Organ-ic

I have posted quite a few articles in the past about the benefits of placenta consumption. Some examples are:

• Afterbirth, After Birth Pt 1
• Afterbirth, After Birth Pt 2

The response is always the same, ½ of the comments are along the lines of ‘awesome, that is too cool’, while the other ½ of the comments are ‘eeew! That is sooo gross!’.

Some go as far as to say that placenta consumption is cannibalistic.

I call that a knee-jerk reaction. Why are people so concerned about consuming a part of a human body?! You might just think that this here doula has completely lost her mind, but let’s take a look at our own daily habits:

• Do you chew your lip? Guess what, you are consuming your own skin cells
• Are you one of those that suck or chew on their hair? Yup, you're eating your own body. 
• Do you kiss your spouse or partner? Guess what? You are consuming their cells
• Do you chew your cuticles? You are biting off hunks of your own skin tissue
• Do you kiss your children’s hands, faces, or lips? You are ingesting their tissue
• I won't even go into oral sex...

You get the point? Our bodies are continuously sloughing off cells into our immediate environment. We are all considered cannibals if you follow this line of thought, and we are all guilty of consuming ‘gross’ things.

Let’s take it a step further; consumption does not only occur through the mouth/digestive tract. We consume many things through our skin.

If you put lotion on, your skin will absorb the nutrients, toxins, and other ingredients to be integrated into your cells and, as such, your blood stream. The same goes for cosmetics, washes and soaps, and shampoos and conditioners.

So, what does this have to do with the placenta? Many hair and skin products contain human, bovine, and ovine placenta. The ingredients would be listed as amino acids, Estrogen, or even outright placenta.

Yep, that’s right, many of you who are going ‘eew, that’s nasty to consume a human placenta in pill form or in whole form’ have no problem smearing it all over your face, body, and hair!

So, while you might gnaw on your cuticles, kiss your spouse, or coat your body in placenta, far be it from me to suggest consuming an organ that is rich in nutrients, hormones, and antioxidants, able to help your postpartum body heal, give you energy, and increase both your milk supply and milk content.

Rant over.