I have been hearing various arguments against placenta encapsulation recently, and I wanted to address one of them here today.
I heard an argument that placenta encapsulation or consuming the placenta following birth is not necessary in our culture because of our access to good nutritious foods.
I can see how this could be believed if one only considers the placenta from a nutritional standpoint. Yes, the placenta contains many nutrients, particularly iron and B vitamins. Yes, there are other available sources of those nutrients in our culture, so if that's all you were trying to get out of placenta encapsulation and preferred to find another source, this could be reasonable.
Consider, however, many women become anemic during their pregnancies, a lot of them undiagnosed. The placenta is a great source of iron that could help correct the anemia. We can get iron from other sources, but iron supplementation is notoriously difficult to process, giving unwanted symptoms. The placenta, in my opinion, is an unrivaled option for replacing needed iron.
Consider also that despite the fact that in our modern culture we have unlimited food sources, most of us are nutrient deficient. We have more access to food, yet we are unhealthier than ever. Many of us don't eat how we should, but even if we are, our fresh food is not as nutritious as it needs to be. In light of this fact, while we can have good nutrition if we work hard at it, it's not as easy in our culture as some would argue. The placenta provides easy sources of large amounts of certain nutrients, why let them go to waste if they could benefit you?
So far, my arguments have centered solely on nutrition as that is the sole basis for the counterargument. The reasons for placenta encapsulation are more numerous than nutrition alone. Placenta encapsulation aids in an adequate milk supply. There are some herbs that can also help with milk supply, but for many, the placenta is more effective.
The placenta also contains hormones. This is one of the biggest reasons for considering placenta encapsulation. The hormones contained in the preserved placenta capsules help replace the hormones lost during birth. No amount of food source can do this.
With the increased energy, milk supply sufficiency, easier and shorter postpartum transition and recovery, hormonal stability, and general feeling of well-being, it's hard for the counterargument to hold any ground. Yes, a woman can skip placenta encapsulation and will eventually recover. The transition may not be as smooth, but women are made to have babies and do bounce back. But there is not another source comparable to the placenta for aiding in postpartum recovery. Good nutrition alone does not do all the things consuming the placenta can.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
Placenta Encapsulation Featured on National News Stations
Placenta encapsulation has been getting more and more recognition, especially among major news stations. I understand that among news stations there's a bit of a shock factor they can use to increase their ratings, however, the exposure of these news segments is helping to normalize and increase the acceptance of placenta consumption. Since this can be an important medium for gaining more recognition to placenta encapsulation, I wanted to include some of the news broadcasts here. Happy viewing!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Testimonials
Just thought I'd share some of the testimonials from my website. . .
"Elizabeth was great! Very knowledgeable."
E.D. Gilbert, AZ
"Elizabeth was so nice and answered all my questions as I hovered behind her taking pictures while she worked with my placenta. She worked efficiently and cleaned up after herself. I would highly recommend Elizabeth!"
M.T. Phoenix, AZ
"My advice to all pregnant women… have your placenta encapsulated!!! I never imagined myself “eating” my placenta, but after taking it, the only regret I have is that I didn’t have more. I have two children, and I took it after having my second. Let me tell you, it was truly amazing!! After my first child, I had the weepies for several months. This time I only had the weepies for a couple of days until it started taking effect. My milk came in super fast; I had it by two days postpartum. Bleeding stopped sooner, it only lasted 3 weeks. And my husband loved how much happier I was this time. Encapsulate your placenta, it will make your postpartum so much better!"
S. S. Chandler, AZ
"I have had zero post partum depression this time and a lot more energy. This baby has been more challenging than any of my other kids. I think if it wasn't for the pills, I would be a basket case. I am so thankful for the pills, and I truly believe that the reason I am the way I am is because of the pills. I am definitely an advocate for this procedure."
A.T. Surprise, AZ
"My experience with Elizabeth and having my placenta encapsulated was wonderful. I never suffered from “bad” post-partum, but my periods where irregular and started right away even though I nursed and I did have a little of the “baby blues”. I figured I had nothing to lose. After I started taking my “vitamins”(that’s what I called them) I noticed increased energy, lots of milk, less painful cramping, and best of all I didn’t start having periods right away. In fact my baby is now 11 months and I had my first period this month! My husband said he noticed that my mood seemed to be steady instead of swinging so much, bonus for Him and the rest of our kids! I have recommended Elizabeth to everyone I know."
L.W. Mesa, AZ
L.W. Mesa, AZ
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Is Placenta Consumption Cannibalism?
I heard this question being posed the other day and couldn't help but respond. My initial reaction was one of surprise, like who would actually consider this notion or even be interested in it. Then I started to think about it more and realized maybe there was an argument here, so I'm going to put my two cents in.
The placenta is thought of as an organ of the mother's body. We even use the statement "something made by the body for the body." While this is certainly true that the mother's body does make and benefit from the placenta, the placenta is not made of maternal tissue per se. The tissue of the placenta is actually a product of conception. The mother donates her chromosomes and so does the father. So the placenta actually has components of your partner in it as well. This is why many cultures revere the placenta and often refer to the placenta as the baby's twin. After all, they do arise from the same tissue.
My problem with this argument, however, is that while many cultures respect the placenta as the baby's twin, the placenta is not the same as the baby clearly. The placenta is not a baby.
Another argument I've heard is one from the Bible. I had one well meaning Christian relative ask me what the Bible had to say about it when I first started. I decided to research it.
There is one Bible verse that refers placenta consumption.
This verse is referring to a woman consuming both her baby and the afterbirth during a siege in which she will have nothing to eat. This is the only verse in the entire Bible that refers to the afterbirth. Both the baby and the placenta hold nutrition, so both are lumped together. However, the Bible doesn't state that the afterbirth is human flesh in this verse, as I have read online that other Christians assume. If anything, it alludes to the nutritious benefits of the placenta!
Also for Bible believing Christians, it's the New Testament that we're more concerned with as we are now covered by grace than the law. The New Testament forbids a lot of things, but not consuming the placenta. In fact, all meat was now okay to consume.
Let's take a look at the definition of cannibalism. . .
Cannibalism is consuming the flesh (defined as muscle and fat, not organs) of your own kind. It refers to the flesh of other humans, not necessarily your own flesh.
So, I guess the answer to the argument lies in the fact of whether or not one considers the placenta to truly be a part of the baby or the mother. It would seem that if it is the mother's, then she could reasonably consume her own flesh and not be a cannibal. Here's where I stand, and you are free to make your own decisions. I cannot in good conscience make the connection that the placenta is the same as the baby, that they are one flesh. Yes, they both came from the same place. . . from the mother and the father. They differentiated into different tissues with different functions and purposes. One of them was given a soul; the baby. The placenta was not. The placenta is not alive. The placenta has parts of the mother and father and was grown by the mother, just as how we consider our children a part of us. It's not really flesh of the mother, though she created it. It's not really flesh of the baby because the baby moves on from it too. It's an organ that serves it's purpose and is then no longer needed, so it's not really flesh of either the mother nor the baby.
I guess this is a gray area and I'm not sure anyone can draw an exact conclusion. There will always be different opinions and my advice is always the same. If someone doesn't feel comfortable with placenta encapsulation, then don't do it. No one is twisting your arm. No one will have their feelings hurt. It's your choice and if you feel fine about it, then does it really matter that there may be a few people out there who believe you're a cannibal? Tell them, so what? Placenta encapsulation is NOT the same thing as consuming your baby and I think surely that is a point most of us can agree on!
The placenta is thought of as an organ of the mother's body. We even use the statement "something made by the body for the body." While this is certainly true that the mother's body does make and benefit from the placenta, the placenta is not made of maternal tissue per se. The tissue of the placenta is actually a product of conception. The mother donates her chromosomes and so does the father. So the placenta actually has components of your partner in it as well. This is why many cultures revere the placenta and often refer to the placenta as the baby's twin. After all, they do arise from the same tissue.
My problem with this argument, however, is that while many cultures respect the placenta as the baby's twin, the placenta is not the same as the baby clearly. The placenta is not a baby.
Another argument I've heard is one from the Bible. I had one well meaning Christian relative ask me what the Bible had to say about it when I first started. I decided to research it.
There is one Bible verse that refers placenta consumption.
She will hide from them the afterbirth and the new baby she has borne, so that she herself can secretly eat them. She will have nothing else to eat during the siege and terrible distress that your enemy will inflict on all your towns.
Also for Bible believing Christians, it's the New Testament that we're more concerned with as we are now covered by grace than the law. The New Testament forbids a lot of things, but not consuming the placenta. In fact, all meat was now okay to consume.
Let's take a look at the definition of cannibalism. . .
Cannibalism is consuming the flesh (defined as muscle and fat, not organs) of your own kind. It refers to the flesh of other humans, not necessarily your own flesh.
So, I guess the answer to the argument lies in the fact of whether or not one considers the placenta to truly be a part of the baby or the mother. It would seem that if it is the mother's, then she could reasonably consume her own flesh and not be a cannibal. Here's where I stand, and you are free to make your own decisions. I cannot in good conscience make the connection that the placenta is the same as the baby, that they are one flesh. Yes, they both came from the same place. . . from the mother and the father. They differentiated into different tissues with different functions and purposes. One of them was given a soul; the baby. The placenta was not. The placenta is not alive. The placenta has parts of the mother and father and was grown by the mother, just as how we consider our children a part of us. It's not really flesh of the mother, though she created it. It's not really flesh of the baby because the baby moves on from it too. It's an organ that serves it's purpose and is then no longer needed, so it's not really flesh of either the mother nor the baby.
I guess this is a gray area and I'm not sure anyone can draw an exact conclusion. There will always be different opinions and my advice is always the same. If someone doesn't feel comfortable with placenta encapsulation, then don't do it. No one is twisting your arm. No one will have their feelings hurt. It's your choice and if you feel fine about it, then does it really matter that there may be a few people out there who believe you're a cannibal? Tell them, so what? Placenta encapsulation is NOT the same thing as consuming your baby and I think surely that is a point most of us can agree on!
Monday, January 7, 2013
Who Encapsulates Their Placenta?
I think there is a stigma about the type of woman who would encapsulate her placenta. It's getting lessened as placenta encapsulation gains steam, but it's still there a bit. I've heard women described as granola or crunchy, tree hugger, or hippie dippie (whatever that means). Honestly, the majority of women I get do not fit into those categories, if we really wanted to try to categorize them!
The women who encapsulate their placentas are not way out there into all kinds of weird ideas. They're regular women! Women you'd see walking around the grocery store, women you'd be friends with. I get women from all types of various backgrounds. Some are highly educated professionals. Some are mothers who want to stay home with their children. Some are from the United States. Some were born in other countries. Many even work in the healthcare field. I've had an adventurous one who skydived for a living. The majority of women I get have suffered either with a low milk supply with previous babies or postpartum depression. I've even had one who dealt with postpartum psychosis.
I would say the majority of the women I encapsulate for are simply trying to do something healthy for themselves to be better mothers. Most want to find a way to avoid the issues they had previously dealt with. All women just hope to enjoy their new babies and be a good mother. Some women are attracted to encapsulate because it's something different and unique, and that's totally fine! However, most women just want to be healthy. All the women I have encapsulated for have been intelligent, aware women, capable of making decisions and educating themselves.
The women who choose to encapsulate their placentas come from all different backgrounds and many different walks of life. They do not fit into one specific type of woman. Their ideas and beliefs vary tremendously, but somehow, they all stumbled upon placenta encapsulation and it resonated with them. Perhaps that's a testament to the instinctual nature some argue is buried within us; a mammalian, animalistic instinct that the placenta is meant to be consumed if only we can get past our socialized perceptions. I would say that's the one thing all the women I've had the privilege of encapsulating a placenta for have in common. They've all overcome the social pressure, the stigma, the shoulds and should nots of our society to embrace a divine right to a transcendant babymoon. And if you'd ask them, you'd see. They're just normal women, but not one has regretted her choice.
The women who encapsulate their placentas are not way out there into all kinds of weird ideas. They're regular women! Women you'd see walking around the grocery store, women you'd be friends with. I get women from all types of various backgrounds. Some are highly educated professionals. Some are mothers who want to stay home with their children. Some are from the United States. Some were born in other countries. Many even work in the healthcare field. I've had an adventurous one who skydived for a living. The majority of women I get have suffered either with a low milk supply with previous babies or postpartum depression. I've even had one who dealt with postpartum psychosis.
I would say the majority of the women I encapsulate for are simply trying to do something healthy for themselves to be better mothers. Most want to find a way to avoid the issues they had previously dealt with. All women just hope to enjoy their new babies and be a good mother. Some women are attracted to encapsulate because it's something different and unique, and that's totally fine! However, most women just want to be healthy. All the women I have encapsulated for have been intelligent, aware women, capable of making decisions and educating themselves.
The women who choose to encapsulate their placentas come from all different backgrounds and many different walks of life. They do not fit into one specific type of woman. Their ideas and beliefs vary tremendously, but somehow, they all stumbled upon placenta encapsulation and it resonated with them. Perhaps that's a testament to the instinctual nature some argue is buried within us; a mammalian, animalistic instinct that the placenta is meant to be consumed if only we can get past our socialized perceptions. I would say that's the one thing all the women I've had the privilege of encapsulating a placenta for have in common. They've all overcome the social pressure, the stigma, the shoulds and should nots of our society to embrace a divine right to a transcendant babymoon. And if you'd ask them, you'd see. They're just normal women, but not one has regretted her choice.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Waterbirth Article by Barbara Harper
This is a truly wonderful article regarding waterbirth that I felt was important to share. It's by Barbara Harper, the leading advocate for waterbirth. She has devoted extensive study to this area, and this article is a summary of the research she's done. It's very informative and should clear up any misconceptions about waterbirth. Please read it!
http://www.waterbirth.org/assets/documents/Waterbirth_Basics.pdf
http://www.waterbirth.org/assets/documents/Waterbirth_Basics.pdf
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)