"Would you like to see the placenta?" I often ask the parents about 10 to 15 minutes after the birth, when most placentas have detached. At this point, we usually get very different reactions. From disgust that this question could even be asked, to curious, detailed inspection and interpretation, to the subsequent request to be allowed to take it (or at least a piece) home with them.

Many rituals surrounding the afterbirth

It is said that in the past, women who had lost a lot of blood after giving birth at home had to eat a piece of placenta from the midwife, supposedly to give them strength.
Others, on the other hand, wish to bury them in the garden under a tree of life.

I once experienced a nice idea from a doula who focuses more on rituals. She made small drums out of the egg membrane, which was a very nice souvenir.
In addition, she used the structure of the placenta (especially the vascular branching on the child's side) to make an imprint on paper. This then looks like a tree. This ritual is also something special for the parents.

Lotus birth as a gentle transition to earthly life

A few years ago a woman came to my practice. When we discussed her birth support, she told me that she would like to have a lotus birth. I then found out that the lotus birth originated in Australia and that in order to make the transition from the womb to real earthly life more gentle, the placenta stays attached to the child using the umbilical cord. The parents came with a beautifully sewn fabric bag lined with a plastic bag for transporting the placenta.

Although this was the first time, I agreed to try it out when she was born. So we skipped cutting the cord altogether. I was still able to get the usual pH values ​​and the baby's blood type from the umbilical cord. So when everything was done and the dried organ was in the bag, it was mixed with herbal salt to avoid any unpleasant smells. What was also exciting was the fact that this long umbilical cord hanging from the organ fell off after just 4 days, whereas the rest of the umbilical cord - as many parents can confirm - takes about 10 - 15 days to fall off.

A placenta for all occasions

One thing is certain: the placenta is of no concern to anyone and deserves our respect, considering that this organ takes on the functions of several different organs during pregnancy for the baby. Whether you should eat it or not is up to each individual, but it is a matter of ritual and has no proven effect. Enjoy your meal 😉

Photo credit: Unsplash/ Serj Tyaglovsky