Stefani Reder of Detroit is one of many new mothers across the United States today who is eating her placenta. The act of ingesting the placenta is said to prevent postpartum depression and other health issues associated with birth.
"With this pregnancy I do feel sadness, blue a little bit, but I think it could've been worse if I wouldn't have been doing this," (eating the placenta) Reder said. "I feel real good, real calm and not bothered by daily things."
In Reder's research, she learned eating her placenta after birth would also help better her milk supply to her son, and it would also help her uterus regain it's normal shape.
Unlike some women today who are actually eating pieces of their raw placenta, or even whipping up special recipes like placenta meatloaf or shakes, Reder is ingesting her placenta in capsule form.
Stacy Thompson near Detroit is what you call a placenta encapsulator. She says, "placenta encapsulating takes the "ick" factor out of eating the placenta."
Once a woman the baby, she will get a call to come and pick up the placenta where the mother gave birth and will take it home to encapsulate. You don't necessarily need an "encapsulator" to help you, there are "how to" instructions, like this one at cafémom.com. They are all over the internet to help a mom do it herself at home.
"Taking the placenta and putting it back in the mother's system balances all her hormones to help become more stable and energized," said Thompson.
The idea of ingesting the placenta didn't sit well with Reder's family at first.
"They were just like this is disgusting, but if you want to do it, we'll stand by your side," explained Reder. "I kept explaining to them, it's what nourished the baby, so if it's nourishing him, there's got to be good to it for me."
And why not eat your own placenta? It's a common practice in other parts of the world.
"In Europe a lot of women eat the placenta raw or cooked in their food, some will make sandwiches and make like a jerky out of their placenta," Reder says.
Reder says she wants to be able to help her body in a more natural way, and wants to put back in what I was already giving him."
As for Thompson, she is confident business will continue to pick up, "I think we'll see a lot more women choosing to take their placentas home to be encapsulated either by themselves or by an encapsulator service.
Women: Would you eat your placenta? Vote on our poll below and leave us your comments.
