We have a secret in our culture; it's not that birth is painful, it's that women are strong. " -Laura Stavoe Harm
What is Placenta Encapsulation?
Placenta encapsulation is the process of taking the placenta and processing it into pill form for the new mom to take as a daily supplement. Placentophagy, the ingesting of one’s own placenta, is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been practiced for thousands of years.
The placenta is an amazing source of life and its role does not end when the pregnancy ends. Women who use placenta medicine report fewer emotional issues, more energy, a better milk supply, and a quicker healing time.
What are the benefits of Placenta Encapsulation?
* HELP WITH MOOD & POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION The wonderful thing about using placenta pills instead of pharmaceuticals is that, since it contains your placenta, it is perfectly suited to your needs and already contains your own natural hormones. Pharmaceuticals can have a long list of side effects that most people wish to avoid. Research has shown that new mothers have lower than normal levels of a corticotropin-releasing hormone, or CRH. The secretion of CRH releases a cascade of other hormones, including cortisol, which helps us fight stress. During the last weeks of pregnancy the placenta secretes a lot of CRH in the blood stream of pregnant women. After the birth however, the levels remain low because feedback has been disrupted from the higher levels. It is believed that ingesting the placenta will help elevate the levels of CRH naturally and help post partum women deal with the new stresses of motherhood more efficiently.
* IRON DEFICIENCY During a normal delivery a mom will lose about 550 cc of blood. Your placenta contains hemoglobin which is a protein that replenishes iron deficiency and anemia. Consuming your placenta can help you avoid the risk of iron deficiency, the main symptom of which is fatigue. Postpartum fatigue has been shown to be the main predictor of postpartum depression. A well documented treatment option for women of childbearing age experiencing fatigue caused by iron deficiency is iron supplementation. A random clinical trial of 136 women of childbearing age suffering from unexplained fatigue showed that there was a benefit to iron supplementation even in non-anemic women. Even though the women’s iron levels were normal their iron stores may have been low which is why they responded well to supplementation.
* INCREASE YOUR MILK SUPPLY Struggling with breastfeeding and milk supply can be a very discouraging and emotionally challenging experience for a new mother. Your placenta contains prolactin which is a hormone that promotes lactation. The placenta also contains oxytocin, which is referred to as the "love" hormone. Oxytocin helps alleviate pain and also facilitates bonding between the mother and her baby.
* HELP WITH ENERGY & STAMINA After having a baby the mother needs as much rest as possible. But regular daily activities must resume eventually. When that time comes the placenta can be a great way to support her energy levels. The placenta contains a thyroid stimulating hormone that boosts energy and also helps recover from stressful events. As mentioned earlier it also contains cortisol, which helps with energy as well, and iron that prevents fatigue. The placenta also contains gammaglobulin and interferon, both of which stimulate and boost the immune system to keep the new mom from succumbing to common sicknesses.
Some of the properties that the placenta contains are:
Gonadotropin: the precursor to estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.
Prolactin: promotes lactation.
Oxytocin: The Love hormone. Promotes feelings of love and connectedness /bonding; produced during breastfeeding to facilitate bonding of mother and infant.
Thyroid stimulating hormone: boosts energy and helps recovery from stressful events.
Cortisone: combats stress and unlocks energy stores.
Interferon: stimulates the immune system to protect against infections.
Prostaglandins: anti-inflammatory
Hemoglobin: replenishes iron deficiency and anemia.
Urokinase inhibiting factor and factor XIII: stops bleeding and enhances wound healing.
Gammaglobulin: immune booster that helps protect against postpartum infections.
In addition to these, the placenta also contains many vitamins and minerals, protein, and natural hormones that are perfectly suited to your needs.
DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is for informational purposes only. No action or inaction should be taken based on the information from this blog alone.