I ate my placenta.

Not like in chili or anything, but yes, I ingested an organ that once was inside my body nourishing my son. Sounds weird, huh? I always thought so, too. Then, after I got into the ‘birth’ community, I learned all the wonderful benefits of using placenta medicine:

• Increase milk production

• Help with postpartum depression

• Speed the return of your uterus to its pre-pregnancy state

• Replenish your iron and energy

• Help with energy levels

• Lessen postnatal bleeding

• Useful with menopause

There are a few different ways to prepare a placenta for consumption. Some of those ways do include meals, like chili or jerky 🙂  But, in general it is found in a capsule form. You just take a few pills through the day, just like any other vitamin or supplement. The biggest difference is that the makeup of the placenta gives you a delivery of nutrients and hormones specifically designed by and for you.

Some of the know nutrients found in placenta are:

• Gonadotrophin: the precursor to estrogen, progesterone and testosterone

• Prolactin: main hormone to produce milk

• Oxytocin: for pain and 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.

Placenta can also be made into a tincture (or essence), soaked in grain alcohol and used throughout the day in water or directly under the tongue. But, before the placenta is prepared for consumption some people also like to make keepsake art. Kinda like baby’s first footprint, only waaaay cooler!

I chose to encapsulate my placenta in hopes of healing from postpartum depression. At six months is when I recognized that I needed some help, so I defrosted that bad boy and sent it over to a specialist. Since then, I have learned lots more, and am know offering the services myself. Never thought that would happen! Check out everything I can do with your placenta  here.

Did you use placenta medicine postpartum? What your experience? Love to hear from the locals!