Yes, you can keep the placenta with proper consent and handling, but it involves medical, legal, and safety considerations.
Understanding the Placenta and Its Role
The placenta is a remarkable organ that develops during pregnancy. It acts as the lifeline between mother and baby, facilitating nutrient exchange, oxygen delivery, and waste removal. After birth, the placenta detaches naturally from the uterine wall and is usually expelled within 30 minutes to an hour. While hospitals typically dispose of it as medical waste, many parents wonder: Can you keep the placenta?
Retaining the placenta isn’t just a quirky choice; it’s rooted in tradition, personal beliefs, or health interests. Some see it as a keepsake symbolizing the miracle of birth. Others use it for placentophagy—the practice of consuming the placenta for supposed health benefits—or for creating art or jewelry.
The Legal and Medical Framework Around Keeping the Placenta
Hospitals and birthing centers have different policies regarding placenta release. Legally, in many regions, parents have the right to request their placenta after delivery. However, this often requires prior notification and consent.
Medical staff must ensure that releasing the placenta doesn’t pose health risks. Since it’s biological tissue with potential bloodborne pathogens, handling must follow strict protocols to prevent contamination or infection.
Hospitals may require parents to sign waivers acknowledging responsibility for safe transport and storage. Some states or countries have specific regulations governing how placentas can be handled once released from medical facilities.
Steps to Secure Your Placenta After Birth
If you want to keep your placenta, planning ahead is crucial:
- Inform your healthcare provider early: Let them know your intentions during prenatal visits.
- Understand hospital policies: Some institutions allow release only if requested in advance.
- Prepare safe containers: Use sterile containers to store the placenta immediately after delivery.
- Arrange timely transport: The placenta must be refrigerated promptly to prevent decomposition.
Without these steps, hospitals might discard the placenta as biohazard waste by default.
Common Uses for a Kept Placenta
Once you keep the placenta, what can you do with it? Here are some popular options:
1. Placentophagy (Eating the Placenta)
Some believe consuming cooked or encapsulated placenta offers postpartum benefits such as increased energy, improved mood, and enhanced milk production. Though scientific evidence remains limited and mixed, placentophagy continues to grow in popularity.
Placenta encapsulation involves steaming, dehydrating, grinding into powder, then placing into capsules for easier consumption. This method aims to retain nutrients while minimizing taste or smell issues.
2. Artistic Creations
The vascular patterns on a placenta can be preserved as prints or molds. Parents sometimes create “placenta art” by pressing inked placentas onto paper or canvas to capture its unique “tree of life” design.
3. Plant Fertilizer
Some use their placenta as natural fertilizer by burying it beneath a tree or garden plant symbolizing new life growth.
The Science Behind Placenta Storage and Safety
Proper handling is essential if you plan to keep your placenta safely:
| Storage Method | Time Frame | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigeration (4°C/39°F) | Up to 24 hours | Keeps tissue fresh; must be done quickly after birth |
| Freezing (-18°C/0°F) | Several weeks/months | Slows decomposition; best for encapsulation later |
| Dehydration (Placenta Encapsulation) | N/A (long-term storage) | Tissue is dried then powdered; reduces bacterial risks |
Failing to refrigerate promptly can cause bacterial growth leading to infection risk if consumed later. It’s critical that anyone handling stored placentas practice good hygiene and follow safety guidelines.
The Risks of Keeping Your Placenta Without Proper Care
Improper storage increases chances of contamination by bacteria such as Group B Streptococcus or E.coli. This can cause serious postpartum infections if ingested or handled carelessly.
Hospitals may refuse release if they suspect infectious diseases like HIV or hepatitis in either mother or baby due to potential transmission risk via tissue contact.
Ingesting raw or undercooked placental tissue without proper processing could lead to foodborne illnesses. So any plan involving consumption must involve trusted professionals trained in encapsulation techniques.
The Ethical Considerations Around Keeping Your Placenta
While keeping your own placenta generally raises no ethical issues when done responsibly, questions arise when third parties get involved:
- Selling placentas: Some businesses buy placentas for cosmetic products or research—raising consent concerns.
- Tissue donation: Donating placentas for scientific study helps research but requires informed consent from mothers.
- Cultural sensitivity: Respecting indigenous practices around placental handling avoids cultural appropriation problems.
- Biosafety: Ensuring no harm comes from sharing biological tissues protects public health interests.
Parents should consider these aspects before deciding what happens with their baby’s afterbirth.
The Growing Trend of Home Births and Placenta Retention
With rising interest in home births and natural deliveries outside hospitals comes increased opportunity—and responsibility—to keep one’s own placenta safely.
Midwives attending home births often assist parents who want their placentas intact for encapsulation or ceremonial burial purposes. They provide guidance on immediate refrigeration and transport protocols since home settings lack hospital-grade sterilization facilities.
This shift highlights how personal autonomy over birth choices extends beyond delivery itself into postpartum decisions like managing biological remains respectfully.
The Role of Midwives in Helping Keep Placentas Safe
Midwives play a crucial role by educating families about:
- The importance of timely cooling after birth;
- Selecting appropriate containers;
- Avoiding contamination during handling;
- Navigating local laws about tissue ownership;
- Liaising with labs that specialize in encapsulation services;
- Counseling on potential risks related to consuming raw tissues.
Their expertise ensures safer outcomes for those wishing to keep their placentas at home births or birthing centers without hospital support.
The Science Behind Claims About Eating Placentas: What Research Shows
Proponents suggest that eating the placenta replenishes iron levels lost during childbirth, balances hormones like oxytocin and prolactin naturally boosting mood and milk supply.
However:
- A few small studies report possible benefits but lack rigorous controls;
- No large-scale clinical trials conclusively prove efficacy;
- The Centers for Disease Control warns against potential bacterial contamination risks;
- Nutritional content varies widely depending on preparation methods;
- Mothers should consult healthcare providers before trying placentophagy especially if breastfeeding or immunocompromised.
While anecdotal reports abound online from satisfied users claiming boosted energy post-placentophagy, science remains cautious pending more evidence-based data.
Key Takeaways: Can You Keep The Placenta?
➤ Check local laws before deciding to keep the placenta.
➤ Ensure proper handling to avoid contamination or infection.
➤ Consider medical advice about placenta consumption or use.
➤ Explore preservation options like freezing or encapsulation.
➤ Understand potential benefits and risks involved clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Keep The Placenta After Birth?
Yes, you can keep the placenta after birth with proper consent and handling. Many hospitals require prior notification and legal consent before releasing the placenta to parents. It’s important to understand the medical and safety protocols involved to ensure safe storage and transport.
What Are The Legal Considerations If You Want To Keep The Placenta?
Legal rules vary by region, but in many places, parents have the right to request their placenta. Hospitals may require signing waivers acknowledging responsibility for safe handling. Some states or countries have specific regulations governing how placentas are released and handled after delivery.
How Should You Handle The Placenta If You Decide To Keep It?
Handling the placenta safely is crucial. Use sterile containers and refrigerate it promptly to prevent decomposition. Hospitals often require parents to plan ahead and bring appropriate containers for transport. Proper handling reduces risks of contamination or infection.
Why Do People Choose To Keep The Placenta?
People keep the placenta for various reasons including cultural traditions, personal beliefs, or health interests. Some view it as a meaningful keepsake, while others use it for placentophagy or creating art and jewelry as a symbol of birth.
Can You Eat The Placenta If You Decide To Keep It?
Yes, some choose to consume the placenta through cooking or encapsulation, believing it offers postpartum benefits like increased energy and improved mood. However, medical advice should be sought as there are safety concerns regarding preparation and potential health risks.
Conclusion – Can You Keep The Placenta?
Yes—you absolutely can keep your placenta with proper planning, informed consent, and strict adherence to medical safety protocols. Whether used for encapsulation, art preservation, cultural rituals, or natural fertilizer purposes—the choice belongs firmly in parents’ hands today more than ever before.
Make sure you communicate your wishes clearly well before delivery day; understand hospital policies; prepare adequate storage solutions; consult professionals experienced in handling biological tissues safely; weigh risks versus benefits carefully especially if considering consumption.
Keeping this incredible organ offers a unique way to honor childbirth’s profound journey beyond just bringing new life into this world—it celebrates connection between mother, child—and nature itself.
Your journey doesn’t end at delivery—it extends into how you cherish every part of this miraculous experience—including whether you decide: Can You Keep The Placenta?