{"id":5859,"date":"2020-01-04T10:47:25","date_gmt":"2020-01-04T15:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/natural-womanhood.local\/?p=5859"},"modified":"2024-05-18T18:29:50","modified_gmt":"2024-05-18T23:29:50","slug":"beneficios-riesgos-de-comer-placenta-postparto-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalwomanhood.org\/es\/benefits-risks-of-eating-placenta-postpartum-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"C\u00f3mo puede ayudarle la encapsulaci\u00f3n de placenta despu\u00e9s del parto"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Although women have been doing it for centuries, and the practice has some basis in traditional Chinese medicine<\/a>, it has become a growing trend since the 1970s, particularly in America, for women who just gave birth to consume their placenta [1]. Some have it dehydrated into powder form, put into capsules (called placenta encapsulation), and take it with their daily vitamins. Others freeze it and put raw pieces in a smoothie. Some bake it in lasagna. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If eating your placenta sounds a little gross at first, you\u2019re not alone; but for potentially valuable postpartum relief, take a moment to read on.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why would women consume their placenta?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This 2018 summary of research<\/a> noted, “More than 4000 species of mammals consume their placenta; only in humans and camelids [alpacas] has it been noted that the afterbirth is not routinely ingested 7<\/a>” [2]. Other than the fact that mammals also do this, there is some research to back up the theory that placenta ingestion reduces risk of postpartum mood disorders, decreases length of lochia bleeding, and while it\u2019s still disputed in lactation circles, induces increased and quicker onset of Lactogenesis II (copious milk production). <\/span> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, let\u2019s talk about what the placenta even is. It is an entire organ that a pregnant woman produces primarily in the first trimester of a pregnancy in the uterus alongside a growing fetus. (What, you thought you just grew a baby in a pregnancy? Nope, that\u2019s a baby and an entire organ to support it.) The placenta\u2019s primary role is to regulate fetal metabolism, waste removal, respiration, immunological hormone synthesis, and growth. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After delivering a baby, the placenta is then delivered, and the doctor or midwife studies it to be sure it’s all come out. That\u2019s the moment of truth to preserve it, for those hoping to save and consume their placenta. You\u2019ll want to find a trustworthy local source to prepare the placenta for safe consumption, such as placenta encapsulation.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the nutritional benefits of placenta encapsulation? <\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlacentas contain high amounts of iron and other natural hormones that are needed to maintain good physical and mental health, both prenatally and postpartum,\u201d says <\/span>Emma Whitlock<\/span><\/a>, a Certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist in Cleveland, Ohio. \u201cIt takes the body about four weeks to build back up the hormones needed for that baseline. Consuming the placenta may help bridge that gap naturally, which may help a new mom avoid synthetic iron or hormones replacement.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is this beneficial? \u201cNatural iron is more bioavailable than what you would get in a supplement,\u201d Whitlock says. \u201cThe body may then absorb them and regenerate the levels faster and easier when they come directly from the mother\u2019s body.  It is similar to the idea of eating fresh homegrown vegetables from your garden, rather than canned, processed food. The body benefits much better from the natural version over the modified.\u201d In other words, placenta encapsulation is theoretically like a postpartum vitamin that’s tailor-made for each individual woman. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, this 2017 randomized, double-blinded study<\/a> found that placenta encapsulation contained inadequate amounts of iron to meaningfully affect maternal iron levels, and was therefore ineffective at resolving postpartum a<\/span>nemia [3]. And this small 2016 research study<\/a> found that while placenta samples did not contain toxic amounts of any trace elements, the recommended daily number of capsules provided, for instance, “24% [of the recommended daily allowance or RDA] for iron, 7.1% RDA for selenium, 1.5% RDA for zinc, and 1.4% RDA for copper” [4]. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to this literature review<\/a>, in addition to high amounts of iron, 450g of placenta contains [1]:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n