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All About Women

A patient-centered practice for all stages of a woman's life

Gainesville, FL (352) 331-3332
6440 W Newberry Rd, Ste 111

Lake City, FL (386) 754-1744
4447 NW American Ln, Ste 102

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Blog / Research & New Techniques / Does Eating Baby’s Placenta Really Have Benefits?

Does Eating Baby’s Placenta Really Have Benefits?

June 15, 2015 By Site Admin

doctor-woman

You may have heard of a strange but growing trend – consuming your baby’s placenta after birth. Touted by some celebrities, midwives and doulas, eating placenta – either raw, cooked or dried and encapsulated – has become increasingly popular over the last few years. Women rave about rapid recovery from birth, increased milk production, prevention of postpartum depression and more energy.

While personal experiences praise the power of the placenta, a recent study by researchers at Northwestern University has found that there are no evident benefits of a mother consuming placenta, suggesting that the positive reviews may be in part a placebo effect. The researchers reviewed ten different published studies that examined the outcomes of mothers who consumed the placenta.

If you’re on the line about placenta encapsulation, here are three facts to consider first:

  1. Though it’s true that other mammals eat their afterbirth, it’s never been a widely accepted human cultural practice. Traditional Chinese medicine texts mention placental preparations, but it’s not clear if these were specifically for the mother or not. Maternal consumption of placentas didn’t actually become popular until the 1970s in America, when some midwives recommended the practice.
  1. A placenta is a life-support system for your growing child. While it provides nutrients and iron-rich blood to your baby, it also filters waste that your baby doesn’t need. Some placentas may have bacterial infections, residual meconium (aka baby poo) or be laden with heavy metals. You should strongly consider the risks of consuming such substances.
  1. Perhaps most worrying to conscientious pregnancy care physicians, new moms may overly rely on the placenta as a way to protect themselves against postpartum depression, which can be a dangerous bet for both mother and baby. Postpartum depression is a serious medical condition. All pregnant women should know their risk for PPD and have a plan with their doctor, beyond placental preparations, in the case that symptoms appear after birth.

It would be nice if a woman’s placenta solved so many potential postpartum health issues. But maternal health and the transition to motherhood aren’t always so simple.

At All About Women, we believe that making sure you have a supportive maternity team is a good starting place for ensuring the best outcomes for you and your baby. Contact us today in Gainesville or the Lake City area to discuss your postnatal concerns.

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Filed Under: Research & New Techniques Tagged With: postpartum depression, pregnancy care, research

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Being a patient-centered practice goes well beyond seeing patients in our office. We want to help you find important answers before you even step in the door. Our OB/GYN blog helps us accomplish this goal but more importantly, helps women like you better understand your unique health needs. Browse around and learn more about pregnancy, general women’s health, exciting new research and more!

Contact Us With Any Questions

All About Women Obstetrics and Gynecology – Gainesville

Gainesville
6440 W Newberry Rd, Ste 111
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 331-3332


All About Women Obstetrics and Gynecology – Lake Cit

Lake City
4447 NW American Ln, Ste 102
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 754-1744


 

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Gainesville and Lake City OB/GYN Care
OB/GYN doctors at All About Women, Obstetrics & Gynecology offer personalized, technologically advanced obstetrics and gynecology services from Board Certified OB/GYB physicians. Besides expert women's healthcare, permanent birth control and prenatal care, OB/GYN doctors also offers advanced hysterectomy surgery in and around the Gainesville area.


Women's Health Care in Alachua & Columbia Counties
With offices in Gainesville and Lake City, Florida, All About Women, M.D. provides expert OB/GYN services covering the entire range of women's healthcare needs. Our OB/GYN physicians and nurse midwives provide expert care during pregnancy as well as state of the art in-office treatments for gynecologic disorders including Novasure endometrial ablation to treat/stop heavy menstrual bleeding.


Personalized & Expert Prenatal Care
Gainesville obstetricians at All About Women, M.D. help ensure pregnancy goes as smoothly as possible by offering the best prenatal care available. And for those having difficulty getting pregnant, AAW obstetricians and gynecologists offer couples the best infertility help and treatment available.


Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery: daVinci Surgical System
Clinic founder Dr. Anthony Agrios, Board Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist also specializes in the daVinci Robotic surgery system, a minimally invasive option commonly used for a hysterectomy and other procedures. Instead of creating several small incisions like traditional surgical methods, OB/GYN surgeons simply open one incision with the daVinci system to complete the procedure. Not only do patients experience less pain and blood loss, they recover and get back to normal much faster.


Pregnancy & Prenatal Care: Creative Pregnancy Announcement : Fruits for Pregnant Women

OB/GYN Tips: Choosing an OB/GYN : Robotic Hysterectomy

Infertility & Reproduction Health: Infertility Treatment : Permanent Birth Control

Women's Health: Preventive Care : Well Women Care : Mammogram Screenings : Abnormal Periods

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