Placenta Encapsulation

Placenta Encapsulation

What is a Placenta?

{Excerpt from Wikipedia}

“The placenta is an organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the mother’s blood supply. “True” placentas are a defining characteristic of eutherian or “placental” mammals, but are also found in some snakes and lizards with varying levels of development up to mammalian levels.[1] Note, however, that the homology of such structures in various viviparous organisms is debatable at best and, in invertebrates such as Arthropoda, is definitely analogous at best. However, a recent publication describes what amounts to a phylogenetically analogous, but physiologically and functionally almost identical structure in a skink. In some senses it is not particularly surprising, because many species are ovoviviparous and some are known as examples of various degrees of viviparous matrotrophy. However, the latest example is the most extreme to date, of a purely reptilian placenta directly comparable to a eutherian placenta.[2]

The word placenta comes from the Latin word for cake, from Greek plakóenta/plakoúnta, accusative of plakóeis/plakoús – πλακόεις, πλακούς, “flat, slab-like”,[3] in reference to its round, flat appearance in humans. The classical plural is placentae, but the form placentas is common in modern English and probably has the wider currency at present.

Prototherial (egg-laying) and metatherial (marsupial) mammals produce a choriovitelline placenta that, while connected to the uterine wall, provides nutrients mainly derived from the egg sac.

The placenta functions as a fetomaternal organ with two components: the fetal placenta, or (Chorion frondosum), which develops from the same sperm and egg cells that form the fetus; and the maternal placenta, or (Decidua basalis), which develops from the maternal uterine tissue.[4]

What is Placenta Encapsulation?

{Excerpt from Wikipedia}

“Human placentophagy, or consumption of the placenta, is defined as, “The ingestion of a human placenta postpartum, at any time, by any person, either in unaltered, or altered (e.g., cooked, dried, steeped in liquid) form.” Numerous historical occurrences of placentophagy have been recorded throughout the world, whereas modern occurrences of placentophagy are rare since most contemporary societies do not promote its practice. Since the 1970s, however, consumption of the placenta for health benefits has been a growing practice among clients of midwifes and alternative-health advocates in the U.S. and Mexico.[1]

Placentophagy can be divided into two categories, maternal placentophagy and non-maternal placentophagy.”

Benefits of Placenta Encapsulation and consumption

{Excerpt from my placenta encapsulation class handout}

“Women who take it have reported that they do not have trouble with postartum depression and seem to heal quickly from any trauma experienced because of birth. While it is difficult to say that the placenta is responsible, there are physiological reasons that may be at work. The placenta is full of natural oxytocins which are responsible for contracting the uterus and minimizing postpartum bleeding. Also it contains hormones which have recently been shown to help in the relief of postpartum depression. Women who use placenta have said it makes them feel nurtured.”

Other benefits include:

Increased milk production; more energy; decrease of anxiety; decrease in lochia, postpartum bleeding.

Another great resource: http://placentabenefits.info/

Why I chose to offer this service?

I feel it’s another important element to supporting women and their families well into the postpartum period, which some say is the more difficult “next 9 months”. While not all women experience postpartum depression or “baby blues”, why not have this amazing, nutritional supplement to help in aid recovery that’s designed perfectly to match both mother and baby? Our society spends thousands (upon thousands) of dollars every year for the next great miracle drug; why not just nourish our bodies from something designed specifically for us as humans; mother; fathers; babies.

If you have any additional questions or concerns of instances where you wouldn’t be advised to encapsulate, feel free to email me @ jubileebeautyllc@gmail.com.

Jubilee Beauty's Birth Doula Services capsules are made with 100% vegan capsules. Each is labeled with directions for use and safe storage practices. Dated with encapsulation production date. My services are offered @ $175.00 for birth doula client’s and for a momma who just wants encapsulation postpartum. I follow all safety and sanitation standards as per OSHA guidelines.