Why I "ate" my placenta

In the winter of 2009 I was preparing to give birth to my second son. My home birth midwives told me about placenta encapsulation and I thought "hey, that's weird... I want to do it!" I had a history of depression from years earlier, though thankfully did not suffer postpartum depression with my first son. However, I knew the transition to two children was a big one, and wanted to support myself in any way I could. Plus I just like to do things that are outside the mainstream!

I asked my sister-in-law if she would consider doing this for me. She was going to be at my birth doing photos and video and she is an excellent chef! That combined with the fact that she works with cadavers for her job made her seem like an ideal candidate. My brother said "I'll help" because he's just weird/cool like that. In the end my midwives Clare and Emme (from Trillium Midwifery Care) also helped get this process started in the hours after my birth. (Side note: They offer it as part of their home birth package now. So awesome!) Here are a few pictures they took! I noted in my journal that my SIL said it was fun!

I stayed upstairs in bed for the first week after giving birth. My family and friends took care of me so well. One of the things I remember most is the elaborate fruit plates my father-in-law would make for me. He'd bring them upstairs for me along with my placenta capsules! (My family has always been awesome in accepting my, um, unusual ways.)

That postpartum time is all a blur now (it's been over five years!) but I do remember feeling really upset when my placenta capsules ran out, and noticed I was much more emotional when they were gone. At 10 days postpartum I noted in my journal "Just took my placenta medicine. I wish there was some way to figure out how much it is helping, but I've only been a little weepy two or three times, so I figure that isn't too bad." Like I tell my clients, these capsules aren't so magic that you still won't have tough times, but I do really believe they offer so much support and make things easier during a period that is one of the hardest in perhaps your whole life.