Buzz
American comedian Christopher Titus once said, "When you're born, you're pure. Unspoiled and trusting. Some say it's the only time we're perfect. You're also born covered in blood and placenta. No one gets nostalgic about that."
Apparently, Mr. Titus hasn't encountered some of the people featured on our list.
The placenta is the organ that serves as a connection between the mother and her baby. It acts as an efficient system for both delivery and filtration, developing in the uterus during pregnancy. It transports nutrients and oxygen to the growing baby while removing the baby's waste products. After the baby is born, the placenta naturally follows, emerging with the newborn through the mother's vagina or being surgically removed in a C-section.
Once its function is complete, the placenta (along with the rest of the afterbirth) is typically discarded as medical waste. But increasingly, some people are choosing not to dispose of it and are finding creative ways to use it.
In Latin, the word 'placenta' referred to a flat cake. It was derived from the Greek word 'plakos,' which described anything flat. This is fitting, as the placenta itself is a flattened organ. Now, let’s take a look at some of the strange things women have done with their placentas.
10. Cook and Serve
While researchers have found no solid proof that cooking and consuming the placenta was a common practice in human societies, some cultures may have resorted to it in extreme conditions, such as famine. While humans don’t typically make placenta-based dishes, we are actually an exception in the animal kingdom.
Most mammals, including herbivores, eat their placenta right after giving birth. Experts suggest this is a survival instinct, as the mother hides the birth evidence to avoid attracting predators. Oddly, camels seem to skip this ritual. Perhaps they’re less concerned about predators.
The trend of eating placentas seems to have emerged in the United States during the 1970s, gaining attention thanks to a few celebrities who touted its supposed benefits for combating post-natal depression and fatigue. However, nutritionists caution that human placentas may harbor harmful bacteria and viruses, making them potentially dangerous.
Placentophagy is the scientific term for consuming the placenta. Whether it qualifies as a form of cannibalism remains a topic of debate. Apparently, it has a flavor reminiscent of beef or liver. You could even try it in lasagna as a substitute for your regular meat. In fact, the word 'placenta' does sound like an Italian dish.
9. Planted Placenta
Because the placenta is rich in protein, iron, and various nutrients, it serves as an excellent fertilizer for plants.
Simply dig a hole in your garden, place the placenta inside (be sure to plant it deep enough so your dog doesn’t unearth it), and then plant a tree over it. Pack the soil around the tree, and you can watch it grow alongside your baby. It’s a romantic and meaningful idea, and it should be safe in most situations.
However, keep an eye on your plant—you wouldn’t want to create a tree with a thirst for human blood. You might want to watch or read The Day of the Triffids or The Little Shop of Horrors before making your final choice.
8. Leave It Alone
Some new mothers are choosing to do nothing at all with the placenta. They leave the baby’s umbilical cord intact, allowing it to naturally detach from the infant, a process that can take anywhere from three to ten days. This approach is known as a lotus birth.
Birth is a traumatic experience for a baby. By leaving the umbilical cord and placenta attached, it is believed to ease the transition from the womb to the outside world. While this method is harmless, parents should be cautious to ensure the baby doesn’t accidentally strangle itself with the cord. Also, if you plan to eat the placenta later, it may not be as fresh as you'd prefer.
Most mammals immediately cut the umbilical cord after birth. An interesting exception is the camel. (What’s up with camels?)
7. Art for Art’s Sake
While no one has observed a camel turning her placenta into a piece of art, some human mothers opt for this creative choice. Many believe the placenta resembles the tree of life, thanks to its intricate network of veins. It doesn’t really resemble anything other than what it is, but people certainly have vivid imaginations.
Some new parents take pride in thoroughly cleaning the placenta before making a print of it. Here’s how it’s done:
- Place your placenta (fresh, not frozen) on a tray.
- Use acid-free ink to stain it.
- Take a sheet of acid-free paper and position it over the placenta.
- Gently press the paper onto the placenta.
Once you have your print, you can frame it. Or perhaps make copies and share them with friends. But if you’re thinking of eating the placenta later, it’s better to use food coloring rather than ink.
6. Popping Pills
If frying up your placenta and serving it for dinner doesn’t sound appealing, there’s a more palatable alternative: you can have it made into capsules and swallow one with your tea or coffee.
The placenta is cleaned, steamed, cooked, dried, ground, and then encapsulated. This process is believed to preserve the nutrients in the placenta. Unlike consuming placenta, drying it to use as a medicinal supplement has a long-standing tradition. The Chinese have utilized dried placenta in traditional medicine for centuries.
Several companies provide this capsule service. If you’re interested, you can easily find one online. However, be aware that health authorities caution potential users about the possible presence of active bacteria and viruses.
5. Give It Away
The strange thing about this option is that it’s not more common. The umbilical cord and placenta are rich in stem cells, which can be used by specialists to save lives and aid research into various health conditions.
Most parents don’t give much thought to the placenta and cord once the baby is born. Naturally, their attention is focused on the newborn. The hospital typically disposes of the afterbirth as medical waste. However, if you’re preparing to give birth, it’s worth checking if your hospital allows you to save and donate the placenta for medical or research purposes.
4. Preserve It
There are companies that can transform your placenta into jewelry or even turn it into a picture frame. Many people enjoy keeping a memento from their baby’s birth, and a bangle or photo frame are popular options. Of course, you could always preserve the entire placenta and use it as a dramatic centerpiece for your dining table.
You might think the baby would be the ultimate reminder of the mother’s experience, but there are some who desire something more. Alex Green is a designer with a vivid imagination. She took her placenta and fashioned it into a teddy bear. If you’d like to try it too, here are the steps:
- Cut your placenta in half.
- Rub sea salt into it.
- Allow it to dry completely.
- Treat it with a blend of egg yolk and tannin. This will soften it, making it easier to shape.
- Shape it into a teddy bear-like figure.
- Stuff and sew it together.
The outcome may or may not resemble a teddy bear, but it’s definitely a creative concept and will keep you occupied during the endless hours of free time that every new parent has (just kidding).
3. Sell Your Placenta
If you lean more towards practicality than sentimentality, you might consider selling your placenta and other afterbirth products. There is a market for them. However, keep in mind that this option comes with some legal complications, as selling body parts is illegal.
Dr. Christopher Centeno, from Boulder, Colorado, explored the value of afterbirth for a blog. In his article, he estimated the market value of afterbirth at an astounding half a million dollars per birth. If you manage to find a buyer, this sum could make a substantial contribution to your baby’s college tuition fund. But, to stay within the law, you may want to opt for donating it instead.
2. Burying Placenta
Burying your placenta is a practice with deep historical roots. Many cultures, both past and present, have believed that the placenta is closely connected to both the child and the earth. Some traditions hold that the placenta continues to have an influence on the child, and so it should be treated with respect.
In New Zealand, the Maori people use the same word for placenta as they do for the earth—referred to as the mother of all. The placenta is honored and buried in a special location. Similarly, a parent from Turkey might bury the placenta on the grounds of a mosque, wishing for their child to grow up with strong faith.
There are countless examples of reverence for the placenta across cultures. You might want to think about burying yours in a place you cherish, returning it to the embrace of Mother Nature.
1. Skin Care Potions
You can easily find recipes online to create homemade skin creams that are more affordable and just as effective as store-bought brands. But have you considered adding your own dried, powdered placenta to your cream for a truly unique touch? A skin cream made from your own body.
Placenta cream is often praised by users for its effectiveness on stretch marks, cracked nipples, and for keeping the skin looking youthful and vibrant. However, there is no conclusive proof to support the claim that the placenta provides these extra benefits.
That said, it could make for a truly unique and intriguing birthday gift.
