Postpartum Depression: The New Mother Epidemic

So, what is the main goal of placenta consumption? Most new mothers will tell you that their primary reason for seeking placenta medicine services is to help prevent postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression is classified as depressive symptoms during the postnatal period. Mothers often report feeling unable to bond with their baby, excessive crying, mood swings, and irritability, among many other variations. There is not just one reason a mother might experience postpartum depression, rather, there is a series of events that take place in the brain that can lead to feeling depressed after having a baby. It can happen to anybody. Serena Williams publicly spoke about her ongoing feelings of depression after the birth of her baby girl, and many other celebrities have been forthcoming about their experiences postnatally, as well.

The common link in the onset of postpartum depression is the massive crash in hormones after the placenta is delivered. Pregnancy pumps a woman full of estrogen, progesterone, and oxytocin. All of these hormones decrease dramatically after childbirth. Some women are able to cope with the withdrawal smoothly, while others do not respond well at all, for a multitude of reasons.

There are currently ongoing trials to test the safety and efficacy of a neurosteroid treatment to help boost progesterone levels in the body, thus combating the withdrawal symptoms thought to be postpartum depression symptoms.

So, if the answer to treating postpartum depression is to help the body increase hormone levels, why aren't more people being advised to eat their placenta? The placenta acts as a secondary endocrine organ in the body, and it produces progesterone and estrogen to help maintain a healthy pregnancy. After delivery, the placenta still contains these hormones, and can be transferred back into the mother through oral consumption. This could be one reason that mothers who have tried placenta medicine are convinced that it helps to ward off postpartum depression.

Unfortunately, with both postpartum depression and placentophagy being quite taboo subjects, researchers have not yet fully dove into either topic to produce real, tangible answers and solutions for new mothers.

I'll Pass On The Placenta Pot Roast

Placentophagy, as described in my last post, is the act of eating the placenta. It has become popular recently with the rise of health fads and alternative remedies. Mothers commonly choose to have their placentas encapsulated, avoiding the flavor, texture, and smell of the actual placenta. Some other methods of consumption include raw smoothies, placenta chocolates, tincture, broth, and as a beef substitute in recipes. This guy even made tacos using his wife's placenta. Organ meat is gaining popularity in the restaurant industry, so it makes sense that eating a human organ is becoming more socially acceptable.

A lot of people probably want to vomit at the thought of eating a human organ. It's a pretty common reaction, and placentophagy is not for the weak stomach. There are, however, many other ways to honor or preserve the organ if throwing it away feels too insignificant after its 9 months of devotion to nourishing your new baby. Cultures around the world practice a variety of traditions to celebrate the placenta and the new life. In some Asian, African, Polynesian, and Native American cultures, the placenta is buried under a tree or in a clay pot to ward off evil or set intentions for the future of the new baby. Other placenta uses include salves, cream, flower essences, and keepsake methods of preservation such as placenta prints, dried umbilical cord momentos, jewelry, and even picture frames.

To learn more about placenta services in Northern Colorado, visit my website!

Photo owned by Desirae Holliday. Pictured: placenta capsules, placenta tincture, and dried umbilical cord keepsake

Placenta Consumption: Not Risky

Many people have heard that animals who have just given birth will eat their own placenta. It is debated whether or not the animal is doing so for nutritional benefits, to hide the scent of the afterbirth from predators, or a little bit of both. There is a lot of controversy about whether or not humans should participate in placentophagy (eating of the placenta). The custom is repulsive to most people, but there are powerful anecdotal benefits associated with placentophagy including alleviation of postpartum depression symptoms and breast milk supply increase.

Typically, the human placenta can be preserved in several ways by a trained placenta medicine specialist. The most common method of preservation is referred to as the Traditional Chinese Method (TCM) where the placenta is thoroughly washed and detached from the umbilical cord. It is, then, steamed with several 'warming' herbs before being cut into small pieces and dehydrated for 24 hours. After dehydration, the placenta is ground into a fine powder and put into capsules. Some new mothers prefer to skip the herbs and the steaming process, in which case, the placenta will go straight into the dehydrator and then into capsules. This is referred to as the Raw Method. This method carries more risk than TCM because the placenta is not exposed to the high temperature of the steam, which can lead to more bacteria in the finished product.

To spark further controversy over placentophagy, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a statement in June 2017 about an infant who was hospitalized for sepsis due to a Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection. The CDC pinned the mother's dehydrated placenta capsules as the culprit, however, the statement also says "[a]lthough transmission from other colonized household members could not be ruled out, the final diagnosis was late-onset GBS disease attributable to high maternal colonization secondary to consumption of GBS-infected placental tissue..." This severely impacted the placenta medicine business, and encapsulation specialists saw a rapid decline in clientele interested in their services.

A recent study from the University of Nevada was just released in May 2018 stating that there was no increased risk of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission or infant death associated with placentophagy, contradicting the CDC statement about the dangers of the practice.

Expectant mothers who are considering consuming their placenta postpartum should decide what method of preparation is most comfortable for them, and all health factors should be considered. Testing positive for GBS is not necessarily a contraindication for placentophagy, however, the presence of an active infection (demonstrated by an elevated body temperature) at the time of delivery is a contraindication and should be communicated with the placenta medicine specialist immediately.

I was trained in placenta medicine preparation by two local Boulder County midwives. During one of my training sessions, I asked one of the midwives, Nichole, about the evidence supporting the benefits of placentophagy. To my surprise, at the time, she told me that there was no science-based evidence of the benefits, but she also said something that has stuck with me, even 2 years later: "Even if it is just a placebo effect, that is enough to justify using it to combat postpartum depression."

If you struggle with postpartum depression, or if you are experiencing intrusive thoughts, please reach out to a trusted individual or a professional. There is help available, and you are not alone.

Photo owned by Desirae Holliday

And, so, it begins

I am birthing this blog page in order to learn more about blogging, to practice a new style of writing (journalistic), and to become more involved in the news and happenings of the maternity care field. As a mother, a birth enthusiast, and a birth worker, I have a growing interest in maternity care, and I have become deeply passionate about educating others on the most inclusive and empathetic way to care for the mothers of this world.

I intend to share information related to the changing medical policies in maternal health, informed consent about childbirth options, social justice in the birthing world, and breaking discoveries in midwifery and obstetric care. I will be posting twice per week, if not more. I hope to learn more about the steps health professionals are taking to be more inclusive and embrace diversity.

I have some blogging experience pertaining to topics such as menstrual cycle empowerment (inspired by the Red School), single parenting, and other personal stories. I have zero experience in journalism, and I have never covered a specific topic in journalism before. As a writer, I am great at the mechanics aspect, but I struggle in being able to embody different voices. Regarding blogging, I have no doubt that I'll be able to successfully accomplish what I am required to do.