I started this blog with the hopes of having candid discussions about pregnancy, labor/birth, and babies so that new mothers could have a place to turn as an authentic resource. Well pull up a chair and have a seat because this post is going to be as honest and authentic as it gets!
I was hesitant about writing on this topic in one of my first postings because I knew people would hastily assume I had totally turned hippie. I know after people read this posting they are going to think that I have lost what little bit of sense I had left. But because things with Levi have gone so exceedingly well, it really doesn’t bother me when people question/don’t understand my personal decisions.
It all started when I told my midwife that I was committed to having a natural birth. She was happy with my decision and encouraged me to find a doula. Having my doula, Erin, assist us with Levi’s birth was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The second best decision was encapsulating my placenta. During one of our prenatal meetings Erin asked me if I was interested in placenta encapsulation. I said, “Placenta what?!” I had never heard of such craziness! Erin is very knowledgeable so I listened to her suggestion with eager ears. She told me that humans are one of the only mammals that don’t eat our placentas after birth. Mammals eat their placenta because it is so full of nutrients. She told me to think about it and get back with her. You know me- I had to research this concept!
One of the first things I read was that a placenta in capsule form is believed to help with postpartum depression. Enough said right there- I knew I had to give it a shot. Depression runs in my family. I have depression. I had to abruptly stop taking my anxiety/depression medicine when I found out I was pregnant. That was DIFFICULT! I was very hormonal and depressed during my pregnancy. It was a great pregnancy, but I did my share of crying during those long nine months! I had a close friend suffer postpartum depression and it scared me. I did not want to experience that. I was more fearful of having postpartum depression than giving birth. I am not joking. I was terrified of suffering from postpartum depression.
I talked with my psychologist about my fears. He agreed that I was a likely candidate for postpartum depression. So no matter how gross digesting your placenta sounds, to me it was much better than suffering months with depression. I told Erin I wanted to do it. What did I have to lose?
After more reading, I learned that my placenta in capsule form can replenish depleted iron levels, give me more energy, increase my milk production, help my uterus return to its pre-pregnancy state, and help balance my wild hormones. As I read how amazing it all sounded, I thought that it all was too good to be true. I was wrong. Erin took my placenta and encapsulated it for me. There was enough to make almost one hundred pills. I took the pills everyday, just as she suggested. The effects were astounding.
After Levi’s birth I did not suffer postpartum depression. Sure I was exhausted and sleep deprived, but I had energy and lots of it! I wanted to clean, clean, clean my house constantly. And I NEVER want to clean- EVER! I didn’t suffer postpartum depression. I had gained about forty-five pounds during my pregnancy. I lost fifty pounds in a little over four months. Yes I weigh less now than I did before I was pregnant. I didn’t suffer postpartum depression. I am breastfeeding seven months later, and I still have enough milk to feed all the starving children in Africa! I didn’t suffer postpartum depression. Did I mention that I didn’t feel depressed after Levi was born?!
When I went for my six week OBGYN check up, my midwife couldn’t get over how well I was doing. She was very impressed with my weight loss. I told her it was because I was breastfeeding. But I’m convinced it was because of the placenta pills as well.
I still feel great! Don’t take my word on how amazing placenta encapsulation is. Research it yourself. Below are several websites that are good at explaining the placenta pill process. Anyone else know someone who did this too? Or if you did placenta encapsulation please share. I would love to hear your story too!
1) “Mothers opt for placenta benefits” Kim Mulford, The (Cherry Hill, N.J.) Courier-Post
USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/10/mothers-opt-for-placenta-benefits/2407465/
2) Placenta Encapsulation – Benefits of Placenta Encapsulation By Kelly Winder
BellyBelly Creator, Mum & Birth Attendant
http://www.bellybelly.com.au/post-natal/placenta-encapsulation-benefits-of-eating-your-placenta#.UtXNwfvleSo
3) Mother Nature, For Mothers
http://placentabenefits.info/articles.asp
4) Passionate Homemaking-- "The Benefits of Placenta Encapsulation for Postpartum Healing" By Lindsay
http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2011/10/the-benefits-of-placenta-encapsulation-for-postpartum-healing.html
I was hesitant about writing on this topic in one of my first postings because I knew people would hastily assume I had totally turned hippie. I know after people read this posting they are going to think that I have lost what little bit of sense I had left. But because things with Levi have gone so exceedingly well, it really doesn’t bother me when people question/don’t understand my personal decisions.
It all started when I told my midwife that I was committed to having a natural birth. She was happy with my decision and encouraged me to find a doula. Having my doula, Erin, assist us with Levi’s birth was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The second best decision was encapsulating my placenta. During one of our prenatal meetings Erin asked me if I was interested in placenta encapsulation. I said, “Placenta what?!” I had never heard of such craziness! Erin is very knowledgeable so I listened to her suggestion with eager ears. She told me that humans are one of the only mammals that don’t eat our placentas after birth. Mammals eat their placenta because it is so full of nutrients. She told me to think about it and get back with her. You know me- I had to research this concept!
One of the first things I read was that a placenta in capsule form is believed to help with postpartum depression. Enough said right there- I knew I had to give it a shot. Depression runs in my family. I have depression. I had to abruptly stop taking my anxiety/depression medicine when I found out I was pregnant. That was DIFFICULT! I was very hormonal and depressed during my pregnancy. It was a great pregnancy, but I did my share of crying during those long nine months! I had a close friend suffer postpartum depression and it scared me. I did not want to experience that. I was more fearful of having postpartum depression than giving birth. I am not joking. I was terrified of suffering from postpartum depression.
I talked with my psychologist about my fears. He agreed that I was a likely candidate for postpartum depression. So no matter how gross digesting your placenta sounds, to me it was much better than suffering months with depression. I told Erin I wanted to do it. What did I have to lose?
After more reading, I learned that my placenta in capsule form can replenish depleted iron levels, give me more energy, increase my milk production, help my uterus return to its pre-pregnancy state, and help balance my wild hormones. As I read how amazing it all sounded, I thought that it all was too good to be true. I was wrong. Erin took my placenta and encapsulated it for me. There was enough to make almost one hundred pills. I took the pills everyday, just as she suggested. The effects were astounding.
After Levi’s birth I did not suffer postpartum depression. Sure I was exhausted and sleep deprived, but I had energy and lots of it! I wanted to clean, clean, clean my house constantly. And I NEVER want to clean- EVER! I didn’t suffer postpartum depression. I had gained about forty-five pounds during my pregnancy. I lost fifty pounds in a little over four months. Yes I weigh less now than I did before I was pregnant. I didn’t suffer postpartum depression. I am breastfeeding seven months later, and I still have enough milk to feed all the starving children in Africa! I didn’t suffer postpartum depression. Did I mention that I didn’t feel depressed after Levi was born?!
When I went for my six week OBGYN check up, my midwife couldn’t get over how well I was doing. She was very impressed with my weight loss. I told her it was because I was breastfeeding. But I’m convinced it was because of the placenta pills as well.
I still feel great! Don’t take my word on how amazing placenta encapsulation is. Research it yourself. Below are several websites that are good at explaining the placenta pill process. Anyone else know someone who did this too? Or if you did placenta encapsulation please share. I would love to hear your story too!
1) “Mothers opt for placenta benefits” Kim Mulford, The (Cherry Hill, N.J.) Courier-Post
USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/10/mothers-opt-for-placenta-benefits/2407465/
2) Placenta Encapsulation – Benefits of Placenta Encapsulation By Kelly Winder
BellyBelly Creator, Mum & Birth Attendant
http://www.bellybelly.com.au/post-natal/placenta-encapsulation-benefits-of-eating-your-placenta#.UtXNwfvleSo
3) Mother Nature, For Mothers
http://placentabenefits.info/articles.asp
4) Passionate Homemaking-- "The Benefits of Placenta Encapsulation for Postpartum Healing" By Lindsay
http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2011/10/the-benefits-of-placenta-encapsulation-for-postpartum-healing.html