The Thing I Don’t Like About Placenta Encapsulation

Over my decade of working with Newborn Mothers, I’ve seen placenta encapsulation appear from nowhere and become very popular.

Even though there's not a lot of evidence for placentophagy and it's use throughout history is rare I hear many contemporary mothers raving about the results. 

Evidence or not, I’m a huge believer that if it feels good, and it’s safe, do it! If you love the idea of eating your placenta and you find a reputable encapsulator with proper training then you’ve got nothing to lose…

Except…

Sometimes placenta encapsulation, like many things in out culture, can be treated as a quick fix. It’s quite literally a pill you can take and you could be lead to believe it can solve all your problems.

Low Energy?

Pop a placenta pill!

Tired?

Pop a placenta pill!

Hormonal?

Pop a placenta pill!

Low Milk Supply?

Pop a placenta pill!

Sometimes it can feel a little like another way to placate mothers, so that we don’t get too demanding.

But when 80% of new mothers report feeling isolated and overwhelmed, 2 out of 3 Australian mothers don’t meet their own breastfeeding goals, and the leading cause of maternal death in Australia is suicide… I think we have the right to demand more.

The problem of postpartum support is a much more complex and messy, and requires a more holistic solution. It’s not a simple solution that can be implemented by one mother as an individual, we require a broader cultural change where we take more social responsibility for families and stop blaming mothers for everything.

I really don’t believe in quick fixes for postpartum. There are some epic gaps in our culture of postpartum care, and no pill (natural or otherwise) is going to change that.

By all means, encapsulate your placenta. But also make the major life changes needed to bring you, and all mothers, peace and joy in the transition to motherhood. Starting with, as always, embracing baby brain and asking for help.