...and a side order of placenta please

gaijingal · Oct 16, 2005

When my bro was born in 1992, they asked my dad if he wanted the placenta so we could all eat it. This was in west coast suburbia, and we're obviously an all honky/no culture kind of family, so it must not be that esoteric a practice.

But to answer your question, no, I don't know anyone personallly who has done this (that was your question, right?).

BabyRN2Be · Oct 16, 2005

I do know someone who has done this, of course, it was a homebirth situation. From the reading I have done, this had been done in the long distant past. Eating the placenta would stop uncontrolled bleeding.

I guess it's dependent on what part of the country you are from. West coast, I could see it happening more, but here in the midwest, I could see someone declaring it a biohazard and refuse to let the family have it.

It's a shame as there are some traditions among families to plant the placenta under a tree (for nourishment) after a baby is born. That would be a nice one. Plant a new tree for each baby. :)

palesarah · Oct 17, 2005

never had any patients who wanted to eat it, although I "know people who know people" who have- when I was taking a holistic labor assistant course, one of the girls in class told a story of a frined's homebirth she attended as a doula and she was asked to cook up the placenta after the birth. She said they offered her a piece to eat but declined, lol.

At the hospital I worked at, if a patient wasnted to take the placenta home, it was allowed. I'd guess maybe 10-20 moms out of 800 or so a year would request to take them home to plant.

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 17, 2005

I have learned this practice it used to help w/postpartum hemorrhage in the homebirth situation.

Personally I would just take the shot of methergine or hemabate and pass on the placenta-eating. But to each her own, I guess.

prmenrs, RN · Oct 17, 2005

That's way too much granola for me!!

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Oct 17, 2005

Never heards of this. Far as I've heard is ppl using it in shampoo (human and animal placenta). But I have to agree. To each its own.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2005

Do a "placenta " search on here. Not to long ago there was a hugh thread about things people do with their placenta's. It keep me rolling on the floor laughing.....:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I was wondering if any of you have run into mamas that want to eat their placentas. I know it is done, I have read about it in some birth books from the 70's and 80's. I just wondered how common it is today and if any one every runs across it. Would it be against hospital policy? A friend told me she wanted to keep hers to plant a tree and they would not give it to her because they said it was a bio-hazard, therefore it could not leave the hospital.

allnurses Guide · Oct 17, 2005

That thread had to do with "Lotus Birth" . . . . pretty funny thread.

steph

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2005

Thats the one....:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

That thread had to do with "Lotus Birth" . . . . pretty funny thread.
steph

Mirai Kangofu · Oct 17, 2005

::Barf:: Kuru (human version of mad cow) comes to mind.

midwife2b · Oct 17, 2005

I have learned this practice it used to help w/postpartum hemorrhage in the homebirth situation.
Personally I would just take the shot of methergine or hemabate and pass on the placenta-eating. But to each her own, I guess.

I second this one!