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Mums have been told there is no known health benefits from eating their placenta and it can actually be dangerous to both mum and baby.

Some claim it can boost iron levels, improve milk supply and eradicate the risk of post-natal depression.

But the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada strongly disagrees, and even said it could be harmful, shares Daily Mail.

SOGC reviewed the evidence amid a growing trend to eat the placenta either raw, cooked, or in the form of a pill.

They published their warning – based on any studies that meet its standards – in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada.

‘Despite the growing trend… there is no documented evidence of benefit for improved iron stores, mood, or lactation.

placenta cake

Dr Jocelynn Cook, chief scientific officer of SOGC, added that currently, ‘there is no strong evidence’ to suggest eating the placenta has benefits.

The SOGC reviewed four scientific studies and found the results, even if positive, were too weak in support for these claims.

SOGC said that in a study of the nutritional composition of placenta, there was hardly any detection of iron or minerals.

One study that evaluated the amount of hormones in the placenta could potentially reach a level of physiological impact if ingested.

Once the placenta is handled, dehydrated and packaged into a pill, it is unclear is the hormones are biologically present anymore.

And poor handling of placentas and improper sterilization could lead to serious health implications for the mother and baby.

The report added: ‘Although other harm has yet to be documented… there is potential for transmission of bacterial, viral, or fungal pathogens to both mother and baby or close contacts.’

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed concerns about placental encapsulation in 2017 when a woman transferred a killer virus to her baby.

 

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  • Was never something I was interested in. I heard once that they filter out the nastier stuff so eating it would be a silly idea, right? If I kept it I’d use it as fertilizer for a tree to honour my child or something.

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  • This has never been something I was interested in.

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  • I wouldn’t do it anyway. But knowing the risks you are facing, better off!


    • I agree and have never understood this in other articles.

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  • why would you

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  • Highly unappealing in every possible way.

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  • No thanks, I never had the desire to eat my placenta ! The thought is gross to me.

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  • Just breast feeding my baby in the middle of the night and saw this totally wakes me up! So gross!

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  • Yep. It comes out of your body after baby is born as they no longer need it. Why put it back into your body in any form?!

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  • Isn’t this cannibalism?

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  • Within iron there is various types. Too much of one of them can definitely cause liver damage. It is safer to take a supplement of the type needed.

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  • I cant imagine myself eating it the idea of this makes me feel like vomiting.

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  • The idea of this freaks me out!

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  • I just find it gross

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  • The idea is so gross that the health implications are almost irrelevant to me!

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  • I think I just vomited a little bit in my mouth ???? Not something I ever considered. Just disgusting

    Reply

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