Do Placenta Pills work?

At one time, many expecting parents considering placenta encapsulation might ask "but do they work?"

The answer depends heavily on your expectations and several external factors. Lets look at several of the touted benefits, possible adverse effects and what it might mean for you.

Possible Benefits

Increase in breastmilk
Decreased postpartum bleeding
Replenish B vitamins
Balancing of hormones
Natural pain relief
Replenishing iron stores/preventing anemia
consistent flow of oxytocin after birth
Preventing and lessening of risk of postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety​

Possible Adverse Reactions

In my 8 years of professional encapsulation, none of my clients have experienced adverse reactions.
I have however seen two or three others say they experienced things such as:  headache, heart palpitations, and stomach ache. 

What does this mean for you?

Like many other decisions you have been making surrounding your pregnancy, birth and parenting, the choice to ingest your placenta is one that should be done after research. This is a supplement. You will still need to take certain measures to maintain your milk supply, it is normal and healthy to bleed after birth, and it is normal to have some mood fluctuation in those first few months. Many sources suggest that the placenta can offer no adverse effects of its own, but rather it can agitate underlying issues. Most placenta specialists offer this advise- if you begin to notice undesirable side effects and believe the placenta capsules are a contributing factor- discontinue use until the symptoms subside. Once you resume taking the capsules, you should be able to determine if they are the culprit. 

Having realistic expectations is essential. Paying attention to your body is essential as well. Be sure to entrust someone who is properly trained and is dedicated to the professionalism of processing placentas. If you have concerns your specialist should be able to answer them or reach out to their organization to clarify on tricky topics. 

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