“Health is more than controlling symptoms, it is a dynamic process rooted deeply in prevention.
Developing and maintaining homeostasis should be considered the keystone
for proactive and prevention models of health.”
– Dr. David K. Hill
“What if someone told you that they made a single supplement that could prevent postpartum depression, made sure you had plenty of breast milk for your new baby, hurried you along the post-birth healing process, gave you plenty of energy, built back your blood supply and iron count, and gave you and your baby just the right nutritional and hormonal support for the first month after birth? Would you be interested? Well, nearly every new mother can have the opportunity to experience a great postpartum, by using one simple resource. The placenta.” (Jenny West, The Natural Healing Power of the Placenta)
I think we can learn a great deal from what we see in nature. Most, if not all, mammals (with the exception of humans) ingest the placenta after birthing their young. If it were not so, both the mothers and young would be prey! Ingestion of the placenta ensures a plentiful milk supply, faster recovery, increasing maternal energy levels and prevents postpartum depression. There is much research on the benefits of utilizing this natural resource. I encourage this and offer placental preparation to all of my clients.
“When I first mention to anyone that I’m going to ingest my placenta, their first reaction is always, ‘No, that’s gross!’ but as I continue to talk to them about why I’m going to do this, the conversation always ends with ‘I wish someone had told me about this when I was giving birth.’” Shauna R.
The placenta is an extension of the baby–and is formed from the conceptus. When conception takes place, some cells differentiate to form the baby, others to form the placenta, the amnion/chorion membranes, umbilical cord, etc. From the conception, the survival of our species is ensured, naturally.