You ate your placenta??

In short, yes; but not in the ravenous, cannibalistic, fried in a cast iron pan way you may be picturing. I ate my placenta, but in a capsule like you would take a daily supplement. I had it dehydrated and encapsulated by a Placenta Encapsulation Specialist. So why did I do something so seemingly barbaric but in a less barbaric way? This is why:

Benefits of Placenta Encapsulation

• helps prevent and decrease postpartum depression levels

• increases milk production

• restores and replenishes iron levels in the blood

• balances hormones

• increases CRH, a stress reducing hormone

• increases release of the hormone oxytocin, which assists the uterus in returning to pre-pregnancy state and encourages bonding with the infant

So at this point you may be wondering: what brought me to even consider placenta encapsulation and learning about the benefits. The simplest answer I can give you is that I am a #worrywart and alternative medicine enthusiast who has always believed that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Being my first pregnancy (at the time), the planner/worrier in me was petrified of everything and anything that could happen. One of my worst fears was postpartum depression because of its variability, affecting both women who had been previously prone to depression and those who had not. After googling like a mad woman and researching how I could prevent PPD, I kept coming back to placenta encapsulation. One of my girlfriends mothers was able to put me in touch with her friends daughter who just so happened to be a Placenta Encapsulation Specialist. Amanda @my_holistic_home, was a pleasure to connect with and was so helpful and informative - my decision was made, I would be encapsulating my placenta!

Placenta Encapsulation Process:

Briefly, placenta encapsulation consists of the treatment, dehydration and grounding of the placenta to be placed into capsules. The capsules are then ingested by the mother postpartum to assist with overall healing following the birthing process. For more information feel free to visit Amanda's page at this link.

My Experience:

I had nothing to compare it to at the time being my first pregnancy other than the testimony of other women around me and online whom the majority admitted to experiencing some sort of baby blues postpartum. BabyCenter Canada states that "an estimated 60-80% of new mothers experience them (Beck, 2003).". That being said, I can honestly say that following my pregnancy, while taking my dehydrated placenta pills, I did not experience any sort of baby blues or drop in hormones as its sometimes described. Truthfully, I actually felt energised. I enjoyed the thought of replenishing my body with my own nutrients. In fact, since my teenage years I have been iron deficient with low haemoglobin and borderline anemic and although I took an iron supplement throughout my pregnancy I hadn't been taking them post pregnancy and anticipated my post pregnancy blood-work to reflect that but it didn't. I am certain that the placenta capsules are to thank for that. There were no mood swings, no sadness, and although I kept waiting for it, waiting for some change to happen in me; it never did. I would absolutely recommend placenta encapsulation, some may be skeptical about it but I'm convinced it worked for me. In addition to the placenta capsules, my amazing Placenta Encapsulation Specialist also made me a beautiful umbilical cord keepsake and a mothers tincture containing all of my placentas nutrients which can be used come menopause as my own hormone stabilizer (yes it will last that long). In conclusion, if you're into holistic medicine and worried about PPD or the baby blues then give placenta encapsulation a try.

Bon Appétit!

♥ B