Placenta Encapsulation: Research benefits and risks

Written By krysia lynch

Placenta encapsulation is often difficult to find information on. In this episode I discuss what placenta encapsulation is and also the history of encapsulating placentas as well as the available research and the risks and benefits that have been evaluated by the existing research.

If you are interested in placenta encapsulation you can find out more about my service here: Cost Saving Placenta Packages

Research articles discussed in the podcast:

1. Young SM, Gryder LK, David WB, Teng Y, Gerstenberger S, Benyshek DC. Human placenta processed for encapsulation contains modest concentrations of 14 trace minerals and elements. Nutr Res. 2016 Aug;36(8):872-8. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2016.04.005. Epub 2016 Apr 22. PMID: 27440542.
   Young et al analyzed 28 placenta samples processed for encapsulation to evaluate the concentration of 14 trace minerals/elements using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
   Analysis revealed detectable concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead,
   manganese, mercury, molybdenum, rubidium, selenium, strontium, uranium, and zinc.
   Based on one recommended daily intake of placenta capsules (3300 mg/d), a daily dose of placenta supplements contains approximately:
   0.018 ± 0.004 mg copper,
   2.19 ± 0.533 mg iron,
   0.005 ± 0.000 mg selenium, and
   0.180 ± 0.018 mg zinc.
   Based on the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for lactating women, the recommended daily intake of placenta capsules would provide, on average, 24% RDA for iron, 7.1% RDA for selenium, 1.5% RDA for zinc, and 1.4% RDA for copper.

2. Young SM, Gryder LK, Zava D, Kimball DW, Benyshek DC. Presence and concentration of 17
   hormones in human placenta processed for encapsulation and consumption. Placenta. 2016 Jul;43:86-9. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2016.05.005. Epub 2016 May 10. PMID: 27324105.Young et al analyzed 28 placenta samples processed for encapsulation using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to evaluate the concentration of 17 hormones. The results revealed detectable concentrations for 16 of the hormones analyzed, some in concentrations that could conceivably yield physiological effects.The following list of hormones were found at detectable levels in all 28 samples of encapsulated placenta:
    11-Deoxycortisol
    17-hydroxyprogesterone
    7- ketodehydroepiandrosterone
    Aldosterone
    Allopregnanolone
    Androstenedione
    Corticosterone
    Cortisol
    Cortisone
    Dehydroepiandrosterone
    Estradiol
    Estriol
    Estrone
    Progesterone
    Testosterone
   Estradiol, progesterone and allopregnanolone were the only hormones which were found
   in high enough levels to reach physiological effect thresholds at normal (3,300 mg) dosages.
   This study used a limited amount of placental samples and only tested for 17 hormones. Further research into hormone levels and the effects of placentophagy on hormone levels is warranted. The placentas were also prepared with unspecified herbs which may or may not have impacted the hormones that remained in the tissue. Allopregnanolone is the main active ingredient in the only FDA approved medication for treating postpartum depression.

3. . Young SM, Gryder LK, Cross C, Zava D, Kimball DW, Benyshek DC. Effects of placentophagy on maternal salivary hormones: A pilot trial, part 1. Women Birth. 2018 Aug;31(4):e245-e257. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2017.09.023. Epub 2017 Nov 27. PMID: 29174274. Some hormones in encapsulated placenta lead to small but significant differences in hormonal profiles of women taking placenta capsules compared to those taking a placebo, although these dose-response changes were not sufficient to result in significant hormonal differences between groups. Whether modest hormonal changes due to placenta supplementation are associated with therapeutic postpartum effects, however, awaits further investigation. “Therefore, the findings of the current study suggest that while placenta capsules do not dramatically affect hormone levels in postpartum women, they do lead to small but detectable changes in circulating hormone concentrations that could potentially impact a mother’s hormonal physiology.”

4. Young SM, Gryder LK, Cross C, Zava D, Kimball DW, Benyshek DC. Placentophagy's effects on mood, bonding, and fatigue: A pilot trial, part 2. Women Birth. 2018 Aug;31(4):e258-e271. doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2017.11.004. Epub 2017 Nov 27. PMID: 29174273.
   Examination of individual time points suggested that some measures had specific time-related differences between placenta and placebo groups that may warrant future exploration. Though statistical significance should not be interpreted in these cases, we did find some evidence of a decrease in depressive symptoms within the placenta group
   but not the placebo group, and reduced fatigue in placenta group participants at the end of the study compared to the placebo group.
   In two instances the results did show some significant differences:
   1. The EPDS at the first meeting post supplementation for the placenta group showed a decrease in postpartum depressive symptoms. This meeting correlates with the time that the participants were consuming the highest dosage of placenta capsules. It is possible that this is a positive correlation to placenta consumption.
   2. While assessing for fatigue using the FAS, the placenta group did have significantly improved fatigue over the course of supplementation. Inversely the placebo group had higher amounts of fatigue over the course of study. The placenta group did report better sleep immediately postpartum (prior to supplementation) so this decrease in fatigue could potentially be linked to this, however it could also potentially be linked to the placenta consumption.

5. Benyshek DC, Cheyney M, Brown J, Bovbjerg ML. Placentophagy among women planning community births in the United States: Frequency, rationale, and associated neonatal outcomes. Birth. 2018 Dec;45(4):459-468. doi: 10.1111/birt.12354. Epub 2018 May 2. PMID: 29722066. Researchers used a medical records– based data set (n = 23 242) containing pregnancy, birth, and postpartum information for women who planned community births. They looked at demographics of those that consume their placentas and their motivations as well as neonatal outcomes for the infants. They compared data for admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, neonatal hospitalization, and neonatal deaths for all groups. What they found was that consumption of placenta is not associated with adverse neonatal effects. They also compared data for raw and steamed methods of consumption to see if there was a negative correlation with consuming raw preparations of placenta versus steamed preparations. What they found was that there were no increased risks to the neonate from maternal consumption of raw placenta when compared to steamed or cooked preparations.

6. Sophia K. Johnson, Tanja Groten, Jana Pastuschek, Jürgen Rödel, Ulrike Sammer, Udo R. Markert, Human placentophagy: Effects of dehydration and steaming on hormones, metals and bacteria in placental tissue, Placenta, Volume 67, 2018, Pages 8-14, ISSN 0143-4004, The commonly used protocols for preparation of placenta for its individual oral ingestion reduce
   hormone concentrations and bacterial contamination.
   Six trace elements were tested; arsenic, cadmium, iron, lead, mercury, and selenium. The
   participants in the study had no reported abnormal exposures to these elements. The
   concentrations for arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury all were low and below the maximum allowed levels for supplements or foodstuffs. Selenium and Iron did accumulate slightly in the steamed and dehydrated tissue. The iron content of raw dehydrated tissue was 548.33 mg/kg, and the steamed dehydrated tissue had an iron content of 481.67 mg/kg. The raw sample taken 3 times a day, would add around 1.6 mg of iron per day, or around 17.8% of the RDA. The hormones studied included CRH, hPL, oxytocin, ACTH and estrogen. Processing the placenta did result in large reductions of all the hormones at rates of 85% to 99.6%. While hormone levels are low in processed tissue, we don't know if the hormones present in placenta are more or less bio-available to the people choosing placenta encapsulation.
   Perhaps the most interesting portion of this study was the microbiological information. Raw placenta was found to have normal vaginal and skin flora. Processing the placenta drastically reduced the amount of bacteria present in samples. None of the microbes found in processed placenta were considered pathogenic, and the results of this study show that processed placenta adheres to EU microbiological criteria. This research shows that there is minimal risk of food poisoning or intoxication from the consumption of placenta products.

7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2015.10.008
   Estrogen is known to antagonize prolactin via suppression in the hypothalamus. For this reason, some women’s health care providers counsel against the use of estrogen- containing contraceptive methods during lactation because it may decrease milk production(Hatcher et al., 2011).
   Although proponents of maternal postpartum placentophagy claim improvements in lactation, ingestion of potentially active estrogens in the placenta may have the opposite effect on milk production via suppression of prolactin production. As discussed, research on animal models regarding the effect of placentophagy on prolactin levels and lactation is inconclusive (Blank & Friesen, 1980; Grota & Eik-Nes, 1967), and it is unknown at this time whether placentophagy may improve, inhibit, or have no effect on lactation in postpartum women. The widespread practice of maternal placentophagy among mammals suggests that inhibition of lactation from placentophagy is unlikely.Preparing for labour and birth asks us to look deep inside ourselves and get to know ourselves. It asks us to build a coping mechanism that will enable us to move through the unexpected as well as manage the most challenging parts of labour and birth.

Preparing for labour and birth: The basics

No one can ever fully control birth, not the cosy APP promising you a candlelit waterbirth or the obstetrician who thinks that they have intervened early enough to mitigate every risk imaginable. Birth will always have unknowns and part of the work of preparation is to acknowledge that.

One of the most important things we can do is get to know and trust ourselves as part of our preparation. Communication with our minds our souls our bodes and even sometimes with our deepest fears all feature in birth preparation.

There are also pragmatic things such as getting familiar with breathing well, moving with strength and flexibility, understanding the mechanics of labour and how our different body systems function in labour, and then there is the environment we birth in and the way our mind affects us. For more . . . just listen in.

I you feel drawn to support people in labour or just afterwards, consider my postnatal doula training course, which is both a stand alone course and an entry into the Comprehensive Doula Training that will continue after the summer. More information here

Giving Birth for the first time in Ireland

“I d like to have as natural a birth as possible”. This is how many pregnant first time mothers start their conversation with me.

Then they go on to tell me that they are booked into a care pathway that has FTP induction rates of over 45% and similar FTP cesarean rates.

More than likely they are booked in semi private because they have some health insurance or because their GP suggested it.

It’s hard to secure a physiological birth under these circumstances. Very hard. Because you are working against a system that is not designed to support physiological birth.

If you are planning not to have an induction (including the stress of “persuasion”), AROM, frequent vaginal exams, syntocinon augmentation, electronic fetal monitoring, a vacuum or forceps delivery, epidural, episiotomy or coached pushing, you REALLY NEED TO THINK about considering a home birth.

End of.

If you are eligible, you should be doing everything to secure a midwife. That’s your job.

If you can’t find a HB provider then investigate a midwifery led option.

For doula support contact me.

To join my Postnatal Doula Training Course starting in March 2025 click here

Making a postnatal plan: Part 2

This Podcast Episode is part 2 of two podcasts focusing on making a postnatal plan and was originally recorded as an Insta Live Episode on January 5th 2023.

Your postnatal plan is as important as your birthing plan or preferences, if not more so!

Your plan needs to focus on yourself, your baby and your other family members and cover issues such as your physical, emotional and mental well being after giving birth to a new human being.

You need to think about nourishment physically and otherwise and about preparing to spend a reasonable amount of one on one time with your baby. How do you feel about that and what support might you need? An important one might be a postnatal doula.

You need to consider tiredness and how to maximise rest and sleep for yourself and the other members of your family, and also strategies for night time parenting,

For your baby you need to think about sleeping arrangements, carrying arrangements and also perhaps most importantly feeding. Listen in to find out how you might make sense of all of these issues to have a happy and easy postnatal babymoon.

If you are drawn to support people in the postnatal period then maybe working as a postnatal doula is for you. My postnatal doula training course starts on March 1st and continues for 6 months with two further weekends on April 26th and 27th and May 16th and 17th.

This course will be offered in person at Insight Matters Dublin, with an option to view live by zoom also which is great for folks living outside of Dublin. It will also be fully recorded to view by playback, which is helpful if you need to miss a session.

For more information see here

Making a postnatal plan: Part 1

This Podcast Episode is part 1 of two podcasts focusing on making a postnatal plan and was originally recorded as an Insta Live Episode on January 5th 2023.

Your postnatal plan is as important as your birthing plan or preferences, if not more so!

Your plan needs to focus on yourself, your baby and your other family members and cover issues such as your physical, emotional and mental well being after giving birth to a new human being.

You need to think about nourishment physically and otherwise and about preparing to spend a reasonable amount of one on one time with your baby. How do you feel about that and what support might you need? An important one might be a postnatal doula.

You need to consider tiredness and how to maximise rest and sleep for yourself and the other members of your family, and also strategies for night time parenting,

For your baby you need to think about sleeping arrangements, carrying arrangements and also perhaps most importantly feeding. Listen in to find out how you might make sense of all of these issues to have a happy and easy postnatal babymoon.

If you are drawn to support people in the postnatal period then maybe working as a postnatal doula is for you. My postnatal doula training course in 2025 starts on March 1st and continues for the next 6 months.

This course will be offered in person at Insight Matters Dublin, with an option to view live by zoom also which is great for folks living outside of Dublin. It will also be fully recorded to view by playback, which is helpful if you need to miss a session.

For more information see here

The first days after giving birth

What happens after you have a baby in those first hours days and weeks?

This podcast was originally recorded as an Insta Live on January 4th 2003 and in it I talk about those first hours in hospital; who takes care of you, what happens and what procedures and interventions you might be offered. Then those first days in hospital how and from whom you get your care and what you are entitled to, and then those first days and weeks at home.

For people having given birth at home I talk about how that continuum develops and how your care transitions from midwife to PHN and GP

If you feel called to work with new parents in those early days and weeks of the postnatal period then maybe my postnatal doula training is for you?

Next course 2025 takes place

1st and 2nd March 2025

26th and 27th April 2025

17th and 18th March 2025

This course will be offered in person at Insight Matters Dublin, with an option to view live by zoom also which is great for folks living outside of Dublin. It will also be fully recorded to view by playback, which is helpful if you need to miss as session.

To book and for more info see here

The need for postnatal support

What is the postnatal period?
It is 42 days following a live birth, a loss an abortion, an ectopic pregnancy or a stillbirth. However, most people find that it lasts a lot longer than 6 weeks. In fact some people find themselves still in the “postnatal” when expecting another baby!

What happens?
Our bodies, minds, emotions and more change. And it’s hard! We change because we are healing from one of the most profound experiences we can have. If there is a baby, then we have the responsibility of a newborn in addition to our own journey. What support do we need and how can postnatal doulas help? Listen to find out.

If you are drawn to supporting others in the postnatal period, then maybe my postnatal doula training is for you. Bookings close on 6th March 2023.

The training runs over three days and modules include:
The postpartum body
The new baby
Feeding support
Sleep solutions
New baby rhythms
Postnatal exercises
Listening to the birth story and validating experiences
Nourishing the new mother.

Timings:
1st and 2md March 2025 10 am – 5pm
26th and 27th April 2025 10am — 5pm

17th and 18th May 2025 10am - 5pm

This course will be offered in person at Insight Matters Dublin, with an option to view live by zoom also which is great for folks living outside of Dublin. It will also be fully recorded to view by playback, which is helpful if you need to miss as session.

Find out more here: Become a Postnatal Doula

The end of private obstetric care in Ireland?

Cabinet announced at the end of December that Consultant Contracts going forwards would not able consultants to take private patients within Public Hospitals. Currently, there are many Private hospitals in the State that cater to private patients and offer a space where private consultations with a specialist can take place. The one area of medicine in which that cannot happen is maternity care as there is no fully fledged private maternity hospital in the land since Mount Carmel closed their doors in 2014.

An end to contracts in the maternity sector would effectively mean the phasing out of Private Maternity Care; an option that some 20 – 30% of pregnant people avail of each year.

Why is Private maternity Care so popular? How has this situation come about?

What aspects of private maternity care attract people to it? Are these expectations founded? What other models could ensure similar experiences in the public sector?

How can we educate people into unravelling years of cultural beliefs surrounding maternity care?

Listen to find out!

If you are interested in supporting birthing people in Ireland, enrollment for my Postnatal Doula Training Course is now open – more information here

Christmas Induction Coercion

Induction rates in Ireland and in many industrialized countries are soaring with many maternity units and hospitals having induction rates of over 45 – 50% for first time mothers. During the Christmas period these rates rise further to support administrative rostering in the maternity services. It would be a breath of fresh air if people were told that they were being offered induction due to staff rosters, and that they could think about it and decide if it was for them. Instead they are often bullied and coerced into induction by fear inducing notions statements and selective use of research.

In this podcast I talk about the research studies used to try to persuade people induction is always a good idea for them and their baby, even from 39 weeks. I also discuss the many reasons why induction carries risks and how the narrative between care provider and pregnant person should pan our and the importance of makin a plan and trust.

One of the great supports during this late antenatal period can be that of a doula. If you would like to consider training as a doula yourself, then my postnatal doula training is now open for registrations. The payment plan is still currently active.

More information here Become a Postnatal Doula

VBAC - the risks and joys

his episode of the Doulaverse looks at the topic of Vaginal Birth After Caesarean Section and also of HBAC Home Birth After Caesarean Section. Both are available in Ireland, and both are vital to stop the incredible rise in our c birth rates and with that the rise in complications and issues associated with repeat c birth.

I look at some of the figures firstly which I hope are not too confusing! The primary reason HCPs do not favour VBAC is the fear of uterine rupture. And yet, when we look closely at the rates of uterine rupture, especially in comparison to other complications associated with repeat c births such as placenta accreta and cesarean hysterectomy the figures do not bear out the fear and anxiety that is widely perpetuated.

Just for the record here are the rates of uterine rupture for first VBAC 22/10,000 or 2.2/1000 (numerous studies)

For second VBAC the rate is 11/10,000

For third VBAC the rate is 6/10,000

The rate of perinatal mortality for planned cephalic birth is 1/1000, the rate of perinatal mortality for panned breech birth is 2/1000 and the rate of perinatal mortality for c birth is 0.5/1000 (RCOG 2017)

The estimated rate of perinatal mortality associated with uterine scar rupture is estimated as 1/10,000 births.

For more facts figures and fun listen in!

If you would like to join my postnatal doula training, registrations are now open: https://dublindoula.com/become-a-postnatal-doula/

All about Caesarean Birth

In this episode I start my journey with C birth. Not a lot of people know this but I was born by C birth! That makes me the ONLY person in my entire family line that was born by C birth and in fact was born in hospital. My mum and my dad and all my children were born at home. It's a heavy burden to carry!

Like many people, my mother didn't plan a C birth but she was told during her labour that one was necessary and it was an "emergency" and "necessary now". It's hard to piece together exactly why and what happened, as my mum had me in London and English was not her first language. I think that I was possibly sitting breech or in an awkward position and I didn't turn in labour. My mother had a spontaneous start to labour with me and certainly broke all the rules when I was born by breastfeeding me on demand (long term), and insisting that I not be taken away after I was born, but she always spoke of that time with a mix of sadness, hurt and joy, and I am convinced that she suffered emotionally and mentally with many unanswered questions as to how and why her first childbirth experience evolved in that way.

So that's enough about my C birth credentials. Let's dive in and look at how and why c births come about, what the rates are like, what the risks and benefits are and how we can have the best c birth possible if one becomes inevitable.

Want to find out more about doula training? Click on the link below!

https://dublindoula.com/doula-training-course-with-krysia-lynch/

Medical Induction of Labour

Our induction rates are now heading towards 60% for first time parents with second time parents not far behind. What is medical induction of labour? What are the indications? What are the risks? How can you negotiate induction on your own terms? What part does your “due date” play in making you an induction candidate. If induction is the right course for you how will it be carried out? Find out the answers to these and many more questions about induction and due dates in this episode of the DoualaVerse.

Enjoying the podcast? Want to work with me? I work with pregnant people and their families as a birth doula and a postpartum doula and of course if you are hearing the call you may want to join my Comprehensive Doula Training Course.

Homebirth as a choice in maternity care

This podcast looks at why people choose homebirth, and why its a valid safe choice for many women and pregnant people. I also look at the three pathways to homebirth care in Ireland and what you get in terms of one to one care in each one.

Your choices in maternity care

Choices in our maternity care services. Are there any choices? Do you know what they are? Listen in to find out more. Want to support people in their choices? If so maybe Doula Training is for you? Find out more here