Home Birthers & Hopefuls!

[snagglepat]

It didn't get in the way at all. We were of course aware of and careful with it, but we just wrapped her and her placenta up in the same blanket/gro-bag when we were moving about and it was fine. We did spend quite a lot of that time in bed together and it just lay next to her/us in it's nappy wrapping. It only took two days to detach so it wasn't a lengthy process and there was no smell at all unless you literally put your nose up close when it just smelt kind of meaty. We sprinkled it with salt and the odd drop of lavender oil which may have helped that but again, it only took two days so it didn't have much opportunity to 'go off'. It was very easy, and certainly worth the satisfaction we got from knowing we were giving our daughter the opportunity to let go of her placenta in her own time. I don't know if you've read the piece I wrote about our experience but it's here if you haven't: https://www.supportedbirth.co.uk/lotus.htm

Gina. x

 

[Mervs Mum]

Ok so now I want another baby so I can have a Lotus Birth!

 

[Rmar]

Gina, I am exactly the same. We are planning a lotus birth but I would love to do encapsulation. However, lotus birth is right for us because it is part of our culture and that includes a smoking and burial of the placenta which I couldn't do if we encapsulated it. I just think about how amazing it will be and I know my mum wished she knew a lot more culturally when I was born because she said she would have done the same thing (she was around during the time of the stolen generation in Australia and would have been taken away if it was known that she was indigenous because her mother was white).

I have told everyone that, until the baby has let go of the placenta, we will be blissfully unaware of any kind of mess in the house and have some nice cuddles in bed. DH bought extra gloves to do the dishes with.

 

[moomin_troll]

wow ive never heard of a lotus birth before, and i never thought about letting the placenta come away in its own time.

theres alot i need to think about over the next 6 months or so lol

 

[Mervs Mum]

I knew about lotus birth but I've learned a lot from Gina's blog post about it. I liked the idea of the baby letting go in it's own time but never thought of the placenta in any other terms than a baby. It will be their pillow, companion, soother and the cord we've seen on enough scans to be a play thing. Thanks Snagglepat (bloody love that username!) youve given me lots to think about. x

 

[pimento1979]

Thanks LuckyD for that link- I'll definitely look at it. I have decided to go with encapsulation, just need to have a chat with hubby but once I convince him of all the benefits I (and thus, he!) will get out of it, I'm sure he'll "let" me do it.

 

[Jenniflower]

Hi Gina!

I'm getting my birth pool delivered on Friday- woot!

And although I've known about it for ages, I am only just considering placenta encapsulation... I have been on anti-depressants for 12 years due to depression/anxiety and came off the drugs when I found out I was pregnant (under the guidance/supervision of my GP). I have done Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and have been seeing a homeopath during my pregnancy as well, but am very aware (and scared) of postpartum depression. My own homeopath seems to think that since my pre-pregnancy depression wasn't hormone-related, that it's "unlikely" that PPD will affect me, but I don't quite understand that logic...

Also, I had a breast reduction 8 years ago and I know that placenta can help with milk production. Due to the length of time since the surgery and with a lot of positive signs that my milk production will be ok (boobs have grown 4 sizes, lots of blue veins, darkened areolas, leaking colostrum at night, and am able to manually express 4ml of colostrum per day- putting it in the freezer "just in case", under the guidance of a LLL leader).... I guess any extra help wouldn't go amiss, though! I know about galactagogues for increasing milk supply and I have a Supplementary Nursing System just in case, but heck, if my own placenta can give me a fighting chance at exclusively BFing, then maybe I should seriously consider this!

Anyone out there thinking of encapsulation? Gina, I know you did a lotus birth with your DD#1, you thinking of doing the same this time?

We've decided, after much discussion, to encapsulate the placenta! It was actually due to the women on this thread and reading how easy and amazing it is to do. DH is helping me with it in case I don't feel comfortable enough handling it. He says it's just like Liver so he won't have any problem chopping it up. I can barely handle chicken! hahaha.

Here's two really great ways of doing it. We're choosing the raw method for no other reason than the fact that we don't have a steamer large enough to steam it.

No special equipment is needed. A dehydrator can be used or you can dry it in the oven.

Raw Placenta Method:

Just freeze the placenta, you can rinse it before if you'd like, then when ready to dehydrate, take it out of the freezer and let it soften just a little, maybe 15 minutes or so, then start slicing from the maternal side, with a sharp filet knife little thin pieces. Spread those out on the dehydrator, or cookie sheets for the oven, and dehydrate. Even with high atmospheric humidity it still only takes about 5 to 6 hours to dry. Take the little jerky like pieces and crumble them in a bag. You can use the pieces by themselves in soups or stews, you can make a tincture with the pieces later if needed, you can mortar and pestle the pieces and fill gelatin capsules to take like a medicine.

Cooked Placenta Method:

Another method is to cut off the cord and membranes. Steam the placenta, adding lemon grass, pepper and ginger to the steaming water. The placenta is "done" when no blood comes out when you pierce it with a fork. Cut the placenta into thin slices (like making jerky) and bake in a low-heat oven (200-250 degrees F), until it is dry and crumbly (several hours). Crush the placenta into a powder - using a food processor, blender, mortar and pestle, or by putting it in a bag and grinding it with rocks. Put the powder into empty gel caps (available at drug and health food stores) or just add a spoonful to your cereal, blender drink, etc. The recommended doses vary, some suggest up to 4 capsules a day, others just one. Perhaps the best advice is to take what makes you feel good".

I plan on using these for capsules. Though there are vegetarian options around the internet if you prefer those. Some places recommend size 00 pills but I personally think they're too big for me, so I'll just be taking two of these with some white wine.

I had a breast reduction 8 years ago too! How weird hahaha. Sadly though I don't think I'll be one of the ones that can BF. My breasts have hardly been sore, they've grown some but not much, and I haven't had even one inkling of leaking. That's so great that you get to start pumping some colostrum already to be prepared.

 

[pimento1979]

Hi Jenni! I think I'm going to get a placenta encapsulation specialist to do mine. I know they don't have any specialists up north, but you can hire a kit from https://www.koalatherapies.com/placenta_services_uk.html if you're so inclined. I am an American too, originally from Danbury, CT- have been in the UK for 7 years now. How about you?

And, hey- you never know about breastfeeding! Your body might just surprise you- maybe the placenta capsules will kick everything off for you!

 

[Jenniflower]

Hi Jenni! I think I'm going to get a placenta encapsulation specialist to do mine. I know they don't have any specialists up north, but you can hire a kit from https://www.koalatherapies.com/placenta_services_uk.html if you're so inclined. I am an American too, originally from Danbury, CT- have been in the UK for 7 years now. How about you?

And, hey- you never know about breastfeeding! Your body might just surprise you- maybe the placenta capsules will kick everything off for you!

You're an American living in the UK, having had a breast reduction and due in Feb? Could we be more similar? hahaha

I looked up all that kit stuff and in the end realized how easy and how much cheaper it would be to just do it by ourselves. I originally just wanted someone to come over and do it as I really wanted the pills but couldn't be bothered to know how they got in there. Actually if it wasn't for DH being really supportive about doing it for me I would have looked more into the kit. He likes to save as much money as possible, hahaha.

 

[pimento1979]

Actually if it wasn't for DH being really supportive about doing it for me I would have looked more into the kit. He likes to save as much money as possible, hahaha.

That is so great that your DH is supportive- gotta love these awesome partners. My own DH has scheduled in the diary for tonight, from 7-9pm, for us to practice our Birth Skills (based on Juju Sundin's book). Bless him. He's even said we can order a takeaway so that we can focus on the practicing and not have to worry about cooking and washing up

 

[Mervs Mum]

I like him!! Can I come for tea??!!

 

[pimento1979]

I like him!! Can I come for tea??!!

See you around 7!

 

[MandaAnda]

That is so great that your DH is supportive- gotta love these awesome partners. My own DH has scheduled in the diary for tonight, from 7-9pm, for us to practice our Birth Skills (based on Juju Sundin's book). Bless him. He's even said we can order a takeaway so that we can focus on the practicing and not have to worry about cooking and washing up

Love it! Even my DH who's ever so "hard" was sitting in my delivery room telling me "it's just a muscle working" and that I'd see my baby soon. Love them!

Can't wait to be planning baby number two's home birth - fingers crossed DH is working soon (so I can get to work! haha).

 

[pimento1979]

Manda! It's Cathy from AmEx! But you probably already gathered that

 

[chuck]

ergh can I borrow a husband for my birth please?

 

[MandaAnda]

Manda! It's Cathy from AmEx! But you probably already gathered that

Yep, it clicked when I read the new posts on this thread and then the new ones on AmEx. Watch out, American expats are taking over the home birth thread!!!

I think this thread is the whole reason I love BnB. And MM... Thats right, Lisa, your lactivist/reclaiming birth ways mean I can't help but love you! hehe

 

[PeanutBean]

Am I the only one who'd be fascinated to get my dissection kit out and haev a good poke around the placenta and cord?

(Am I the only one with a dissection kit?)

 

[chuck]

The science teacher in me wants to have a good look!

Husband however wants to not think about it and have it quietly whisked away by the MW lol

 

[PeanutBean]

I had a bit of a squizz in the hospital but as I was still paralysed I couldn't really do much. I like the idea of encapsulation but fear the meaty cooking smells. I wasn't aware there were any veggie capsules though so that's useful if I decide to try it.

 

[chuck]

I wasnt asked if I wanted to see it...mind you t hey didnt tell me when Dewi was out so I'm not surprised.