I have learned several new things this week about childbirth. It has been many decades since I have had a baby. Things have changed, but somethings remain the same. These last few years, the pandemic has given rise to in home births, and the use of midwives at a birth center. This was a common practice in the early 1900’s, but by the 1950’s hospital births were the norm.
Women are keeping the placenta (the after birth) once the the delivery is completed. I thought what could they be doing with a placenta at home? Apparently this is not a uncommon practice. Some of my friends were aware of this practice and others were just as surprised as I. I have recently obtained a list of what to do with a placenta.
- Plant it under a tree, watch it grow with your newborn.
- Keep it attached to your newborn, this is called Lotus birth. It naturally dries and falls away within 3-5 days.
- Pamper your skin with it. Hire someone to turn it into a salve to massage into c-section scar/or stretch mark.
- Turn it into artwork. Stamp it onto paper to make a natural blood print or paint it and stamp it into paper for a beautiful piece of art/statement piece.
- Wear it. Hire someone to dehydrate and make it into jewelry.
- Encapsulate it. Hire someone to dehydrate and place into capsule to ingest to help with post birth hormone imbalances, milk production, and energy.
- Donate it. Ask your doctor or midwife if they would like to keep it.
- Throw it away. Do nothing and throw it out in the trash, preferable double wrap in a Ziploc bag and put it out on trash day. I have recently found out that kitty litter should be placed in the bag to reduce the smell and leakage.
I showed the list to a friend. She was also amazed and baffled, but we both learned something new. I would love to hear your comments.
All Things Health and Wellness 