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Would you eat your placenta?

There’s a photo of me soon after giving birth to my first child. In it, I am peering into a dish which contains my placenta (my placenta? My baby’s placenta? do we co-own it?). The midwife is explaining to me all the different parts of the placenta and how it all works. What’s wrong with this picture?

Oh, just the fact that I am FAR MORE INTERESTED in the placenta than the baby. At least it sesms like that in the photo. Yeah, I loved the baby but the placenta was REALLY QUITE FASCINATING. Still. I only took one of them home.

When I saw this question posed on Kidspot from ChereeR , straight away I decided to never eat liver again….

“In the Western world it is accepted, although unproven,that eating placenta will reduce the risk of post-natal depression. This is because the organ is rich in minerals and vitamins, particularly B6, which can help to fight depression.

A program aired in the UK in 1998 came under criticism for showing a mother preparing a placenta pate to serve guests at a celebration for her daughters birth. Apparently it was fried with shallots and garlic,flambed,pureed and served on focaccia bread. Other recipe ideas include…….. Roast Placenta Placenta Cocktail Placenta Lasagna Placenta Spaghetti Bolognaise If you are comfortable with the idea of eating the placenta, would you consider serving it to friends and family or just consume it yourself? I personally prefer the idea of planting the placenta.

Many traditional cultures bury the placenta and plant a fruit tree over it—creating a living monument to the birth of your child,and a food source for years to come.

If you choose to keep your placenta it is important that you let your midwife know of your decision,there will quite possibly be a protocol you need to follow.”

“Serving it TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY”???? Oh that’s heaven. You THINK you’re coming over to see the new baby but no! We’ve selected YOU, as special friends and family, to take home with you a LITTLE PIECE OF PLACENTA. IN YOUR STOMACH.

The only worse dinner party I can imagine is this one. What would or have you done with your placenta?? Onions anyone?

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