The placenta is a wonderfilled organ which women produce in pregnancy. The placenta facilitates the exchange of oxygen and nutrients between mother and baby, providing everything your baby needs in order to grow and thrive in the womb.

Placentas have been honoured and consumed since times long gone by and in various different ways. Choosing how to engage with your placenta after birth can be a powerful and beautiful process.

Honouring your placenta

In many different cultures the placenta has been a source of reverence. Understanding the role of the placenta not only in its physical qualities but also in its spiritual essence.

You can honour your placenta in whichever way you feel called to, create your very own ritual. We can help you facilitate this, provide you with ideas and support where needed.

Some rituals we offer are:  lotus birthing, stamping of the baby with his/her placenta, planting the placenta. You can also honour your placenta through art with: placenta prints or an umbilical cord dreamcatcher.

consuming your placenta

The placenta also facilitates the production of various hormones needed to maintain a healthy pregnancy. After birthing your placenta, these hormones leave the body and your endocrine system will attempt to re-establish your pre-pregnancy hormone levels. In this transition period, your body may substantially benefit from the extra supply of hormones from your placenta – potentially alleviating a possible postpartum blues. Not only rich in hormones, the placenta is also packed with nutrients.

Each placenta is unique and contains the exact genetic information of you and your baby, no two placentas are alike.

There are many ways to consume your placenta:

The placenta contains:

  • Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone: Contributes to mammary gland development in preparation for lactation; stabilizes postpartum mood; regulates post-birth uterine cramping; decreases depression; normalizes and stimulates libido

  • Prolactin: Promotes lactation; increases milk supply; enhances the mothering instinct

  • Oxytocin: Decreases pain and increases bonding in mother and infant; counteracts the production of stress hormones such as Cortisol; greatly reduces postpartum bleeding; enhances the breastfeeding let-down reflex

  • Placental Opioid-Enhancing Factor (POEF): Stimulates the production of your body’s natural opioids, including endorphins; reduces pain; increases well-being

  • Thyroid Stimulating Hormone: Regulates the thyroid gland; boosts energy and supports recovery from stressful events

  • Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH): Low levels of CRH are implicated in postpartum depression.

  • Cortisone: Reduces inflammation and swelling; promotes healing

  • Interferon: Triggers the protective defenses of the immune system to fight infection

  • Prostaglandins: Regulates contractions in the uterus after birth; helps uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size. Anti-inflammatory effects

  • Iron: Replenishes maternal iron stores to combat anemia, a common postpartum condition. Increases energy; decreases fatigue

  • Hemoglobin: Oxygen-carrying molecule which provides a boost in energy

  • Urokinase Inhibiting Factor and Factor XIII: stops bleeding and enhances wound healing

  • Immunoglobulin G (IgG): Antibody molecules which support the immune system

  • Human Placental Lactogen (hPL): This hormone has lactogenic and growth-promoting properties; promotes mammary gland growth in preparation for lactation in the mother. It also regulates maternal glucose, protein, and fat levels

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THE PLACENTA ∴ FOR ALL YOUR PLACENTA RITUALS AND REMEDIES
INFO@THEPLACENTA.NL ∴ 06.19.419.172 ∴ WWW.THEPLACENTA.NL

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