don't take our word for it....

some of our mama's call us while they are in labor :)
some mama's call us 9 months in advance :)

and then we have some that call us a couple days after delivery.

in these cases we know it is extra important that they receive the pills as soon as possible. as we all know how important it is to start taking them right away.

last thursday we received a call from a mama who had delivered a couple days earlier. and needed placenta pills pronto!!
she called us in the morning explaining that her placenta was in franktown. and she was in denver. we were the lucky ladies for the job and were able to promptly rescue her placenta from her mom's refrigerator so that she could quickly experience the miraculous benefits...

this is her story.

And now for your local radio programming

Typically when I meet someone new the conversation may go something like this:
Q: "Hi, how are you?"
A: "Great! and you?"
Q: "Do you live around here?"
A: "Yes, I love it here!"
Q: "Do you have kids?"
A: "3 Adorable boys!"
Q: "Oh, what do you do?"
A: "I provide Placenta Services...."
HALT! WAIT! WHAT? Are you serious? Hummm... Gross! Weird! Intriguing! What does that mean exactly? Ohhhh... INTERESTING! How does that work? Makes sense! I know someone... Can I have your card? wink

Although this is a typical example, I am used to every type of reaction both good and bad. I have realized over time that many reactions to the services we provide come from lack of education. I don't mean this in a bad way, but reality is, once we start to explain to others about the "how's" and the "why's" you tend to get a much better understanding and acceptance.
We LOVE OUR JOB! And feel so extremely fortunate that so many families have chosen Fruit of the Womb for their placenta services. With that said, because what we do has not become the 'norm'...yet...we have to have some humor towards others reactions. A classic example would be a local radio show this week featuring...the placenta! I realize that these two men are not as appreciative as I wish they were, BUT I am excited that at least they are talking! Of course I would have loved for conversation to have been more informative and less of a joke, but again, at least they are talking. Something tells me that many women heard that show and didn't even realize that she had a choice! Perhaps, if anything, people realized that moms in Colorado CAN take their own placentas home and do with them as they wish!

Click here it listen!
{image via alice 105.9 website}

Placentophagy Research- Do your part!

If you have ever consumed your placenta, encapsulated or not, please take the time to participate in this study put on by UNLV! Your contribution in this research can make a difference!

Click here to take the survey now!

The official recruitment letter:
Greetings,

This is an invitation to participate in a survey about your experiences with placentophagy. This research is being conducted through the Anthropology department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The purpose of this survey is to collect information that can help us better understand women’s reasons for participating in placentophagy and what their experiences with placentophagy are.

Women who are over 18 years of age and who have participated in placentophagy (in any form: raw, cooked, encapsulated, etc.) are eligible to take the survey. If you decide to participate in this study, you will be asked to answer a series of questions including demographic information, your experiences with pregnancy and childbirth, and your experiences with placentophagy. This survey should take between 15 and 30 minutes to complete.

Although there may not be direct benefits to you for participating in our survey, the information we collect can help us better understand placentophagy, and possibly contribute to future research in this area.

To participate in this survey, please use the following link:
http://PlacentaSurvey.com

If you have any questions or concerns about the study, please contact Dr. Daniel Benyshek at 702-895-2070, or email daniel.benyshek@unlv.edu.

Thank you!

Dr. Daniel C. Benyshek
Associate Professor
Department of Anthropology
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Thank you for your help in spreading the word about this!

Photo shoot!

We recently had an amazing photo shoot done to help spread the word about the many benefits of placenta encapsulation. We are excited to share the beautiful work of Jen Coet Photogragpy on our website very soon. In the meantime, here is a little taste of what's to come.

Placenta Smoothies and such...

The term Placentophagy literally means to eat the placenta. We realize that most women feel a little queasy at the thought of eating their placenta like a steak for dinner, which is precisely why we offer placenta encapsulation. There is obviously a continuum of those whom consume placenta. Perhaps on one side of the continuum would be the mothers that choose to eat their placenta raw and on the other would be the mother that chooses to have their placenta encapsulated. Where ever moms fall on this spectrum, we all have a common goal of desiring the many benefits the placenta has to offer. If you would like to try different forms of Placentophagy for yourself, please do not hesitate to ask us to customize a package suitable for you. For example, you may desire to have half of your placenta prepared ready to use for raw smoothies and the other half made into capsules. If this is already sounding over the top for you, check out this You Tube video that seems to make this a easy idea to swallow.

the priceless placenta: what is it worth to you?

there are things we, as americans, spend money on in hopes of "improving" our lives. good healthy food, education, living in a safe area. but money can only go so far. or do so much.
what would you pay to have a happy husband? a perfect marriage? to ensure your kids' health?
there are some things we cannot be in control of, but can help prevent. I am a full believer in the investment of things that relieve stress...a relaxing vacation, massages, yoga, counseling. these may not seem like necessities to some, but in my life a massage is much needed sometimes!
taking care of your family also means taking care of yourself. And its never to late to start. be the best mom, wife, friend you can be. if you are pregnant, tell the people around you how they can help! whether its cleaning your house or just watching the kids so you can take a nap or go on a date! there are ALWAYS ways you can improve your quality of life. your marriage. your family. BUT when it comes to your placenta there is a limited time to make this decision.
the cost is small but the benefits can be HUGE.
and lets face it, the worth and benefits of having a happy family...is priceless.

(note: placenta pills make great gifts! if you know someone who would be interested we happily provide gift certificates...contact us via email placentapills@yahoo.com for more information)

Bon appétit

{illustration by Emily L. Eibel}

If it is your desire to have a special dinner with your Placenta as the main course,you can do that! Please contact us for numerous recipes that we have for meals such as Lasagna, Stew, Pizza, Roast etc. If you would like to use part of your placenta as a meal and have the other part encapsulated we will honor this request. Simply let us know your wishes in advance so that we can provide you with recipes, return one portion of placenta, and encapsulate the other. Bon appétit!

Click here for a humorous article written by a woman that wanted to host a Placenta Dinner Party.
The Afterlife of Afterbirth
Notes on eating human placenta
story by Cynthia Mitchell

Become a Fan!

If you haven't already come join us on Facebook!
Simply follow the link below and click the "Like" button on the top of the Facebook page!

Click HERE to join us on Facebook

this one's for the boys...

my sister and i were...placentatizing. hehe :) i mean we were rinsing a fresh healthy placenta. it was abnormally healthy, as it should be because it was from a nutritionist. this made us wonder...

what makes a good, healthy placenta? eating right and staying active seem obvious. but are there certain foods? should moms be taking probiotics? are there certain yoga moves? what is this mom's secret?

so expecting a typical response from a nutritionist, we straight up asked her - "what do you do/eat?"

"well," she says, "i eat very healthy, all organic. i took good prenatal vitamins. and i have a loving husband."

wait - what! loving husband? what does that have to do with anything? (haha) i mean im sure that there are not many studies done and maybe we should start a study. add it to our questionnaire. it could go something like this...

do you have any known allergies? if so, what?
do you have a husband? if so, how loving is he?

despite there being any studies on the direct correlation between a healthy placenta and a loving husband, i of course, as a psychology major, believe there are things that make up a 'healthy lifestyle.' yes, it means eating right and exercising often and sleeping well. but to be depressed or stressed out all the time, whether it is hormonal or situational - can affect you physically in a negative way. to have a positive, supportive circle of family and friends is imperative. and yes a Loving Husband is ideal. understandably, this isnt always in your control, so....if a 'loving husband' does not fit into your 'story.' do NOT be discouraged :) having a baby and being a mom is hard work. and should not be done alone. and whatever you are going through you are NOT the only one. if you need any help finding a support group or any questions getting connected with other moms, my sister and i have some resources. you can also find some groups through the church we go to (flatironschurch.com).

and for you loving husbands out there...keep up the good work!!! you are much needed and appreciated ;)

Placenta Prints

Here are some examples of Placenta Prints we did this week.



This is an incredible piece of art made solely from your placenta, the Tree of Life.

Love

A photo shoot I did with a dear friend of mine whose baby girl and placenta are due this June!

Cord Cutting Options

As with all childbirth and child rearing decisions, families must become educated and make the decision that is best for their family. Another major decision that mother and family have is when to cut the umbilical cord. Yes, you have a choice and here are the three main choices.

(this image taken from an amazing blog called Birth Balance)
First, you may have the cord cut immediately. Some doctors believe that the cord needs to be cut immediately if the family desires to 'bank the cord blood', or if mother or child is in need of emergency attention. This is what is typically done in the hospital setting as doctors desire to check over the baby and finish up mom so that they can head over to the next birth. (OK that might be a little biased but in essence they simply don't have time for mother's to choose option number two).

Option number two is to practice delayed cord clamping. "Delayed" can be defined as a few minutes after child birth, after placenta birth, or until the placenta has stopped pulsating. Just because the baby and placenta have been birthed doesn't mean that the placentas job is anywhere near finished. There is still an abundant transfer of oxygen and blood volume going on between placenta and baby.

Third, is to never cut the cord and to allow it to detach naturally, called a Lotus Birth.
Here is a very basic video describing a Lotus Birth

I strongly prefer Delayed Cord Clamping and here are many reasons why.
First is this short video which covers some of the basics
Video on Delayed Cord Clamping via Metacafe
But here are a few other articles related to delayed cord clamping that might surprise you:
How the Cord Clamp Injures Your Baby’s Brain

Autism, ADD/ADHD, and Related Disorders - Is a Common Childbirth Practice to Blame?

Early or Late Cord Clamping at Natural Childbirth dot org

Academic OB/GYN Delayed Cord Clamping Should Be Standard Practice in Obstetrics

This decision is so simple and easy. All it requires is for you to speak up and ask the doctor to slow down. You are your child's biggest advocate!

Show and Tell

Awhile ago I wrote about when my love and interest for placentas first began. When I was 16 I was so amazed by the placenta that I decided to take my sister's placenta to school to share with my Biology class. Click here to read more about my Show and Tell experience on a post I wrote titled- My placenta Journey Begins
This week a local school and classroom gained media attention for doing the same thing. I give praise to the teacher, midwife and parents that saw this as an invaluable teaching opportunity!









Crunchy Domestic Goddess Blog Post - When does safety prevent learning?

CBS 4 Denver Video Clip

Pop Singer - KESHA

I am not in love with the song Tik Tok but it does get my foot tapping a little.
But, I do love a girl that shows appreciation for the placenta! Click here for the article and see how Kesha honors the placenta.

(Ansel Adams)

“Just as the rings of a cut tree can tell the story of the tree's life, so too the placenta can disclose the history of the pregnancy.”
~Harvey J. Kliman, M.D., Ph.D.

world view.

for christmas my sister gave me a cute little metal case to hold my ID, credit cards and our adorable new business cards :) i love it. i have actually never had an 'official' business card. after college, i volunteered with a non-profit and then became a flight attendant. ive never had a job that required one. and honestly i never thought i would have a business card that had the word "placenta" on it :)
when i was growing up all my dream jobs involved traveling. a national geographic photographer. a marine biologist. or how great would it be to be the person who goes through the amazon and test different plants to see if it could be a cure for AIDS? it intrigues me that there are places in brazil where they take the poison from a frog, put it on an arrow or something sharp and then they cut you so that the poison gets into your blood stream. and this is supposed to help with some sickness (i swear i saw it on the animal planet :). who comes up with these techniques and do they really work?
it seems as if every culture has their own methods or miracle drugs. I have had fish eat my dead skin cells in cambodia. i have bathed in a tea tree oil lake in australia. i have experienced 'reflexology' in thailand. did you know that in the Buddhist country of laos they believe in karma and that "being stressed" is bad for your karma? it is one of the most laid back cultures. i have been sick in almost every continent and as i travel, i observe, i experience, i embrace, i learn. and i continue to ask myself, when it comes to health....who knows best?
we know that what we do here at 'fruit of the womb' may seem foreign or uncommon or seem like a 'new' concept to many. when in reality the placenta has held a place of honor throughout the history of time. people honor the placenta differently depending on the culture of course, but the important thing is that we stop to recognize that this organ serves an important, sacred purpose in fostering new life.
regardless of where you live.

Iron Deficiency Anemia 101 - Pregnancy, Childbirth and Lactating Women

Anemia
Anemia is the most common disorder of the blood.

What is Iron Deficiency Anemia?

"Iron Deficiency Anemia (also called IDA) is a condition where a person has inadequate amounts of iron to meet body demands. It is a decrease in the amount of red cells in the blood caused by having too little iron. Iron deficiency anemia is usually caused by a diet insufficient in iron or from blood loss. Blood loss can be acute as in hemorrhage or trauma or long term as in heavy menstruation.

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia. About 20% of women, 50% of pregnant women, and 3% of men are iron deficient."
Quote from Mamas Health

Are you at risk?

According to Health Scout
"High-risk groups include:

-Women of child-bearing age who have blood loss through menstruation
-Pregnant or lactating women who have an increased requirement for iron
-Infants, children, and adolescents in rapid growth phases
-People with a poor dietary intake of iron"

Does blood loss cause anemia?

"When you lose blood, you lose iron. If you don’t have enough iron stored in your body to make up for the iron loss, you’ll develop iron-deficiency anemia.

In women, low iron levels may be due to blood loss from long or heavy menstrual periods or bleeding fibroids in the uterus. Blood loss that occurs during childbirth is another cause for low iron levels in women."
Quote from National Heart Lung and Blood Institute


High iron foods?

"Your body needs iron to produce hemoglobin. Iron found in meats is more easily absorbed into your blood than the iron found in vegetables and other foods. To treat your anemia, your doctor may recommend eating more meat – especially red meat such as beef and liver – as well as chicken, turkey, pork, fish, and shellfish."
Quote from The Internet Encyclopedia of Science

The placenta for nutrition?

Over and over you will find research journals state that:

"Transitional metals, especially iron, (are) particularly abundant in the placenta"

Here are a few to get you started:
The Journal of Nutrition
Sage Journals Online
Mitochondria Research


Review:

Your body needs more iron during pregnancy.
Your body needs more iron after blood loss and/or childbirth.
Your body has supplied you with an extremely iron-rich organ.
You should reintroduce this needed iron back into your body.
Increasing your intake of iron will help prevent anemia.
Your own placenta pills are your own natural iron supplement.

How are we different

At Fruit of the Womb we believe that woman and child come first. Childbirth will no doubt be the biggest transition any woman will go through physically, mentally, and emotionally which is exactly why mothers should be served after giving birth. We come directly to you and pick up the placenta to immediately start the placenta encapsulation process. Although highly educated and experienced, we are not Midwives, Doulas, yoga teachers, or childbirth educators our specialty lies solely in Placenta Education and Encapsulation and our time is set aside for you. Because placenta encapsulation is our specialty we have a faster turn around time which means you get your pills sooner. Don't get me wrong, this process cannot be rushed and the work is sacred but time is of the essence when it comes to a mother and child and their physical, mental and emotional well-being. We take the time to do things right. The placenta is gently steamed and dehydrated on a low heat so that the most amount of hormones, nutrients and vitamins are preserved. Sure, this takes longer but ultimately you receive the highest grade of pill. Finally, we will hand deliver your medicine straight to your front door. It is our goal that you receive your placenta pills no later than 2 to 3 days postpartum. Why? According to Dr. Sears official website and many others the Postpartum Blues "Usually start(ing) between the third and fifth day after delivery, feelings of mild depression, crying spells, anxiety, irritability, and mood swings occur in as many as 85% of women". If a mother begins to have any of these feelings she should be able to take her medicine. Mothers shouldn't have to coordinate who is taking the placenta. Nor should husbands and friends have to be leaving mother and baby's side to meet with someone. Even more importantly no one should have to wait for their placenta medicine to arrive in the mail! These are precious days and time that is being lost. It is our goal that every mother receives placenta education and encapsulation. Each woman and child deserves the highest quality placenta pills delivered in a timely manner. We believe that the services we provide are life changing and we are honored to be helping families in this way.

Let's get technical- Postpartum Blues, Depression, Psychosis, or PTS

On the Fruit of the Womb Website and Blog we often refer to terms that may need a bit more clarity. Below, we have attached a few of many resources to help explain the complicated topic of Postpartum Illnesses.

Baby blues aka Postpartum Blues or Maternity Blues- Latest statistics show that 80% of mothers will experience Postpartum Blues. According to An Introduction to Postpartum Illness
by Laurence Kruckman and Susan Smith (see below for the reference link). These symptoms include but are not limited to:

BABY BLUES
Physical Symptoms:
Lack of Sleep
No Energy
Food Cravings or Loss of Appetite
Feeling Tired Even after Sleeping

Mental States:
Anxiety and Excessive Worry
Confusion
Great Concern over Physical Changes
Confusion and Nervousness
Feeling, “I’m not myself; this isn’t me”
Lack of Confidence
Sadness
Feeling Overwhelmed

Behavioral Reactions:
Crying more than Usual
Hyperactivity or Excitability
Oversensitivity
Feelings Hurt Easily
Irritability
Lack of Feeling for the Baby

Click here to see Wikipedia's simple definition

PostPartum Depression (PPD)- Is a more severe form of "Baby Blues" with prevalence rates among women 5-25%. There are many resources for moms experiencing Postpartum Depression. However, it still is "unclear" as to what causes PPD.


{This is an awarness poster being given out by the Postpartum Support International}

Postpartum Psychosis- Is the most serious of the three Postpartum Illnesses. Postpartum Psychosis is a relatively rare disorder occurring on an average of 1 per 1000 births.

Most recently, there has been discussion of adding a 4th Postpartum Illness titled Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTS). More information on this overlooked aspect can be read about in the Center for Women's Mental Health article here.
Click here to read An Introduction to Postpartum Illness in which the author discusses the differences between Baby Blues, PPD and Postpartum Psychosis.

At Fruit of the Womb we encourage all women to take preventative measures for their personal health. With these illnesses being as common as they are, every woman is potentially at risk. Placenta Encapsulation is 100% natural made perfectly for you and baby, by your own body. We encourage women to research what is right for them and to explore the many benefits of placentophagy.

What does a London soccer star and the placenta have in common?

{image via arsenalcolumn.com}
Click here to see how Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie is using the placenta to assist in healing his major sport injury.