The placenta is much more than an organ. It begins to grow inside the woman's uterus from the moment of embryo implantation and accompanies the development of the baby throughout the pregnancy. It nourishes the baby by providing everything it needs to grow inside the womb. The placenta plays a fundamental role in pregnancy since it constitutes the vital connection of the baby with the mother.
The placenta gives life to the baby through the mother, hence its importance transcends the merely physiological to become a symbol of life. In fact, it is in some cultures. Far from this divine consideration, in most deliveries the placenta is discarded as a medical waste, byproduct or residue of pregnancy, but If I want to keep it, can I ask for the placenta to take it after delivery?
Can I keep the placenta?
If you want to know the great importance of the placenta for the development of the baby, as well as its operation and details such as its weight or how it grows, they are very interesting and you can consult it here, but now we will focus on what happens with the placenta after giving to light, when after the birth of the baby the birth takes place, that is to say, when the organ leaves the uterus.
In Spain, as in most countries, there is no regulation on the destination that will be given to the placenta, but the rule is to dispose of it as hospital waste.
Since there is no clear procedure regarding the placenta, if you want to keep it, you must present a written document expressing your desire to have the placenta delivered, or specify it within your Delivery Plan, a manifestation of written will about your birth.
For their part, parents should ask the hospital's policies in this regard and inform the obstetrician of his desire to preserve the placenta, as well as the personnel attending the delivery.
How to conserve the placenta
After delivery, the placenta should be refrigerated within the first 4 hours after delivery. To conserve it, it must be placed in a glass or ceramic container, a large double zip-lock bag can also be used, and placed in a refrigerator or ice conservator.
If the placenta is going to be processed within the next 48 hours it can remain refrigerated, however if it is to be done afterwards it must then be frozen and then thawed in the refrigerator from the night before the day chosen to process it.
There are women who want to bury her or perform any other ritual with the placenta. In that case, it remains frozen until the time comes.
What uses are given to the placenta?
Once the mother returns home with her baby and her placenta, there are many different possible uses, among the best known:
Placentophagy: One of the most widespread use is placentophagy, that is, cooking the human placenta by preparing different recipes and then ingesting it. It can be in the form of shakes or smoothies, mixing it with other foods or even in stew or sashimi. Beneficial properties are usually attributed to the mother as protection against postpartum depression or an increase in milk production, however science disputes this theory: a review of studies has concluded that there are no proven benefits of eating the placenta.
Essences or creams: Among the uses of the placenta, cosmetics is also very popular. Placentas from animals are attributed great regenerative power. They are made from creams to lotions or essences.
Capsules or pills: Those who do not dare with the raw or cooked placenta, usually resort to capsules created from the placenta. Ground powder is made and encapsulated. They even sell kits to do it at home. On average, about 90-150 pills could be made for each placenta.
Bury her: In certain areas of Africa, women bury all the placentas of their babies in the same place, a sacred place where they honor this organ. According to the Mapuche culture, the placenta must be buried under a tree to give protection to the baby.
Have you preserved your placenta? Do you plan on doing it? What use would you give it?
