Placentophagy is the act of eating one’s own placenta after childbirth. Many mammals do this instinctively to avoid predators but why would a woman want to do so? Many women believe that the placenta contains many hormones that are a needed replenishment to prevent postpartum depression and increase milk production. Some doctors and medical experts are skeptical on this theory. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of research on placentophagy to support either side of the argument. Could it just be that women want it to help ward off the baby blues so it works as mind over matter? We have all learned that mammals consume their afterbirth directly following birth. Not only is it a source of protein for the mother, but it is also said to improve …show more content…
The placenta contains hormones, opioids and nutrients in it that were previously transported to the fetus. Proteins, iron, vitamin B6, oxytocin and corticotropin-releasing hormone are also within the placenta. Because the body stores have been depleted, it is hypothesized that consuming the placenta can replenish these. When the iron stores are boosted, the energy level is increased and will subsequently ward off the baby blues. Controversially, she states that “[women] are already well-nourished” and “placentophagy for the purpose of nutrition is unnecessary” (Beacock, …show more content…
By doing this process, it does not rid the placenta of any potential bacteria or pathogens. In one case in Oregon, a woman actually unknowingly passes an infection to her infant through breast milk (Harbarger, 2017, June 29). The CDC addressed the topic by saying “the placenta encapsulation process does not eradicate infectious pathogens; thus, placenta capsule ingestion should be avoided” (Harbarger, 2017, June 29). There are companies that offer the service for you to send your placenta to them to be dried and encapsulated. In the case of the Oregon woman and her infant, the baby was treated for a severe strep infection twice before doctors learned that the mother was ingesting her placenta. The bacteria strep was found in the placenta capsules. Other options for mothers that want to cherish and value their placenta have other options that do not carry these risks. Mothers can have their placenta made into t-shirts, art, jewelry, body salves or just by symbolically burying it (Harbarger, 2017, June
...regiver sees signs of separation, they could ask you to push gently one more time to help get the placenta out. After the placenta is out you are completely done with the process of giving birth.
what healthful and nutritious means. What we do know is breast milk not only contains the
Childbirth is nothing short of a miracle. The placenta—the organ connecting a developing fetus to the uterine wall and allowing for waste elimination, nutrient uptake and gas exchange via the mother's blood supply—filters most harmful substances that threaten an embryo, though some may still pass on to the fetus. These harmful substances, called “teratogens,” range from environmental chemicals to the transmission of maternal diseases, and can negatively impact the normal developmental cycle of a fetus. The title “teratogen,” however, refers to any substance or chemical exposure with the potential to cause birth defects in prenatal development. Exposure to teratogens can result in a broad spectrum of physiological and psychological issues in later life, including malformations of the body.
Taki, M., Sato, Y., Kazuyokakui, Tatsumi, K., Fujiwara, H., & Konishi, I. (2012). Management of fetal death with placenta previa. Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 196-199.
It is a recognised certainty that nutrition is a fundamental requirement to sustain a healthy lifestyle and is also extremely valuable when recovering from an illness or an injury. Nutrients are absorbed in the body and this physiological process is essential for homeostasis and ensuring equilibrium is sustained within the body as without enough food and drink the body will not function correctly (Edwards & Thomas, 2009). This essay will provide information on folic acid and its properties, its role and the midwife’s role and responsibility in informing women in the early stages of pregnancy and the importance that it has.
Is there any food on earth that can provide the PERFECT nutrition to a human? Yes, and it is breast milk. Breast milk is the perfect nutrition. This superior food contains hormones, live antibacterial and antiviral cells and essential fatty acids (What Makes Human Milk Special?, Mar-Apr 2006). All of which are helpful in protecting against any harm. Sicknesses in infants are lowered by the help that breast milk gives. Breastfed children are sick less often than children who aren’t breastfed (What Makes Human Milk Special?, Mar-Apr 2006). Breast milk contains all the nutrients that an infant needs as it continues to grow. When the child is brought into the world it has no way to fight off any d...
Though breastfeeding is undoubtedly the optimum feeding method, it is not necessarily a possibility for some mothers (The Nemours Foundation). For example, couples who choose to adopt children are obviously not able to breastfeed their child because the mother is not lactating. Other mothers just simply do not have the time to breastfeed their children because they are busy running errands (Mezzacappa, Elizabeth Sibolboro, and Edward S. Katkin.). Another reason some mothers do not breastfeed is that they are using a babysitter so they need the babysitter to have some way to feed the child (Mezzacappa, Elizabeth Sibolboro, and Edward S. Katkin.). The reasons behind bottle feeding are definitely sound, but they only prove that bottle feeding is an alternative method, not a replacement for breastfeeding. Th...
Efficacy: The systematic reviews showed loads of benefits from macro and micro nutrient supplementations. For instance, small for gestational age (SGA) and low birth weight can be reduced by iron-folate and calcium supplements in pregnancy. Promoting the use of iodized salt is also helpful for physical and mental development and reducing mortality among children. As well, the review supported the fact that balanced energy protein supplements to both mother and child decrease the risk of SGA, stillbirths and low birth weight.
When it comes to eating right, it is important that the diet of a pregnant woman has food energy, protein, with many vitamins and minerals, as this is essential for the pregnancy to support the metabolic demands of pregnancy and the baby's growth. It is then, that knowing the fact that the diet of a pregnant woman should be well controlled it is ide...
Human Breast Milk is touted as the perfected food for infants. There is extreme pressure placed on new mothers to nurse or feed expressed breast milk (EB) elusively for the first six months of life. The extreme of this can be defined by a group called La Lache League International.
This disorder is caused by the body missing minerals and vitamins essential for a functioning body during pregnancy. This disorder becomes especially dangerous when you eat non-food items that could be toxic or deadly for the growing baby and if this is the case it is important to seek medical attention immediately.
In the essay, “A Literature of Place” by Barry Lopez, he explores the topic of forming a bond with nature. He claims that the human imagination is shaped by the architecture it encounters at a young age. When Lopez was growing up in the California Valley, he claimed that his imagination was shaped by the beauty of the “exotic waters” to the “eucalyptus trees”. As Lopez wrote this essay, he described how nature gives humans lively stories which help keep each other's imagination alive, not only does Lopez believe nature is important to the imagination but also to the brain's intelligence and our health, which is why western people have become so anxious about the lands fate in hopes that it stays urban so that
Every woman when pregnant has a 3-5% chance of having a baby born with a birth defect, and these chances increase when the developing fetus/ embryos are exposed to teratogens, whether it’s intentional or unintentional (Bethesda (MD), 2006). Teratogens can cause severe birth defects, malformations, or terminate the pregnancy altogether (Jancárková, & Gregor, 2000). The placenta is known as an effective barrier from any detrimental pathogen that can potentially hurt the fetus. The timing of exposure of any teratogen is critical to the impact of prenatal development (Bethesda (MD), 2006). The most vulnerable time of the fetus for severe damage is during early pregnancy when all the major organ and central nervous system (CNS) are developing. Miscarriages have an important role in keeping a pregnancy from evolving when there is something serious going on with the developing fetus/embryo. Miscarriages are more common than we think and are the most familiar type of pregnancy loss (Bethesda (MD), 2006).
She should make sure that the baby nurses long enough at the breast to get the protein-rich hind milk.