly is placenta encapsulation and what benefits can you derive from it?
Placenta encapsulation is the process where the placenta is turned into a powder form and put into pill capsules to be ingested postpartum.
The notion behind ingesting your own placenta postpartum is that, as a remarkable organ full of nutrients that nourished the baby, it can also provide nutrients to the mother after birth --the main nutrient being iron.
In addition to iron, the placenta is full of vitamins and minerals such B6 and B12, as well as hormones like progesterone and estrogen. These reproductive hormones drop after you give birth.
Many who have tried these placenta pills have said that their moods are better, their energy is increased, they feel less fatigued, and their milk supply is boosted. They also report that placenta encapsulation helped them avoid postpartum depression. In other words, placenta pills can help you have a smoother recovery postpartum. These benefits have not been studied in clinical trials.
If you are interested in the benefits of placenta encapsulation, then you should understand the risks as well. You can talk to one of our midwives or OB-GYNs about this.
Placenta encapsulation has been practiced in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. If you develop mastitis, flu, or a similar illness, it is advised to stop taking your placenta pills until you recover from the illness, at which time you may resume taking them.
Usually a trained doula will be the one to provide you with placenta encapsulation services. The placenta must be prepared in a sterile environment for it to be safely ingested in capsule form.
At first this practice can seem out of the ordinary and intimidating. However, many mothers who have done placenta encapsulation swear by the benefits. If you have any questions about this, we are happy to help answer them.
Are you expecting? Call (480) 539-6646 to begin your prenatal care today or to take a holistic approach to your pregnancy.
