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thread: Placenta encapsulation

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Hork-Bajir Valley
    5,722

    Placenta encapsulation

    I know I am absolutely keeping my placenta. When everyone asks me why and what I would do with it, I have told them I'll be burying it (which my mum loves the idea of much to my surprise). But in truth I do want to eat it, not all of it, because I do want to bury it too, but I have read about so many benefits of eating it that I would like to try it. What I know for sure, is I want to treat it with respect and somehow thank it for aiding me in giving my baby nourishment and oxygen for these months.

    So, I just thought easy way is to freeze it, cut it up into small pieces and then have the small pieces like tablets. But I've been reading up on it, and there is another method which involves drying it out and grinding it up and making capsules (known as 'encapsulation'). Has anyone done this? I've found heaps of information on the health benefits etc on doing it, and basic steps like, 1 dry it out, 2 grind it up, 3 put it in a capsule, even found kits to buy to help with the capsule making process, but I'm struggling to find specific step by step details on how to actuallly dry it out and grind it etc...

    so if anyone has done this would be great to chat. Would also be great to talk to like minded people who dont gag when I tell them what I want to do, because so far I haven't found 1 single person (irl) who also has an interest in keeping their placenta, let alone ever talked to someone who has eaten it.

    TIA

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Jul 2008
    Balnarring, Vic
    1,900

    I haven't done it yet but will be in a couple of weeks. the benefits are meant to be amazing. I'm actually having someone else do it all for me because I'm way too squeamish! its going to cost $200, but I figure it worth it.

    Sent from my GT-S5570 using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Oct 2009
    Bonbeach, Melbourne
    7,177

    I really wish I had done it. I needed it, my haemoglobin tanked majorly after I gave birth and took a good few weeks to level out. I was in a bit of a haze tbh, wasn't expecting to be in a hospital. Next time, I'll definitely be encapsulating it. No help on the step by step side of it but I'm interested too.

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Victoria
    7,260

    I have something for you, will find it in the morning x

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Oct 2007
    Middle Victoria
    8,924

    consuming the placenta has been shown to reduce depression too.

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Jul 2008
    Balnarring, Vic
    1,900

    consuming the placenta has been shown to reduce depression too.
    yep, and that's one of the main reasons for me doing it. after being quite unwell and having severe pnd after the birth of Ds, I'm willing to try anything to prevent it happening again. I'm not sure I could just cut up and freeze so that's why encapsulation really appeals to me. I don't see it as much different than taking a multivitamin.

    Sent from my GT-S5570 using Tapatalk

  7. #7
    BellyBelly Member

    Sep 2010
    North West Victoria, Australia
    3,003

    Wouldn't drying out the placenta ruin alot of it's qualities??

    Genuinly interested in this topic. I've never thought about consuming the placenta.

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Hork-Bajir Valley
    5,722

    I'm a HUGE risk for PND, so that is the real benefit i'm hoping to get out of it. It is also to raise your iron levels/hB, said to increase milk supply too.

    I don't have any problems freezing and cutting it up, which seems so much easier and simpler than doing the other way...

    would anyone think their would be ..issues? with only buring part of it. because i'm thinking I would only need like 1/2 most to eat, and the rest I can bury... or maybe I should just bury the cord and have the whole placenta. see I also havent found anything about how much a day, like 1 "tablet" a day? or 2 or 3 a day? I was thinking when i cut it up it would only be about 1cm cube size.

    I suppose it doesnt matter because I did read a recipe for a lasangne with the placenta in it, so that would be like a meal, so if you really wanted you could have the whole thing in one sitting.

    Loulabelle, do you mind letting me know how you go after your birth and when you start the capsules and what 'instructions' came with them? please. =) thanks!

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Oct 2007
    Caroline Springs
    2,341

    My friend had her placenta encapsulated after her second pregnancy because she had PND after her first and wanted to do anything to reduce the risk second time around.

    She didn't get PND second time

    She had a doula at her birth and the doula organised having it all done for her.

    Perhaps you could ring a few doulas and see if they can organise it for you or at least give you some contacts?

  10. #10
    BellyBelly Member

    Sep 2010
    North West Victoria, Australia
    3,003

    I've been doing some reading. I'm going to do anything I can to do this!! I'll probably either mince it, or cut it up into little chunks and just swallow it.
    It seems to have sooo many benefits.
    Thanks for putting me onto this.

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Hork-Bajir Valley
    5,722

    I've been doing some reading. I'm going to do anything I can to do this!! I'll probably either mince it, or cut it up into little chunks and just swallow it.
    It seems to have sooo many benefits.
    Thanks for putting me onto this.
    Not a problem. After every birth i am part of I always ask the family if they are interested in looking at their placenta and want to keep it. I haven't had 1 person say yes to keeping it yet =( and it breaks my heart everytime I wrap it up and put it in the clnical waste bin to be incinerated. It is such an amazing organ, that plays such a major role for our babies (basically it is what supports them, we just support it) and they just get tossed aside and no one cares or thinks about them.

    I want to show mine respect and thank it for what it is doing and give part of it back to the earth and thank the universe for my baby. I really wish I could spread the word of the amazing things it can do after birth.

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Aug 2010
    Sydney Aus
    1,164

    I have an acquaintance who was interested in this, but unfortunately didn't know how to raise it with the caregivers at the hospital she delivered at, and didn't know how to go about arranging it, ie storing/transporting it whilst in hospital so she never went through with it.

  13. #13
    Registered User
    Add Feijoa Mum on Facebook

    Jul 2008
    Forest Lake - Brisbane
    919

    I have kept all of mine and they have been buried with a native tree planted in the childs name. It is part of DH's culture to return it to mother nature.

    I had heard of people eating theirs but to be honest I just thought it was something that tribes etc did I have never heard of having it encapsulated. I think that is a fantastic idea and would seriously look into it if I was having anymore. I could do a pill I dont think I could do a chunk or lasagne

    In NZ it is very common for women to take their placentas home, however when I had my DS here my midwife had never heard of it and had to find out what she was to do to let me have it. I had to sign a waiver to say that I was carrying human tissue and that I was not intending to sell it imagine listing that on ebay

    Your right it is such a beautiful organ that it seems so sad and wrong to me to just dispose of it without a second thought.

  14. #14
    Registered User

    Jul 2007
    Glenroy
    1,458

    Oh, I wish I'd known about this.
    I would have loved to at least look at it, but was never given the option.

  15. #15

    Nov 2007
    Earth
    4,434

    I'm pretty sure MadB did this after her recent bub, maybe PM her?

  16. #16
    BellyBelly Member

    Sep 2010
    North West Victoria, Australia
    3,003

    Just broke the news to DH...
    Did not go well. He kept gagging and covering his face saying "Please let this be a joke".

    His argument is that you wouldn't eat a fetus, why eat a placenta?

    I've challenged him to do some googling....

    How did your DH react, Tei?

  17. #17
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Hork-Bajir Valley
    5,722

    My hubby knows im kepping it. and he does know that eating it is something some ppl do. but i havent specifically told him thats what im doing...
    He would gag but wouldnt care as long as i didnt make him eat it. he is pretty open minded and knows how i roll so he probably already suspects =p

    Sent via my vortex manipulator!

  18. #18
    Registered User

    Sep 2009
    Melbourne, VIC
    581

    I considered having someone encapsulating my DS's placenta but it was an added expense we couldn't afford at the time (around $300). My m/w cut off a small piece and suspended it in brandy to make a homeopathic tincture. The rest is in the freezer to be planted with a tree when we get around to visiting a nursery to choose one

    Mine and my younger sister's placentas are planted under trees at
    my parents place.

    I think to encapsulate it yourself you need a food dehydrator - I saw Aldi have them on special this week?

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