It’s true, I’ve become one of…them. The moment I considered cloth diapers I joked around about how crunchy granola I was becoming but I never in a million years thought I would even give a second thought to consuming my placenta. Before you click away in a hurry thinking I’ve gone bonkers, hear me out.
Placentas have been used in traditional Chinese medicine since the 1500s. It’s even become customary for the placenta to be prepared for the new mother in Italian, Vietnamese, Chinese and Hungarian cultures.
So aside from the fact that it’s been done for hundreds (if not longer) of years, what would even make the placenta appealing to consume?
- First off, the placenta is packed full of rich nutrients. After all, it sustains the life of your baby in utero.
- It can help balance postpartum hormone levels.
- Helps the uterus get back to its pre-pregnancy state.
- Boosts energy levels.
- Increases milk supply.
- Reduces healing time and postpartum bleeding.
- Helps to replenish iron levels to avoid an iron deficiency. I’ve also heard from other ladies that the placenta pills can help with postpartum depression, or baby blues, which would make sense given that low iron levels can contribute to mood change and depression.
Although you can choose to have someone encapsulate it for you, there are methods to process and do it yourself. Generally, you will see diy methods that include using things like a steamer and dehydrator. Well, I couldn’t get my hands on them and after doing some research, came up with a few tweaks to still get the job done using materials we already had on hand.
Talk with your hospital or birthing center about their policies concerning the placenta. Some places will hold it for you until you are discharged and some will allow you to keep it only if you provide a cooler and a way to get it home and refrigerated within 24 hours.
The first thing you’ll want to do is thoroughly rinse the placenta..then rinse it again. You want to pay extra attention to getting out every bit of blood and clots that you can. Gently massage the placenta as well as the “tree of life” veins around where the cord attaches to the placenta. Once you get it rinsed thoroughly, remove the amniotic sac and umbilical cord. Because we started the process at night, I then stored it in the refrigerator overnight in an airtight container with just enough water to cover the placenta.
In the morning I removed the placenta from the container and once again rinsed with warm water. At this point you want to steam the placenta. I don’t have a steamer basket because I’m still young and broke and we’ve managed to eat well while cooking foods using other methods. Instead, I took a tin pie pan and poked holes in the bottom of it. I then wadded up 3 balls of tin foil to approximately the same size. Arrange the balls of foil a saucepan large enough to fit the pie tin, arrange tin on top and put in placenta. If you want to avoid your house taking on an odd aroma, you can slice some lemons and add a cinnamon stick or two in the faux steamer basket with placenta.
Steam for 20 minutes and after turning placenta, steam on other side for 20 minutes.
Once you have finished steaming the placenta, let it cool and rest.
I really didn’t smell anything other than the lemon and cinnamon which was more of a light but fragrant holiday scent. Although, if you really want to know what to expect, it smells just like cooking any other organ you might prepare for dinner–liver, heart, etc.
Slice the cooked placenta into thin strips. The thinner the strips, the quicker and easier it will dehydrate.
Place on a foil lined cookie sheet. You could also use a dehydrator at this stage, but we didn’t have one so I decided to just process it in the oven. Cook for 4 hours at 200 degrees F.
Once the strips are completely dried, grind using either a spice grinder, food processor, or something similar that will grind it into a powder. At this point you could put the powder into a jar and incorporate it into smoothies or something but honestly, the thought of consuming it in a way more primal than capsules did gross me out a bit.
I was lucky enough to be able to borrow a capsule pill maker thing from my in-laws. It made it fool proof to make the pills and was a pretty quick process. I just had to take apart the capsules, place the ends in each part then fill, close and place in a jar for using as I need them.
Placenta capsules should be stored in the refrigerator while you are taking them. Keep capsules dry. Store any remaining capsules in the freezer for long-term use. Placenta capsules will last at least 1 year if stored properly and possibly longer.
So, have you ever consumed your placenta, do you know someone who has, or is it something you would even consider?
I’m a creative young mom, wife and entrepreneur loving life in rural Idaho and having a crazy time filling it with laughter and handmade treasures.
My hat is tipped to you; however no this is not something I personally ever consider.
I applaud you! I could see me *maybe* doing this in the future – I’ve certainly surprised myself with my crunchiness before! But for now…well…I’m still too “Westernized.”
I did the same thing because an encapsulation service was way too expensive. I even shot a video about it but I haven’t posted it because I wasn’t sure how my audience would react.
Now I may go ahead and post it thanks to you!
No so certain I could do this – quite honestly until I read your post, I had no idea this existed.
I really wanted to do it with my last pregnancy, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to keep my placenta. Part of it was left behind, lots of heavy bleeding, and it was whisked away to be examined. Next time! Although, I’ll pay someone to do it. 🙂
Do you just take one a day then?
You take 1 at a time, but you can take a few per day if you feel like you need them. It’s really just a nutrient boost more than anything and they’re made for you by you, so it can’t really hurt.
I just… couldn’t. Honestly, until I saw pics, it was something that I might have entertained the notion of… possibly. But the pics just did me in because I am too squeamish. (I’m a big wuss. I own that.)
Ya, I’m not quite there. I see the benefits, but I am just not convinced, yet. I also said I would never cloth diaper (7 years and 4 cd’ed bums later…)
I’m pretty sure that I am going to do this, just not sure if we will do it ourselves or if we will pay the midwife to do it. It sounds pretty easy, if you have the little pill-filler-upper! 😉
Oh my goodness. I thought I read your title wrong. Never even heard of this!! I’m quite sure that I wouldn’t be able to do it, although I do appreciate the nutritional benefits. More power to you!!
Way to go Kassie! But I’m not sure I would ever do this. I really didn’t feel postpartum was difficult. After a few days I was fine bed I didn’t really have crazy hormones or ppd or anything. I did ask to see my placenta after I delivered it and I will say it looks a lot cooler before its cooked!
I didn’t really feel all that bad after either girl. They are great for a boost in milk supply and energy though and with my second girl I only had 5 days of postpartum bleeding.
Wonderful post! I really wanted to encapsulate my placenta with my last baby but I didn’t think I’d want to do the work myself (although I ended up cooking thanksgiving dinner the day after so apparently I could have!) and it costs a lot to have someone else do. Maybe next baby I’ll do my own!
I though to eating my own, but I think that I would be sent to the mental ward from my family. With that being said, we are the only mammal that doesn’t eat our placenta, normally. I actually, for both pregnancy, requested to see my placenta. It is very neat looking.
Sadly, I’m not as close with my family since moving to Idaho 4 years ago, so I’m not sure that most of them even knew what my plans were. They probably would think I was off my rocker though. Lol
I hired someone to do mine because I didn’t have a steamer. I wish I’d found out about this tin foil pie plate business. Oh well… you live and learn.
I had enlisted my mom to help out and we had to get it done before she went back to Missouri. The foil and pie tin idea was a last minute thing. I seriously googled how to steam food without a steamer and after looking at a few different ideas, went with the foil.
We are doing this with the next baby, but I’m going to do the raw method (cut into strips and right into the dehydrator). I had bad PPD with my 2nd child and researched encapsulation. I wanted to do it with my 3rd but couldn’t find anyone to do it for me. Just going to do it myself next time.
Are there additional benefits to not steaming and doing the raw method?
I would love to do this!!
I paid a midwife to encapsulate my placenta after my second birth. I wish I’d known about it with the first! I had much less PPD and anemia, and my milk supply was significantly better the second time around. I took one capsule/day for the first few weeks, with a second capsule if I was having a rough day. I think it helped.
I am doing this with my 4th baby.. I was supposed to with my 3rd but i didnt have the money and the patience to do it on my own or pay someone. Also i am doing RAW not with herbs even though that sounds good too. RAW has more energy and works more into Hormonal inbalance, post partum depression, up the milk supply. It also works for healthy skin, growing nails and hair.
Thanks so much! I’m sending this to a friend who really wants to encapsulate her placenta but is torn about whether she wants to pay so much money to have it done!! You rock for figuring this out and thanks so much for sharing!
My midwife showed me the placenta after my son’s birth. It was… interesting. But no, I don’t think I could ever eat it lol. It’s great that you found a way to encapsulate this yourself! I know some people charge an arm and a leg to encapsulate your placenta for you.
i understand the health benefits but I don’t think I could bring myself to do it. Though capsules are not as bad as making a smoothe with it. I know someone who did that. The thought kind of makes me feel ill.
In all honesty, that even makes me feel ill. lol.