BUSINESS
PLACENTA - the new superfood? WORDS NICOLE FUGE PHOTOS CHESTERTON SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY
Humans are one of the few mammals who don’t ingest their placenta after childbirth. But the burgeoning trend of encapsulation could see that change – even the Kardashians are doing it! Natalie Stokell shares her experience with the postnatal superfood and is sharing the health benefits with other mums.
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unching on little placenta parcels doesn’t exactly whet the appetite, let alone sound palatable. How about steamed with a selection of herbs and thinly sliced? Are you salivating? Okay that might be pushing it. But in all seriousness, placenta encapsulation has been proven to have wonderful postnatal benefits including balancing hormones, enhancing milk supply, replenishing iron levels and decreasing the likelihood of ‘baby blues’.
“You can have someone pick it up, take it away, process it, bring it back in little jars and you can take it and it can REALLY HELP your postnatal period.” NATALIE STOKELL
Health benefits
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Balancing your hormones
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Increasing your energy levels
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Enhancing your milk supply
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Decreasing the likelihood of ‘baby blues’
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Reducing postpartum bleeding
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Speeding up postnatal healing
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Replenishing your iron levels
During the pregnancy of her first daughter, who is now seven years old, Natalie Stokell says she learnt about the postnatal period and how placenta was really good for you. “The baby was born and my partner Pete, who’s a chef, took the placenta and lovingly prepared for me some little bloody bundles for me to take daily,” says Natalie, wincing. “I took one and that was all because I couldn’t stomach it, especially being a vegetarian it was too much for me to deal with.” Three years later and Natalie was pregnant with her now threeyear-old daughter and by that time had heard about a “more palatable way” – encapsulation. “By day two I was taking capsules and it made such a difference to my postnatal recovery. My energy levels felt really good, I had a toddler at the time but I felt energised, my milk supply was really good, I felt balanced hormonally and I didn’t get any three-day weepies like I did the first time around. “I felt really passionate about helping other women and explaining this is something you can do to support yourself postnatally – you don’t have to sit down and make a curry. You can have someone pick it up, take it away, process it, bring it back in little jars and you can take it and it can really help your postnatal period.” Once the placenta is birthed, the midwife will check it, double bag it and put it on ice to be collected by Natalie. profilemag.com.au