Post-partum Bleeding

The placenta is very high in natural oxytocins which trigger uterine contractions and minimise postpartum bleeding. Eating part of or all of, the placenta is benefical for controlling post-partum bleeding and haemorrhage.

A tiny piece can be held in the cheek or under the tongue and this will send signals to the body, letting it know the birth is over and to stop bleeding.

Some women who consume the placenta have reported that their lochia loss is light and stops earlier than usual.

Many unassisted birthers eat raw placentas or blend it up with red fruits in a smoothie for energy boosts, recovery and especially to stop postpartum haemorrhage.

Nutrition Balance

Placentas are rich in minerals, vitamins and amino acids, and has particularly high levels of vitamin B6, sodium, potassium, phosphorus and protein. After pregnancy and childbirth, eating the placenta can correct any nutritional and hormonal deficiencies that may exist in the mother.

Post-natal Depression (PND)

A theory of post-natal depression is that it is caused or made more severe by the depletion of vital nutrients during birth or pregnancy. Eating the placenta may help prevent or decrease a mother's risk of PND. The placenta also contains hormones and nutritents that aid depression such as oxytocin and vitamin B6.

Energy Levels Boost

Many women who consume their placentas report a boost in energy levels and their ability to cope in the first week or so after childbirth. This is attributed to the hormones, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids contained in the placenta.

Post-partum Pain Relief

Birth fluids, tissues and placenta ingestion by the mother enhances the effect of the natural pain relieving hormones which exist in the body during late pregnancy and childbirth.

Amniotic-fluid ingestion provides enhancement of those hormones early in childbirth, and placenta ingestion provides analgesia enhancement later in childbirth and could produce an enhancement that lasts into the early postpartum period, providing some relief of afterpains.

Enhancement of Opioid-Mediated Analgesia: A Solution to the Enigma of Placentophagia MARK B. KRISTAL Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260

Emergence of Maternal Behaviour

The placenta and amniotic fluids are thought to contain substances that upon ingestion will optimise and accelerate the emergence of maternal "mothering" behaviour in the mother, towards her baby.

Birth fluids and tissues on the baby's skin is thought to accelerate maternal bonding and caring instincts as well. See above link on Placentophagia.