Overview

This episode dives into the research on placenta encapsulation and whether it lives up to the claims of preventing postpartum depression. Explore the evidence on its potential benefits and risks and understand why medical opinions remain divided on this practice. If you’re considering placenta encapsulation but encountering skepticism from your doctor, midwife, or partner, you’ll get practical advice to navigate these conversations, address concerns, and make an informed decision that feels right for you.

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Article and Resources

Hi Vanessa, I absolutely love your podcast, it’s been such an incredible resource, and I recommend it to everyone! I’m currently having a disagreement with my husband about placenta encapsulation. A couple of my friends encapsulated their placentas and said it really helped them with postpartum depression. I’ve struggled with depression in the past, so I’m looking for anything that could help me avoid it after having my baby. When I brought it up with my doctor, they said there’s no evidence to support it and recommended I avoid it altogether. My husband agrees with them. He thinks it’s gross and a waste of money. I really want to encapsulate my placenta, but I feel like I need everyone to be on the same page. Is there any evidence that placenta encapsulation is beneficial? And do you have any advice on how to approach this with my doctor and my husband? Thank you so much, Janine

The Placenta

The placenta is an organ that transfers oxygen and nutrients to your baby and helps filter carbon dioxide and other waste products. It also plays a significant role in secreting vital hormones, including hCG, commonly known as the pregnancy hormone, estrogen, progesterone, oxytocin, and prolactin. One side attaches to your uterine wall; the other has an umbilical cord connecting to your baby. After your baby is born, your body no longer needs your placenta, and the organ will detach from your uterine wall and come out the same way your baby did. There is a complete episode on the third stage and your options for interventions and management.

Placenta Encapsulation

Placentophagy is the technical term for eating your placenta. The most common and socially acceptable method to consume your placenta is encapsulating it. Prices range depending on the person providing this service and their experience level. Expect to pay around $300 for someone to encapsulate your placenta. This process involves dehydrating the placenta and encapsulating the ground-up powder into gel capsules. This process takes 1-3 days. Depending on your total supply, you should have pills for about a month.

The Evidence on the Benefits

The list of potential benefits of placenta encapsulation is impressive. It includes replenishing depleted iron, increasing energy, lessening the amount of postnatal bleeding, increasing milk production, balancing out hormones, and helping your uterus return to its pre-pregnancy state.

One resource, often cited as evidence of the benefits of placenta encapsulation, was a survey of 189 women who ate their placenta, most of them in capsules. Overall, 96% of the women said they had a “positive” or “very positive” experience consuming their placenta. 98% said they would do it again. About 57% of women in the study reported no adverse effects from ingesting placenta. The most commonly reported negative experience revolved around the pill’s taste and the “ick” factor of consuming the placenta. As reported by the participants in the survey, the top positive effects were improved mood, increased energy, and improved lactation. The top adverse side effects were unpleasant burping, headaches, and an unappealing taste or smell.

Postpartum Depression and the Baby Blues

Your hormone levels drop drastically following birth. If you have made it through your first trimester, you know firsthand how hormones can make your moods swing all over the place, and it is entirely out of your control. Combine this with sleep deprivation, the physical stress after having a baby, your body healing, breastfeeding challenges, and the stress of caring for a newborn, and you have the perfect storm to be bummed out after birth.

The Research on Placenta Encapsulation and Postpartum Depression

In a review of medical records of over 23,000 mothers who gave birth in community birth settings, like a birth center or at home, nearly one-third (30.8%) consumed their placenta. The most common reason (73.1%) was to prevent postpartum depression. One of the most significant reported benefits of placenta encapsulation is balancing out hormones, which, theoretically, should help with baby blues and postpartum depression.

One group of researchers examined whether encapsulated placenta contains hormones and whether those hormones are significant enough to affect you. 15 of the 17 hormones they tested for were present in all 28 samples. The conclusion was that because many factors affect hormone bioavailability and bioactivity, such as delivery method and interaction between hormones, it is difficult to say conclusively whether the values reported here could elicit physiological effects in women taking placenta capsules. Despite this limitation, while concentrations of many of the selected hormones are relatively low, mean concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, and allopregnanolone could potentially reach physiological effect thresholds, given some encapsulation providers’ maximum 3300 mg/day intake guidelines.

A pilot study randomized 27 participants to receive supplements containing their placenta or a placebo and measured salivary hormone concentrations. The group who received the placenta supplements did have higher measured hormone concentrations. However, these were insufficient to result in significant hormonal differences between the two groups.

The Possibility of the Placebo Effect

One recurring theme is the possibility that consuming the placenta has positive effects due to the placebo effect. People would only encapsulate their placenta because they perceive multiple postpartum health benefits. These are benefits from the media, friends, family, doulas, midwives, and even doctors. The expectation of a positive result is likely to skew results positively. Many would argue that even if their experience of a better postpartum period results from the placebo effect, who cares? They are right. As long as the result is positive and has no negative consequences, it doesn’t matter.

The Evidence on the Risks

A concern often raised when talking about the potential risks of placenta encapsulation is based on the fact that this is an organ that has acted as a filter to absorb and protect your developing baby from toxins and pollutants.

One study examined 28 placentas and tested them to determine what minerals and nutrients they contained. The researchers tested for 14 trace minerals and elements. The amounts were small when looking at essential elements like zinc, iron, and selenium and didn’t come anywhere near the RDA. In looking at potentially harmful substances like arsenic, lead, and mercury, they found these below established toxicity thresholds.

Risk of Infection

There was a medical case that caught the attention of the CDC and made headlines when the CDC cautioned against placenta encapsulation. The case was a baby who was treated for Group B Strep. After 11 days on antibiotics, the baby tested negative and was sent home. Five days later, the baby was admitted to another hospital after contracting GBS again after the placenta, infected with GBS, was encapsulated and eaten by the mother.

The CDC’s official opinion is that consuming contaminated placenta capsules might have elevated maternal GBS intestinal and skin colonization, facilitating transfer to the infant. The CDC states that the placenta encapsulation process does not per se eradicate infectious pathogens; thus, placenta capsule ingestion should be avoided.

No governmental or regulatory agency oversees placenta preparation. The Association of Placenta Preparation Arts is an organization that certifies preparers of the encapsulated placenta and has specific standards that must be met. The APPA responded to the CDC statements and noted that a maternal or fetal infection at birth would be a contraindication for placenta consumption. They concluded that the placenta should not have been prepared or consumed in the case reviewed by the CDC. The association also discusses the importance of safe handling and preparation.

Official Opinions

A review in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found no scientific evidence of any clinical benefit of placentophagy among humans, and no placental nutrients and hormones are retained in sufficient amounts after placenta encapsulation to be potentially helpful to the mother postpartum. They state that because placentophagy is potentially harmful with no documented benefit, counseling women should be directive: physicians should discourage this practice.

Unfortunately, there is no official opinion from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The American Academy of Pediatrics cautions against placenta encapsulation citing the risk of infection due to the risk of bacterial contamination and the lack of industry standard, formal certification, or regulation for placental processing. They state that for families that practice placentophagy despite medical recommendations, practices for food safety should be emphasized.

Summarizing the Research

There is no perfect large-scale, placebo-controlled study that gives black-and-white benefits or risks of consuming your placenta. Many women consume their placenta and rave about its benefits. This anecdotal information has value. There is a lot of a grey area as to whether there is evidence to back up all of the claims made for eating your placenta. On the other hand, no solid large-scale study tells us that it isn’t safe or should be advised against either.

Limiting Risks Associated with Placenta Encapsulation

While uncommon, some risks are associated with placenta encapsulation, so choosing a provider who follows strict safety standards is essential. Currently, there is no nationally accredited certification program for placenta preparation. However, several organizations offer training and certification. This includes the Association for Placenta Preparation, PlacentaBenefits.info, and the International Placenta and Postpartum Association. When evaluating providers, it’s a good idea to ask if they hold certifications and inquire about their experience, including how many clients they have served.

Understandably, your husband may feel skeptical about spending extra money on this service. While cost is often a factor in decision-making, your safety should always take priority over price. The least expensive provider may not be the most qualified or safest option. Be sure to choose someone with extensive experience who adheres to strict safety practices

Talking to Your Doctor or Midwife

Placenta encapsulation tends to have more support within the midwifery community than the mainstream medical system. As you discuss this with your doctor, there are a few things to keep in mind. Your doctor is a trusted expert, so it’s essential to understand their concerns and why they may not recommend placenta encapsulation. You and your care provider are a team, and it’s important to keep conversations respectful and open, even if you disagree. Hopefully, this episode has provided more information to help you have an educated conversation with your doctor. Ultimately, this is your decision, and you can respectfully decline your doctor’s advice.

Working Through Disagreements with Your Partner

Navigating disagreements with your partner can be challenging. Open communication is key. Start by sharing why this is important to you, including your concerns about postpartum depression and the potential benefits you’ve heard about. It is also important to acknowledge your partner’s feelings and concerns. Understandably, he may be concerned about the additional cost, the discouragement from your doctor, or the ick factor. You are on the same team and want the best for you and your baby. You may also consider including him in additional conversations with your doctor or a consultation with a placenta encapsulation specialist. Many times in your parenting journey, you and your partner will need to work through disagreements to get on the same page.

Additional Resources

Thank you to the amazing companies that have supported this episode.

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