Effects of a Mutation

In addition to neural tube defects, as discussed last time, the MTHFR genetic mutation has the ability to affect other parts of the body at various stages of life.

The MTHFR mutation can increase a person's risk of cancer, autoimmune diseases, infertility struggles, mental health issues, and creates sensitivity to certain foods, toxins, and heavy metals (Wellness Mama Blog).

There are just under 5,000 research articles written on MTHFR, currently. However, there is still a lot more research to be done before the realm of science will accept the severity of the different MTHFR mutations.

There are many online discussion boards on the topic of MTHFR health, and the general consensus is that MTHFR mutations can significantly increase the risk of miscarriage and impact fertility in otherwise healthy individuals. the mutations cause a severe sensitivity to sugar, dairy, and wheat, the microbiome is significantly impacted by the mutation, and the mutation causes midline defects.

Midline defects are a group of visible malformations on the body that result from having the MTHFR mutation. For example, a sugar bug or vein is a blue vein located on the bride of the nose or between the eyes on a young child. This is a common midline defect. Another common defect is the stork bite, a birth mark at the base of the skull along the spinal column in a young child. A common, but sometimes harmful, defect is the tongue or lip tie. A tongue tie occurs when the frenulum underneath the tongue is long and taut, causing restriction in the tongue's movement. A lip tie is the same concept, only instead of the frenulum, the maxillary labial frenum under the top lip is restrictive. Both ties can cause severe issues in breastfeeding, causing failure to thrive in some infants. Fortunately, the ties can be revised by an oral surgeon, and the breastfeeding relationship can be salvaged if the revision is performed in time.

Have you or anybody you know been affected by any of these symptoms?

MTHFR-- A Gene, Not A Dirty Word

The MTHFR gene is responsible for producing an enzyme called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase which is imperative to the process of converting 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate into 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (Genetics Home Reference). This process is the starting link to another multi-step process that converts an amino acid, homocysteine, into another amino acid so that different types of proteins can be made. Proteins are crucial for DNA expression, which is crucial for human growth and development.

What does this mean in less confusing terms? The MTHFR gene is responsible for turning folic acid, the synthetic form of folate, into a more bioavailable form of folate. The ability to turn folic acid into folate is crucial for many things such as neural tube development, the ability to filter toxins and heavy metals, and each cell's ability to absorb crucial nutrients. 

Folate is Vitamin B-6, found naturally occurring in whole foods and meats. Folic acid is the synthetic version of folate that is often added to enriched food products such as enriched white bread, enriched white rice, enriched cereals, and most multivitamin supplements. It is easy to make and put into these products for human consumption. Folate is responsible for developing the neural tube, that is the spinal cord, brain, and spinal vertebrae, in the first trimester of pregnancy. The neural tube is typically fully developed by the 9th or 10th week of pregnancy. Prior to that, it is imperative that the new mother is receiving adequate amounts of folate to develop an infant without neural tube defects.

Neural tube defects include, but are not limited to, spina bifida, tethered spinal cord syndrome, and anencephaly. In all cases of neural tube defects, the nervous system is permanently affected, and the damage is irreversible.

When a person has an MTHFR genetic mutation, either mother or baby, the gene cannot produce the enzyme needed to convert folic acid into folate. In addition to not receiving adequate amounts of folate with this mutation, the folic acid will also block the cell from absorbing other critical nutrients needed for development. Neural tube defects occur more often in people with an MTHFR mutation because of this.

In my case, my son had the MTHFR genetic mutation. I was unaware throughout my entire pregnancy, and as a young single mother, I was taking the most affordable prenatal vitamin during my entire pregnancy. Unfortunately, affordable means synthetic, and my son was not receiving adequate amounts of folate in utero. He was born with a sacral dimple, a dimple in his lower sacrum that is usually indicative of spina bifida. His tailbone was also split into two which meant that his spinal column did not fully fuse closed. After lots of diagnostic imaging and lab work with a pediatric neurosurgeon, it was determined that my son merely had an elongated spinal cord, and a spinal column that had almost fused shut correctly. Fortunately, this did not require surgery, and he is three years old without any issues so far. I will have to take him to re-do the MRI scans in a couple of years to ensure that his spinal cord is growing with his body, and isn't tethered to the spinal column, as it could be if he has tethered spinal cord syndrome.

Around 50% of people carry an MTHFR genetic mutation, and many are completely unaware of it. This means that it is crucial that pregnant mothers are receiving the correct form of folate during pregnancy to avoid neural tube defects. Most healthcare providers are also completely unaware of the significant impact the mutation can have on an unborn life, and what steps are needed to avoid developmental issues. Unfortunately, the MTHFR genetic mutation is also a indicator of many other issues and ailments that extend far beyond development, and doctors are unaware of these issues as well. Fertility issues, behavioral issues, and midline defects are a few other conditions associated with MTHFR mutations.

Do you know your genetic makeup?

Food as Postpartum Medicine

Doctors have rather strict dietary guidelines for expectant mothers: lots of iron, fish oil and omega-3's, no sushi, no deli meat, eat all the time, drink lots of water... Why aren't there any specific guidelines on eating after baby is born, especially if the new mother is breastfeeding or healing a surgical incision?

Food is medicine, and Americans are beginning to understand this (to some extent). There have been a ton of studies performed on the best diet for weight loss, the effect of the microbiome, and why a person should or shouldn't eat meat. Unfortunately, most of this research is conflicting, and we still don't have a solid answer on the ultimate diet for optimal human functioning. However, there are some foods that may particularly aid in the healing and mental functioning of a new mother.

Indian and Asian cultures traditionally feed the mother warming foods such as soups, spices, and beans and vegetables (Kindelan, ABC News). This trend is catching on in America, as discussed in Kimberly Ann Johnson's book, The Fourth Trimester.

Indian traditions also advise against eating fruit and cool vegetables, such as cucumbers, during the postpartum period.

Mothers who have just undergone a cesarean section should focus on wound-healing diets. This means eliminating sugars and caffeine, as both can inhibit the wound healing process. They should also eat a diet high in iron and fiber so as to keep the digestive system running smoothly.

All mothers should focus on rebalancing gut health, as the gut is a main influence on a person's mood and mental well-being. Foods that contribute positively to gut health include ghee (clarified butter), fermented foods (sauerkraut, yogurt, and kefir), and bone broth.

Knowing what to eat is only half of the battle after giving birth. A mother must also think about how she is going to feed herself during this time. A new tradition to add into baby showers it the creation of a meal train where friends and family can sign up to bring a home cooked meal to the new parent(s) on a specific day. Alternatively, expectant mothers may also spend some time right before baby arrives preparing meals and freezing them for consumption after baby is born. Postpartum doulas often also offer a meal prep service as part of their normal offerings to new parents.

Mothering The New Mother

It's 4 A.M., your one week-old infant is crying inconsolably, your breasts are engorged and painful from the arrival of your milk, you're sleep-deprived, and your hormones are unstable and unmanageable... Your husband does his best to help, but his tail is tucked farther between his legs with every snappy comment you make or every time your burst into tears for no reason. He is also sleep-deprived and grumpy. Where is the magic in this thing called 'parenting'? When will it get better? What are we supposed to do?

The postpartum period is definitely not a smooth ride, especially when the only help the new parents have is each other (and sometimes, there is only one parent present, making things even more tiresome). There are so many different challenges a new mother faces between her new mom-bod that is healing from being ripped, cut, and/or stretched open, navigating how to breastfeed and care for an infant, making sure she stays fed and hydrated, repelling the well-meaning advice from friends and family, and making sure her marriage doesn't combust (if there is one).

There is a solution to the madness: a postpartum doula.

Postpartum doulas are birth workers who specialize in caring for the mother after childbirth. Birth doulas are also popular, but they focus on the actual labor and delivery. Most doulas offer both birth and postpartum services.

In the postpartum period, a doula can assist the new mother with household chores, meal prep, sibling care, lactation counseling, newborn care, and some even offer bodywork. The doulas are available on an hourly basis and charge anywhere from $15-50/hr depending on the services being performed. Their mission is to make sure that the new mother is being cared for and allowed to rest and recuperate.

For low income mothers, there is still help available. Many doulas will offer discounted or pro bono services while they gain experience and finish certifications. A doula is an essential piece of the childbearing experience, regardless of your primary prenatal health provider. If you're worried about being able to afford a doula, and you don't qualify for their sliding scale, it is completely acceptable (and encouraged) to ask for help from your community via crowdfunding or gift certificates in lieu of traditional baby shower gifts, especially if you're able to get baby's essentials secondhand. Every mother deserves care and nurturing in the postpartum period.

The Fourth Trimester

The average, full-term pregnancy is divided into three trimesters. Each trimester is roughly 12 weeks long. Significant development occurs in each segment of pregnancy, turning a cluster of cells into a fully functioning human being. At the end of the 9 months, a baby is born. The new mother has been sent flying into a world of transition and change. Most first time mothers have very little idea what they are doing with the new baby, on top of coping with their physical trauma from vaginally or surgically delivering a whole human. Then, add the drastic drop in hormones, a frightened baby, and a world of fast-paced expectations... 

American society idolizes the "snap-back" and "Super Mom" personas. Women are expected to be top-performing immediately after having a baby. This is detrimental in many ways, and beneficial in very few.

The fourth trimester is the nickname for the period immediately following childbirth. In most cultures, the first 40 days are considered the fourth trimester. In other countries, women are expected to rest, forget about household chores and to-do lists, build a strong breastfeeding relationship, bond with baby, and allow their bodies to heal completely. Unfortunately, in America, that is not the way the postpartum period is treated.

Many women have been seeing their obstetrician or midwife every 1-2 weeks for the last 3 months of their pregnancy. The big day arrives when baby is born, and then all of a sudden, the mother is expected to go 6 weeks without a doctor's visit. At the 6 week appointment, the majority of women receive the OK to resume physical and sexual activity without so much as a hands-on examination. The reality is that most women are not ready for either of those things at 6 weeks, especially if they've spent the last 6 weeks taking care of household chores, grocery shopping, entertaining visitors, and everything else that comes along with being a new mom in America. After the doctor gives approval, it is not expected that the new mother come in for anything else regarding this pregnancy unless an issue arises. At home, the mother may have a partner who isn't the most helpful, or maybe they are helpful, but they can't relate to all of the changes the new mother is going through. This can make the postpartum period very difficult.

What can new mothers do differently?

Rachelle, a new mom, recounts "It took me until kid #4 to realize as a cosleeping, breastfeeding a newborn, tired mom; that dad sleeping in a different bedroom was truly the best way to ensure one of us could think and drive... I seriously think you should be allowed to hibernate for 2 weeks with your baby mostly skin to skin and not be expected to do much else in life, I mean no expectations other than nourishing this new life, unless of course you want to and are able and supported. I unapologetically will let anyone cook and clean for me and treat me like a goddess incarnate. I shouldn't feel guilt for not continuing those tasks temporarily. Just guiltless, non-judged, hibernation with baby is what I wanted. Okay maybe dashed with some accolades for my efforts, 'cause even recovering from childbirth if it was rough, is really hard while keeping a new human alive, even if you do get space and support."

In the book, The Fourth Trimester written by Kimberly Ann Johnson, there is a ton of information regarding the fourth trimester postpartum period. Some of the main arguments that she makes involve establishing a solid support system, resting in the home for the first 40 days, eating nourishing meals, and seeking postpartum care from a doula, lactation consultant, pelvic floor physical therapist, massage therapist, and other professionals who can serve to create an easier postpartum experience. 

The book, The First Fourty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother by Heng Ou, is highly recommended for new mothers, and it emphasizes nourishing the new mother's body and mind. Many of the recipes found in Johnson's book came from Ou's book.

Ultimately, there needs to be a shift in postpartum care for the health of women after giving birth. Many home birth midwives and birth center midwives incorporate postpartum wellness care into their model of practice. Women who receive care from these midwives will expect to have multiple home visits from their midwife in the first week, and then, weekly visits for the next 5 weeks, giving the new mother 6 weeks of care from her primary maternal health provider. The midwife will serve the mother in a number of ways including lactation support, physical wound care, nutritional support, mental health support and prevention, and baby care. Many midwives also host consistent and regular community groups for new moms to find support beyond the first 6 weeks postpartum, and most of the groups are free of charge. 

It's time for a nationwide shift to better care for the mothers. They are the ones who are responsible for raising the next generation.

Beyond Birth in Black Communities

When a woman gives birth to a baby, she must figure out how she is going to care for her new baby. Will she cloth diaper? Co-sleep? Breastfeed? Bottle feed? Most women rely on information passed down from family, friends, and hospital staff to make the best decision for her family.

Most hospitals have implemented ways to educate patients and encourage a solid breastfeeding relationship shortly after birth. Many hospitals employ lactation consultants and hold classes on lactation education. However, it has been found that areas where more than 12% of a population is black, the hospitals lack the proper resources for mothers to be supported in their breastfeeding journey. For this reason, black mothers are nearly 25% less likely to breastfeed than any other race (Adams, Huffington Post).

In addition to insufficient hospital resources, black mothers often need to return to work sooner than other mothers due to being the only source of income in a household. Returning to work places extra strain on a new breastfeeding relationship, particularly if the mother is unable to pump breast milk or could not afford a breast pump.

Due to the breastfeeding rates in black communities being alarmingly low, many new mothers in these communities may not have been around other breastfeeding mothers. They may feel discouraged due to breastfeeding being a socially foreign activity. They may not have support from their community, and formula may seem like the easy or normal way to feed their new baby.

Why is breastfeeding so important?

Breastfeeding offers a host of benefits for both mother and baby. It is one of the most effective ways of facilitating a secure attachment and strong bond between mother and child. Breast milk also offers many health benefits for mother and baby. Breast milk contains many nutrients essential for infant development that are not available in any other food sources. It contains healthy bacteria to ensure an efficiently functioning microbiome and immune system in an infant. Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of breast cancer in a mother. All of these benefits contribute to lower stress in the postpartum period for both mother and baby. Lowered stress during the postpartum phase can help counterbalance the toxic stress felt in pregnancy for black mothers.

The cascade of stressful events are setting African American children up for a vicious cycle of toxic stress through their entire lives, and their bodies are not prepared to adequately deal with stress because of it. Racial disparities in growth and development extend far beyond pregnancy and birth, but perhaps focusing on prenatal and postpartum intervention would prevent the cycle from continuing in the next generation.

Pregnancy and Prejudice

Why are babies born to African American mothers twice as likely to die before their first birthday than babies of European descent? Many arrows are pointing to prenatal stress.

All pregnant women experience stress in pregnancy, causing a spike in stress hormones. When the stressful stimulation is eliminated, so are the stress hormones. That is, unless stress is a constant factor in your life.

When a developing fetus is exposed to stress hormones on a consistent and prolonged basis, the growing brain is permanently affected by the, now, toxic stress. Toxic stress causes many medical and developmental issues such as low birth weight, premature birth, inadequate emotional regulation, developmental delays, physical growth inhibition, decreased spacial reasoning, and chronic biological stress patterns.

African American mothers experience premature births at an alarmingly high rate compared to any other race. Traditionally, researchers thought that a lack of education and financial stability contributed to poorer birth outcomes in African American families. However, we are finding that the statistics of premature birth remain the same no matter how educated or wealthy the mother is. In fact, African American mothers with a college degree are still more likely to deliver prematurely than a white mother with only a high school diploma.

Some researchers argue that genes play a role in the birth outcomes of each race, however, if this were true, women in native African lands would experience the same outcomes. It turns out that women living in Africa experience full term healthy babies at the same rate as white women in America.

What is the missing link?

Racial discrimination in America.

African American women experience racial discrimination throughout their entire lives. Racial discrimination occurs everywhere: healthcare access, education opportunities, employment opportunities, social engagements, and general daily life. It is a never ending cause of stress for African American women. The experience of racial discrimination has been a bigger determination of negative birth outcomes than smoking cigarettes during pregnancy (Chatterjee and Davis, NPR).

Another aspect to consider for these women is that they are the sole breadwinners and heads of household a majority of the time. African American men are unemployed or incarcerated at an alarming rate due to the prison pipeline and racial discrimination in the workplace. This causes a lot of stress for these mothers, and thus, their babies are experiencing the major effects.

It is imperative that the maternal healthcare field begin to recognize the reasons behind negative birth outcomes associated with racial identity so that professionals are more attentive to the warning signs of prenatal toxic stress. It is also imperative that our society recognize racial and social injustices so that we can begin to make forward-moving progress to alleviate the stress experienced by mothers of color.

Black Mamas Matter

In 1850, 340 out of every 1,000 black babies and 217 out of every 1,000 white babies died before their first birthday. Today, 11.3 out of 1,000 black babies and 4.9 out of 1,000 white babies die. That means that black babies today are 1.5 times more likely to die than white babies than they were in 1850 (Villarosa, NY Times). Black mothers are nearly 2.5 times more likely to die from childbirth or pregnancy related issues than white mothers, and shockingly, are 2-3 times more likely to die from the same maternal issue than white women with the same exact condition (Montagne, NPR).

Many communities are picking up on the racial disparities in the healthcare system, but there haven't been enough forward-moving actions to try to eliminate the gap. The extent of movement that I have seen in my own Northern Colorado community include workshops on racial inclusion in the healthcare field and the introduction of sliding scales for midwifery services to better serve the lower income community, much of which is made up of minorities.

The Community Roots Midwife Collective is located in Longmont, Colorado. This collective offers sliding scale low cost births to the community. Their website reads "[a]s you can imagine, poor, immigrant, and communities of color are those who have the least access to our care. And those are likely the communities which could greatly benefit from the comprehensive care of a midwife." This is a huge step in the right direction, and it paves the way for other midwifery services to follow suit in serving the communities who are in most need of quality prenatal and postpartum care.

I recently spoke with a maternal and child health federal employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, about this issue. She wanted to emphasize that “public health is very much political. You would think or hope that policy decisions will be made based on need, funds would go to those communities who need it most, et cetera. I[n] many cases funds DO support those most in need, and there are efforts made to try to ensure that, but what it really comes down to is Congress and our other elected officials.” In other words, our current politics support institutional racism in healthcare, education, and the justice system, to name a few, because of funding going toward areas that will benefit people who are not part of the minority.

The Netflix documentary, “13th,” about the 13th amendment, goes into grave detail about how minorities are stuck in the prison pipeline as a low profile means of enslaving individuals after slavery was supposedly eradicated. By keeping minorities in a system of never-ending hurdles that are blamed on socioeconomic status, criminal records, and geographic location, those who are in power are able to remain in power. The people in power also profit off of the free, or nearly free, labor of the individuals who are stuck in the prison system, most of which are serving unusually long sentences for comparatively insignificant crimes.

Unfortunately, the racial gap extends to people of color who have climbed out of economic crisis. Shalon Irving, a 36 year old African American woman, was an epidemiologist for the CDC who collapsed and died from blood pressure complications 3 weeks after giving birth to her baby girl (Montagne, NPR). This is one of many examples that highlight the crisis of lack of quality healthcare in the US, specifically for people of color.

Ina May Gaskin, a well-known midwife, was asked about the effect of racism on black mothers and infants in healthcare at a Texas meeting for birth workers. Her answer shocked the world of birth workers and proved that we have a lot of work to do in educating our healthcare officials on race and equality. Gaskin discussed the importance of work ethic, the risk of drug use, the use of prayer as stress reduction, and the importance of informed risk during pregnancy as the prime effects on black mothers and infants. Suffice to say that 70 year old Ina May Gaskin holds traditional (and false) beliefs about black families. She didn't even touch on the actual question: racism.

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