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Don't Knock It Until You Try It: What Are The Benefits of Eating Your Own Placenta?
If someone were to offer you pills that were said to lower your chances of postpartum depression, would you take them? Sure, right? But would you still agree to the pills if it came out of an organ in your uterus?
NPR.org reports that as many as 1 in every 7 women experience postpartum depression (PPD), with symptoms of feeling guilty or a disconnect towards her newborn, severe irritability, sleep deprivation, and loss of appetite, to name a few. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women who become pregnant as an adolescent, have pregnancy and/or birth complications, or give birth to a baby born with defects and disabilities, have a higher risk of experiencing PPD. But don't be fooled. Women who had healthy pregnancies can also feel depressed after the arrival of a newborn. So, I pose the question again: would you look into those pills that could reduce that possibility?
Placenta, yes, “afterbirth," is a temporary organ that develops in the uterus of pregnant women, providing oxygen and delivering vital nutrients to developing babies. It also allows waste elimination and produces hormones like, oxytocin and progesterone. Human placentophagy, or the consumption of placenta, is a practice that dates back to the 16th century in China, used in medicine, elixirs, and to cure lactation and infertility issues. Eating your own placenta also replenishes those nutrients lost during pregnancy. In recent years, it began to trend here in America, thanks to celeb-mommies, Alicia Silverstone, RHOA's Kim Zolciak, Tamera Mowry-Housley, and Mad Men's January Jones who said that it increased their milk production, heightened their mood and lowered their chances of postpartum depression.
Alicia Silverstone's husband calls her encapsulated placenta, “happy pills."
Someone gifted me my placenta in the form of a pill. They encapsulated it. I thought 'That's harmless. I'll try it.' And I have to tell you that I really loved it. I've got the point that my husband said 'Did you have your happy pills today?' And I was really sad when they were gone. It really helped me.
Photo Credit: KimKardashianWest.com
Zolciak gets her fix through a smoothie, Tamera drinks hers (and shared with her sis, Tia), and JJ takes hers like a natural supplement. There are recipes that exist if you're trying to get fancy with it, too. Earlier this year Kourtney Kardashian jumped on board after she gave birth to son, Reign, and shared her experience on Instagram, calling them “life-changing." Of course, her little sister Kim followed suit and uploaded a pic of her own pills after Saint's arrival. In a post on her site, Mrs. West talks about her fight against postpartum depression the second time around with the assistance of her placenta.
Related: Sisterly Bonding: Tia Tastes Tamera's Placenta
So, I'm really not this holistic person or someone who would have ever considered eating my placenta...And when I say 'eat my placenta,' I mean that I'm having it freeze-dried and made into a pill form–not actually fry it like a steak and eat it (which some people do, BTW).I heard so many stories when I was pregnant with North of moms who never ate their placenta with their first baby and then had postpartum depression, but then when they took the pills with their second baby, they did not suffer from depression! So I thought, why not try it?...What do I have to lose? I really didn't want the baby blues and thought I can't go wrong with taking a pill made of my own hormones-made by me, for me. I started researching and read about so many moms who felt this same way and said the overall healing process was so much easier. Every time I take a pill, I feel a surge of energy and feel really healthy and good. I totally recommend it for anyone considering it!
Jennifer Mayer, founder of Brooklyn Placenta Services and birth doula, tells the New York Daily Newsabout the growing interest amongst women who are interested in encapsulating their placenta. Mayer typically makes roughly 80-130 pills on average for each of her clients and has cooked up more than 600-700 placenta in a span of her five years in the business, leaving her job as a massage therapist and picking up the side hustle full-time.
She briefly talks about her own experience and the process of encapsulation:
It doesn't taste like anything in capsule form. I slice it, dehydrate it and fill it into a capsule about the size of a vitamin, and place the pills in a blue glass bottle. If anything, it might smell a little metallic. You know, like blood.So far the science on eating placenta is mostly anecdotal; women sharing their personal experiences of it helping with their baby blues. My clients say it increases their energy. Taking a capsule gives them a boost equal to a cup of coffee or a green juice — which, if you have a newborn, is pretty awesome. And there are studies from the turn of the century that show dehydrated placenta did increase milk supply in breastfeeding moms.
There must be magic in the placenta, but if you ask doctors, they aren't buying it. Many believe that, while celebrities publicly advocate for it, there isn't any scientifically based evidence that confirms there are benefits to eating your own afterbirth in any form. After placentophagia became a hot topic back in 2012 from January Jones' comment, many medical specialists weighed in.
Neuroscientist Mark KristaltoldNewYork Magazine, “It's a New Age phenomenon. Every ten or twenty years, people say, 'We should do this because it's natural and animals do it.' But it's not based on science. It's a fad."
Claudia Booker, a home birth midwife and a placenta encapsulator believes there are advantages to consuming your own placenta, but doesn't agree in the belief that it's a remedy for PPD.
“These placenta pills can tell your hormonal system not to create the tremendous drop in estrogen after birth that causes some women to be weepy or feel down. It slows down that rapid estrogen decline...I do not believe that consuming your placenta in capsule form or any form is a treatment for clinically diagnosed postpartum depression, which is a medical condition that should be treated by a healthcare provider. This is more about the new mommy orientation stage, when you wonder if you'll ever sleep again and if life is always going to be like this."
While I've never taken placenta pills after having my children (and probably never will), I don't knock those who choose to indulge. I applaud any woman choosing to do what she feels is best for her body and baby. Healthy mommies do make happier homes.
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This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
‘ACross Generations With Tiffany Cross’ Have A Candid Conversation About Diversity In Media
Being the only Black person at your job can often make you feel isolated. There’s no one to relate to or who even understands your background. This is a conversation that many Black people have among each other and a topic that was covered in the latest episode of ACross Generations with Tiffany Cross.
Host Tiffany sat down with media professionals Michele McGhee and Sidney Madden to discuss everything from diversity in media to their own journeys in the industry. Tiffany, who has worked at many media platforms such as BET, revealed that during her time at CNN, she felt isolated and dismissed by her coworkers.
“Not only isolated in what you looked like but isolated in your lived experience and have people summarily dismiss your humanity on a daily basis,” she said.
Michele agreed; however, she took a different approach toward the dismissiveness she experienced while working at CNN.
“I would sit there, and I’d be like, oh my God, I’m the only one, and really it made me connect to my faith because I said God wants me to be the only one because He wants me to have this voice. He wants me to have this moment, and He wants me to go on this journey because if you’re with someone else, I can’t stretch and grow you the way I need you to be.”
She continued, “So now, as a 58-year-old woman, I never ask God, why am I alone.”
Michele is now the co-founder and CEO of Expectant Media, a company that elevates Black-owned media and creators.
Sidney is a writer and host of NPR’s podcast Louder Than A Riot. When she began working at NPR, she was one of three Black people and the only Black woman in the music department.
She recalled a moment when she pitched a story about Cardi B’s buying power before she became mainstream and how well it did on the site. The story reminded her of the value she brings to the table.
She said, “It was a point of validation for me because I’m like, ‘Oh, actually, I can learn all this stuff you’re talking about, but there’s some things you’re never gonna know. And I’m truly gonna be the expert in that I can assert in this place that you can never take away from me, and that’s the voice.”
Watch the full episode of ACross Generations with Tiffany Cross below.
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Feature image by ACross Generations with Tiffany Cross/ YouTube