Wednesday, 02 June 2010
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Placentophagy- Yes, I'm Eating My Placenta!
I need to talk to y'all about my PBi experience.
This is my first time ingesting the placenta after birth. When I was just a few weeks pregnant I began my search for a placenta encapsulator in my area. I found two, and opted for the closer one. Placentophagy (or, consumption of the placenta) was recommended to me by my midwives, and I've heard about it all over the internet from various random people all over the world.
At first the idea of it was gross. But when you've suffered with Postpartum Depression so severely, and on multiple occasions, you'll try just about anything to escape its traumatic grip! I made many efforts while pregnant to prevent the onset of PPD. And though I was thrown for a loop by developing antenatal depression just a month before Daniel was born, I don't consider my efforts wasted at all!
My placenta was sealed in a gallon Ziploc freezer bag, placed in a cooler with ice, and sent home with Sonny just a couple hours after the birth. The next morning my CPE (certified placenta encapsulator), Sara, arrived at my house and prepared the placenta while my family went about the busy-ness of their daily lives, sometimes looking on at the process. Sara prepared and cut up the placenta, and set it to dry in an Excalibur Dehydrator for several hours. She returned that evening, ground the dried placenta into a powder, and preserved the powder into capsules. She put the capsules in a professional container and Sonny delivered it to me in the hospital, along with literature and directions. I began taking them promptly.
Once I got past my mental squirminess of the idea, it was no big deal. At one point, when I was feeling particularly grossed out I only took my capsules because I paid $140 for them! But once the actual benefits became apparent, I don't think twice about downing the hatch!
Several people want to hear about my experience, so I've been keeping a journal. On day four I was feeling down and sad, and wanted to cry for no reason. After noting the feelings in my journal, I went and took my dose of placenta. Two hours later I reported that I was feeling just fine and dandy!
It's true! I feel VERY good. The first three postpartum days I was having nightmares about being mean to my children. Once the PBi's kicked in, my dreams have changed to endearing, loving images of me relating to my children and family. I also notice the difference in my waking hours. Lots of love pouring out of emotions for my family and my baby. I love snuggling with my Daniel, even if I don't have to hold him or nurse him. I find myself holding him just because. And nuzzling and kissing him, talking words of love over him and my family, and enjoying a general feeling of peace and love. So UNLIKE my other five postpartum experiences!!! This is truly a form of redemption!
Another thing I've noticed is that although I'm sleep deprived, I don't feel exhausted and worn out. I'm not irritable or grouchy either. Yes, I feel tired, but it's just different. I feel very homeostatic. Content.
I wonder if my taking Zoloft will skew the results of my experience with PBi. I don't think so. Because even while on the Zoloft, though I felt well, I still had moments of instability. Granted I didn't go over an depressive edges and felt well. The feeling I have now is much deeper- more organic. More from "within." I thought I was feeling normal and good on the Zoloft. But the PBi has taken it to a whole new level I didn't know existed. I wish I wasn't taking the Zoloft so I could fully experience the miracle of placentophagy! I tell ya, it's verrrry tempting to go off the Zoloft. But, unfortunately my PBi supply is limited, and I still have to weigh into account the coming changes in my life with the move to Lynchburg and all. It's best to stay on with the program and see this season through before going off the Zoloft.
If you don't believe how well I'm doing postpartum, please let me know if you have any questions.Would you consider giving placentophagy a try? Have you or anyone else you know tried it?
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About the Author
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- From: BaCkWooDsThInkiNG@xanga
- Name: Angela
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Comments (90)
I would definitely try it if I were to have another child. A few of my currently pregnant friends are going to encapsulate their placenta.... one of them is going to plant it. Either way, I think it's pretty amazing.
I want to do it. But there's no one in my area that does it. Plus, I don't really have the money for it. I'm Bi-Polar so I'm very high risk for getting PPD...I didn't with my daughter, but with this pregnancy, who knows?! Every one is different. Good for you though! Doing what you want and need to make you feel better!!! The best momma is a happy momma!!!
You have to try everything once.
While I'm glad it's working for you, I'm out! LOL (And only partly because we are done reproducing.) I wonder if any of it is the placebo affect, but there's no real way to know...and...either way...if it's working for you? Awesome!
... that's sick.
Yeah, I'll definitely consider it for our next birth (which will hopefully be a home birth, so that'll make it that much easier!)!
Oh geez, I thought you meant eating the thing like with tomato sauce and a fork/knife! That mental image was making me gag.
I wouldn't do it unless there was evidence that it worked --but if there was, then sure, why not? Taking pills isn't so bad. I don't think I'd ever be able to bring myself to eat it as is though.
I have to admit that when I saw the headline, I thought, "Gross!"
But you know, if/when I have children, if I know that I'm going to get PPD, I think I'd do just about anything to avoid it too. I'm glad it worked so well for you.@just_the_average_jane@xanga - Some people do actually fry the placenta and eat it. It seems quite common with home births, actually.
The placenta is cooked basically straight away, and eaten after the birth.
@Lydia_Lynne@xanga - Where are you at? Maybe I can hook you up through more discreet channels.
@MommyGEM_RN@xanga - I had three home births. It's WONDERFUL!
@just_the_average_jane@xanga - @individually_surveys@xanga - I've heard of people cutting off a chunk and blending it into a smoothie. Yeah, I gag over that one! I guess LLL has a recipe for stew. Could you imagine a placenta meatloaf? DISGUSTING! But people do it!!! The capsules make it doable, otherwise I wouldn't dare try it.
I think I threw up a little bit in my mouth just now. That's the most disgusting placebo I've ever heard of.
Somebody should nominate Sara to go on that Dirty Jobs show.
I heard about this a few years ago or so on a show on the Discovery Channel (or Discovery Health probably). I don't remember if the placenta was the focus of the episode, but I recall that one woman cooked up the placenta and ate it (possibly with her family). Another woman took it and put it in a hole before planting a tree. I think they were talking about how they planted a tree when their baby was born so they could watch both grow or something. I dunno, it was something like that.
I think it's pretty interesting and I heard it's nutritious. I might consider it when I have kids.
Lawl I wonder if it would be bad if women took placenta instead of anti-depressants. I wonder if it would work or just cause really strange hormonal changes. xD
I know I'm definitely eating my placenta when I have children. ^^
This title made me gag but whatever. I think it's cool that people want to do it but I pass. I don't want to try it although I am open to other natural measures to prevent or treat post partum depression. I'm glad it's helping you.
@BaCkWooDsThInkiNG@xanga - I could do it if it was in a capsule...cause you can kind of forget what it is, y'know? But these people fry it! Ugh! I feel sick and queasy just thinking about it, haha.
Capsule form? Maybe. Any other way, absolutely not. I can't get over my mental image of it and it makes me sick, lol. But hey, if it's working for you then that's great. I know I suffered from PPD and if that could help? I might consider it... but only the way you did it!
I will pass thanks. But if it works for you, then it was well worth the money (and getting past the thoughts about it)!
Thanks for sharing - definitely a different way then I had heard before about it being done.
Disgusting and sick.
Placebo effect perhaps?
Thank you for sharing! I've been looking into doing this too because I got severe post-partum depression after my daughter was born. I did everything "right", breastfeeding, rest, eating right etc. nothing worked.
^_^ the placebo effect is so wonderful.
this is fucking disgusting. and depression is just a fucking excuse for a lazy ass who wants to shrug responsibility. were all fucking sad, life sucks, get the fuck over it.
fucking gross...............
Oh. My. God.