From "Honoring the Placenta"
The Journal of Perinatal Education | Winter 2014, Volume 23, Number 1Placenta Burial
The burial of the placenta is by far the most common use of the organ. All participants who spoke about placenta burial chose a specific tree or shrub in their yard or bought a specific tree or shrub for it, usually fruit bearing. The actual burial was considered an occasion to ceremonialize the birth in some way, even if few people were present. Many women spoke of the burial as a completion of the birthing journey, as the final act of birth.
Lotus Birth
I heard babies can play with their placenta and the umbilical cord inside the womb and it’s their source of comfort and familiarity. So I felt like it was gentle and respectful to let that be the next transition rather than say right, we’re going do this now. I just, I couldn’t stand the thought of scissors cutting something so beautiful and connecting us, and I felt like there could be grieving from the baby and a grieving from me . . .
Placentophagy (Consuming the Placenta)
The placenta was consumed primarily via dehydrating it, and grinding it into a powder, and put into capsules to be taken when energy was low. Two participants also gave part of the placenta to a homeopath, who then used it to make a homeopathic remedy for the baby and mother to use as needed. The predominant reason women seemed to choose placentophagy was for its perceived medicinal purposes.
More Than Clinical Waste?
In this article from The Journal of Perinatal Education, Emily Burns compares and contrasts the view of the placenta in a hospital and a home birth setting. She found, in part, that “In home-birth practices, the placenta is constructed as a “special” and meaningful element of the childbirth experience.” Click the icon above to read the entire article.
Placenta Encapsulation
Raw or steamed method available- In-Home Ecapsulation in the Antelope Valley
- Placenta Print
- Keepsake Cord
- Tincture (upon request)
Special Instructions
The process is simple. I’ll come by your home to clean & process the placenta and leave it with you in the dehydrator for about 18 hours. I’ll come back the next day and finish by grinding it and putting it into capsules. It only takes a couple of hours per visit and the typical placenta yields about 150 – 200 capsules.
The Antelope Valley Hospital will release your placenta to you but there are very specific procedures that need to be followed, including:
- Your desire to bring home your placenta should be stated in your birth plan,
- Your physician should be informed along with the nursing staff, and
- You do NOT want your placenta to be sent to pathology.
Please contact me for a consultation and we can discuss the requirements.
~ Heather
Heather S. Turner
CD(DONA), LCCE
Labor Support and Childbirth Education for an Informed Generation
Mobile (661) 675-6387
heather@navydoula.com
Your Birth
It’s my goal to provide pregnant women and families with continuous, caring, and qualified birth labor support, empower and encourage you through the absolute best childbirth education, and provide birth professionals with quality workshops you can really use. ~ Heather
Contact
Give me a call or drop an email for more information regarding ceremonies for honoring your placenta and to inquire about encapsulation.
