If you’re anything like me, the first time you heard about women who ingest their placenta for health benefits was on an episode of Friends or when Kim and Kourtney Kardashian talked about it on KUWTK. Little did I know, there is some evidence that this practice actually dates back centuries to traditional Chinese medicine. The practice is said to have been used by postpartum mothers for various conditions because of the nutrients held in the temporary organ.
First things first. Before we can learn about the potential benefits and risks of placenta ingestion, let’s look into what exactly the placenta is. Essentially, the placenta is a temporary organ that grows in a woman’s womb when she’s pregnant to provide the fetus with oxygen, blood, and nutrients. The intricate organ is then delivered along with the baby, who will no longer be needing the nutrients and oxygen in that form.
Many women are becoming more and more curious about the idea of unmedicated birth—that is, laboring and delivering using pain management alternatives to medication. From this discussion, the concept of eating the placenta to repurpose the nutrients became more prevalent.
This topic often comes with endless questions. Were the Kardashians onto something? Is placenta encapsulation something worth considering? How much does it cost, and is it something we can do on our own? What are the risks? What are the benefits? Is it safe? We’re answering all of these questions here to give you everything you need to know about placenta encapsulation.
Editor’s Note: Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article.
Everything You Need To Know About Placenta Encapsulation
Knowing what placenta encapsulation is all about will give expecting mothers an opportunity to decide for themselves if it’s something they want to pursue. Here you’ll find information on what the practice is, where it comes from, the potential benefits, and the risks. While this can be a great first resource on the topic, we recommend reaching out to a trusted medical professional for additional questions and knowledge on the practice.
What is Placenta Encapsulation?
To put it simply, placenta encapsulation is putting the placenta into pill form for ingestion. During the encapsulation process, the placental tissue is often steamed, dehydrated, ground into a fine powder, and placed into pill capsules. The placenta capsules are then taken by a postpartum mother for potential benefits.
While some sources suggest the practice dates back to traditional Chinese medicine, it became more mainstream in recent decades. In the 1980s, an American midwife advocated for the practice and more recently, the Kardashians shared their affirming thoughts on the practice back in 2013. Since, each sister has participated in ingesting their placenta after giving birth because of the believed benefits.
Encapsulating the placenta to ingest it may be the most common practice, but there are other ways of preparing it. According to Mayo Clinic, “People have also been known to eat the placenta raw, cooked, or in smoothies or liquid extracts.”
Source: Shutterstock
Placenta Encapsulation Benefits
It’s no surprise that new moms go through a lot, and have a lot of questions throughout the process. Is [insert any number of concerns here] normal? What’s the difference between postpartum depression vs anxiety, and what can I do about it? What can I be doing to increase my breast milk supply? To name a few. Some say ingesting the nutrients from the placenta may just be the solution to some of these concerns.
The practice of ingesting the placenta wouldn’t be as talked about as it today without believed benefits. However, when researching the benefits, it’s important to point out that many sources state that there is little evidence to support these benefits. Rather, we rely on the personal experiences of those who have taken placenta capsules previously and the effects they’ve seen. Some claimed benefits include:
- Preventing or lessening postpartum depression
- Reducing postpartum bleeding
- Improving mood
- Improving breast milk supply
- Preventing blood clots
Whether or not these benefits are a direct result of ingesting the placenta after birth is unclear. Some sources believe the benefits may actually come from a placebo effect—when something is strongly believed to be helping, we may actually see positive results. In this case, we can grapple with the idea that benefits are still benefits, no matter where they come from.
Placenta Encapsulation Risks
When researching this topic, I found several sources that agreed the risks of ingesting the placenta actually outweigh the potential benefits. So, what are those risks?
Most notable is the possible passing of infection from mother to infant during breastfeeding while taking the capsules—specifically Group B strep. Sources state that placenta preparations don’t completely destroy infectious bacterias and viruses that the placenta may contain. The preparations that do completely destroy them may actually be prepared in a way that also destroys the nutrients. When ingested by a breastfeeding mother, whether raw, cooked, or encapsulated, there is potential to pass the bacteria and viruses to their baby.
Other studies have found toxic elements such as lead, arsenic, and mercury in the placenta. While the levels are not always threatening, they do have the potential to lead to poisoning.
- The placenta could be contaminated
- It could spread infection
- Feeling sick after ingestion
How To Encapsulate Placenta
While there are plenty of placenta encapsulation services available throughout the country, some moms prefer to encapsulate their placenta at home. Moms who have done it before have documented the following steps. Again, we recommend consulting with a doctor or medical professional before considering or attempting the process.
Step 1
Let your doctor/medical team know you plan to encapsulate the placenta. This way they know to store it properly after birth.
Step 2
Get the placenta home and begin the process as soon as possible.
Step 3
Clean the placenta by removing as much excess blood as possible.
Step 4
Steam the placenta.
Step 5
Thinly slice the placenta.
Step 6
Use a food dehydrator to dehydrate the pieces.
Step 7
Use a food processor to grind the dehydrated pieces into a fine powder.
Step 8
Package the powder into digestible capsules.
Placenta Encapsulation Cost
Going a DIY route with placenta encapsulation may be the most cost effective—though the cost of the equipment like a dehydrator and food processor can quickly add up. Many moms will pay for an encapsulation service to ensure proper precautions are followed. For postpartum moms going this route, the services generally range from around $100 to $500. For this price, postpartum moms generally receive between 80 and 180 capsules. Some insurance companies may cover the cost of the encapsulation service either directly or through HSA funds. This is not a guarantee, however, so it is good practice to check with the insurance provider beforehand.
Is Placenta Encapsulation Worth It?
Based on the research and consultations with trusted medical professionals, postpartum mothers should decide for themselves whether or not placenta encapsulation is right for them. Some moms have reported positive benefits, while cases of adverse effects have also been shared. Discussing options with medical professionals, midwives, or doulas may be beneficial in deciding whether or not to ingest the placenta after birth, and how to go about doing so.
