CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

The Key to a Quick Postpartum Recovery Might Be Hiding in Your Placenta

save article
profile picture of Kylie McConville
Updated March 2, 2017
Hero Image

For first-time moms searching for a way to speed up the postpartum experience, the answer might be hidden in your placenta.

A team of researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas conducted a three-month survey of 189 women, all of whom had eaten their placenta after the birth of their child. Researchers asked women why they had done it, how they had eaten it (steamed, raw, or dehydrated) and whether or not they would do it again.

From the data they collected, the research, published in the journal Ecology of Food and Nutrition showed that 95 percent of the participants reported a positive, if not very positive, experience. Sharon Young, a researcher in the study said, “Things like improved lactation and postpartum bleeding were alleviated and postpartum recovery was either sped up or improved in general.”

Though another member of the study, Daneil Benyshek, did note that not all of the participants reported positive experiences. He said, “These primarily had to do with the appeal — the appeal of the placenta itself even in capsules — and things like unpleasant belching.”

And while the research done in Nevada does point out the benefits of eating your placenta after birth, researchers say that more studies need to be done to determine just important the benefits are.

Would you eat your placenta?

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

Advertisement
mom holding baby with skin-to-skin contact
7 Ways to Prepare for the Reality of the Fourth Trimester
By Chaunie Brusie, BSN, RN
kate middleton announces cancer diagnosis march 2024
How Kate Middleton Discussed Her Cancer Diagnosis With Her Kids
By Wyndi Kappes
jessica pettway dead at 36 from cervical cancer
Momfluencer Jessica Pettway Dies of Cervical Cancer After Misdiagnosis
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
woman with cramping in bed
Postpartum Cramping: What's Normal (and What's Not)
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
Bradley Cooper and Lea De Seine Shayk Cooper attend Netflix's "Maestro" Los Angeles Photo Call at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on December 12, 2023 in Los Angeles, California
Bradley Cooper Admits He Intially Struggled to Bond With His Daughter
By Wyndi Kappes
New mom holds her newborn on her chest.
The Fourth Trimester: How Baby Adjusts to Life Outside the Womb
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
sick woman blowing her nose at home
Peak Season for Respiratory Viruses Has Passed, CDC Data Shows
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Scheana Shay at the "Vanderpump Rules" Season 11 Premiere held at the Hollywood Palladium on January 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California
Vanderpump Rules’ Scheana Shay Opens Up About Postpartum OCD Diagnosis
By Wyndi Kappes
BOTB Best Postpartum Kits-hero
9 Best Mom-Tested Postpartum Kits for Care and Recovery
By Elizabeth Narins
father hugging breastfeeding mom and newborn baby
Mom Makes Postpartum To-Do List for Partners Who Want to Help
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
elyse myers shares her 4 month old son needs heart surgery
Elyse Myers Reveals Her Son Will Undergo Surgery for Hole in His Heart
By Wyndi Kappes
mom and toddler brushing teeth in bathroom
Can Mom "Pass Cavities on" to Baby? Study Reveals Possible Connection
By Wyndi Kappes
mother wearing postpartum underwear and holding baby
9 Best Postpartum Underwear, According to New Moms
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
little girl sleeping in hospital bed with teddy bear
How the Red Cross Emergency Blood Shortage Could Impact Kids
By Wyndi Kappes
woman turning fan on in bedroom
Why You're Dealing With Postpartum Night Sweats
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
mother holding newborn baby while sitting on couch at home
The Baby Pinks: What to Know About Postpartum Euphoria
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
mother and baby looking at smartphone on the couch at home
Why Does My Baby…Google Releases 2023's Trending Searches
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
father bathing newborn baby in kitchen at home
How Often Should You Bathe a Newborn?
Medically Reviewed by Loretta Cody, MD
overhead view of newborn baby and mother in hospital bed after giving birth
How a Sitz Bath Can Help You Heal Postpartum
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
driver smoking a cigarette inside a car
Delaware Is First State to Ban Smoking With Kids in the Car
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List