Women who eat their placenta usually do it because they believe it may help with recovery after birth (mood, energy, milk supply, hormones), not because it is a cultural “norm” or medically recommended practice.

What is placenta eating (placentophagy)?

Placentophagy is when a mother consumes her own placenta after giving birth.

It can be done in different ways:

  • Encapsulated pills (most common in Western countries).
  • Smoothies or cooked dishes.
  • Raw pieces shortly after birth.

In most hospitals, the placenta is treated as medical waste and discarded, so this is something women must specifically request and arrange.

Why do women eat their placenta?

From research, forums, and news, several recurring reasons show up.

1. Hoped-for health benefits

Many women say they eat their placenta because they hope for specific benefits, especially around mental health and recovery.

Commonly claimed benefits:

  • Preventing or reducing postpartum depression and “baby blues”.
  • Boosting energy and reducing fatigue.
  • Improving breast milk production.
  • Reducing postpartum bleeding and helping the uterus recover.
  • Replenishing iron and nutrients lost in birth.

One American study found about 30% of women who gave birth outside hospitals (home or birth centers) consumed their placenta, mainly to try to prevent postpartum depression. Another analysis found that women often choose it after a previous difficult birth or mental health issues, hoping to avoid a repeat negative experience.

A typical forum-style comment: “My first postpartum was brutal, I’d try anything to avoid that again – even placenta capsules.”

2. “If animals do it, there must be a reason”

Many mammals eat their placentas after birth, and humans notice that and wonder if it’s “natural” and beneficial for us too.

Scientists think animals may eat the placenta to:

  • Gain nutrition and hormones for recovery and milk production.
  • Remove bloody evidence of birth that could attract predators.

Some women take this as a sign that humans might also benefit, even though the context (predators, raw consumption immediately after birth) is very different from modern human placenta pills.

3. Hormones, mood, and a sense of control

The placenta produces pregnancy hormones, which drop sharply after birth, and this drop is linked to low mood for some parents.

The idea behind placenta pills is: “If I ingest some of those hormones again, maybe the crash won’t feel so bad.”

Researchers who studied UK parenting forums found people often choose placentophagy when they:

  • Have a history of depression or anxiety.
  • Are afraid of postpartum depression coming back.
  • Feel conventional options failed them before.

So beyond biology, there is a strong psychological element: it feels like an active, personal step to protect their mental health.

4. Celebrity influence and pop-culture trends

The practice became more visible in the 2010s as celebrities publicly praised their placenta capsules.

Media stories, Instagram posts, and parenting blogs helped normalize it as a quirky, “natural” wellness trend rather than a fringe behavior.

Search data show a big surge in online interest around placenta eating in recent years, tracking with social media and celebrity mentions. This led childbirth educators to report that at least one person per class now asks about it.

5. Alternative, “natural birth” and holistic communities

Placentophagy is especially common in circles that favor:

  • Home birth or birth centers.
  • Minimal medical intervention.
  • Herbal or holistic postpartum care.

In these spaces, placenta encapsulation is often marketed as:

  • A “natural supplement” made from your own body.
  • A way to avoid pharmaceuticals.
  • A ritual that honors the placenta as sacred or symbolic.

Some see it as reclaiming birth from a medical system they feel did not support them.

What does science actually say?

Here’s where the hype and the evidence diverge.

Evidence for benefits is weak

Reviews of the scientific literature have found:

  • No strong evidence that placenta eating improves mood, prevents depression, or boosts energy.
  • No clear improvement in vitamin B12, iron levels, or other nutritional markers in women who take placenta capsules.
  • Some women report feeling better, but this could be placebo or the effect of other supports.

One major review concluded there is “no sound evidence” that placenta eating is beneficial and called existing research “skimpy.” A 2019 study specifically found no mental health benefits and cautioned against the practice.

Possible risks and safety concerns

Medical and public health bodies are increasingly cautious.

Concerns include:

  • Infection: One CDC-linked case report suggested a baby might have been infected with group B strep after the mother consumed contaminated placenta capsules.
  • Bacteria and viruses: The placenta filters blood and can harbor pathogens; processing (drying, encapsulation) may not reliably sterilize it.
  • Environmental toxins: The placenta can accumulate pollutants and heavy metals, which could be ingested back into the body.
  • Hormone-related risks: Estrogens in placental tissue may theoretically increase risks like blood clots (thromboembolic events).

Because benefits are unproven while risks are plausible, several experts recommend not eating the placenta and instead relying on evidence-based mental health and postpartum care options.

How women actually consume the placenta

Common methods reported in studies, articles, and forums include:

  • Encapsulation : The placenta is steamed or dehydrated, powdered, and placed into capsules. Women typically take these once or twice a day for weeks.
  • Smoothies : Raw placenta blended with fruit soon after birth, often described as “you can’t taste it.”
  • Cooked dishes : Occasionally prepared like meat (e.g., stir‑fry, lasagna), though this is less common.
  • Small raw pieces : Some people place a piece between gum and cheek or eat a bite right after birth, inspired by animal behavior.

Why is this still trending if evidence is weak?

Several forces keep the trend alive despite cautious scientific reviews.

  • Personal stories are powerful: New mothers often trust other mothers’ testimonials more than abstract data.
  • Postpartum support gaps: Where mental health care and practical help are lacking, anything that promises relief feels worth trying.
  • Identity and community: In some circles, choosing placenta pills signals belonging to a “natural” or “empowered” birth culture.
  • Placebo and ritual: Even if the biological effect is minimal, the ritual can provide psychological comfort, which can genuinely affect how someone feels.

HTML table: reasons vs evidence

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Reason women eat their placenta</th>
      <th>What people hope for</th>
      <th>What research currently shows</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Prevent postpartum depression[web:1][web:5][web:9][web:10]</td>
      <td>More stable mood, fewer “baby blues”[web:1][web:5][web:9][web:10]</td>
      <td>No clear mental health benefit; experts advise against relying on it[web:3][web:6][web:7][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Increase energy[web:1][web:5][web:9][web:10]</td>
      <td>Less fatigue, more stamina in early postpartum[web:1][web:5][web:9][web:10]</td>
      <td>Studies show no significant energy improvement[web:3][web:6]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Boost milk supply[web:5][web:9][web:10]</td>
      <td>Better lactation and milk volume[web:5][web:9][web:10]</td>
      <td>Evidence is sparse and inconclusive[web:3][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Replace lost nutrients[web:9][web:10]</td>
      <td>Higher iron, vitamins, faster recovery[web:9][web:10]</td>
      <td>No clear nutrient benefit; B12 and iron not significantly improved[web:3][web:6][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Follow nature/animals[web:1][web:7][web:8]</td>
      <td>Belief that natural behavior equals health benefit[web:1][web:7][web:8]</td>
      <td>Animal motives (predators, raw organ) differ from human context and processing[web:1][web:7][web:8]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Symbolic/holistic ritual[web:5][web:8]</td>
      <td>Feeling empowered, connected, in control[web:5][web:8]</td>
      <td>Psychological comfort possible, but not a substitute for medical care[web:5][web:6][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

TL;DR

Women who eat their placenta usually do it because they’ve heard it might prevent postpartum depression, boost energy, improve milk supply, or offer a “natural” way to recover after birth, and the trend has been amplified by celebrities, online forums, and holistic birth communities. However, current scientific studies have not confirmed these benefits, and experts warn there may be infection and toxin risks, so major medical voices generally do not recommend placentophagy as a health treatment.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.