What is Placentophagy?

 A succenturiate (accessory) lobe is a second or third placental lobe that is much smaller than the largest lobe. Unlike bipartite lobes, the smaller succenturiate lobe often has areas of infarction or atrophy.  Succenturiate lobed placentas are not common, only 1.7% occur in pregnancies.

Succenturiate placentas come with various risks. If undiagnosed, can increase maternal mortality and morbidity due to retained placenta, postpartum hemorrhage and infection. 

Marginal Umbilical Cord Insertion of a 41-week gestation placenta, also known as  Battledore Cord Insertion or Battledore Placenta. Marginal Insertion of Umbilical Cord occurs in about 7% of all pregnancies. It may occur in pregnant women of all ages

In Marginal Insertion of Umbilical Cord, the umbilical cord inserts into the edge of the placental disc of the developing fetus (the umbilical cord lies within 2 cm of the placental disc edge) There are no causative factors associated with Marginal Insertion of Umbilical Cord.   The condition is more common in twin and multiple pregnancies than a single pregnancy Complications due to 

Marginal Insertion of Umbilical Cord may include:

• Preterm birth
• A Marginal Cord Insertion may cause a decrease in blood flow to the developing fetus. This can result in intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and other congenital abnormalities in the developing fetus
• Studies have shown that some pregnancies end-up in spontaneous abortions, either in the 1st or 2nd trimester
• Excessive hemorrhage/bleeding during childbirth can result in fetal mortality
• Compression of the blood vessels can cause fetal distress
• If the marginal insertion is present in the cervical outlet of the uterus, they may rupture during early labor. This can result in stillbirth. This condition is known as vasa previa

 Velamentous Cord Insertion

A velamentous cord insertion is a pregnancy complication in which the umbilical cord is abnormally inserted into the placenta. In a typical pregnancy, a baby's blood vessels travel from the center of the placenta into the baby via their umbilical. 

 Velamentous insertion occurs in 1.1% of single-baby pregnancies and 8.7% of twin pregnancies. This type of insertion is more common earlier in pregnancy. In cases of miscarriage, velamentous cord insertion happens around 33% of the time when the pregnancy ends between nine and 12 weeks gestation. In pregnancies that end between 13 and 16 weeks, the rate is a little lower at 26%. 

Risks:

• Premature birth. Your baby may need to be delivered before the due date.
• Cesarean birth (C-section). Your healthcare provider may suggest a planned C-section before your due date. ...
• Placental abruption. The placenta may separate from the wall of your uterus.
• Preeclampsia. Your blood pressure may rise after 20 weeks of your pregnancy.

The yolk sac is part of the gestational sac, the protective covering that surrounds a developing baby and contains the amniotic fluid. It appears around a week or two after the embryo has implanted in the uterus (during week 4). During that time, the yolk sac provides all the nutrients the embryo needs. It also produces red blood cells until the placenta fully forms and takes over. After week 10, the yolk sac gradually gets smaller and disappears as the embryo absorbs it. 

It rare instances, the yolk sac can be found within the amnion and chorion layers of the gestational sac.  I have been fortunate enough to have found 3 of them in my history of placenta encapsulation.

Follow along as I breakdown the anatomy of the umbilical cord. 

The umbilical cord contains Wharton's jelly, a gelatinous substance made largely from mucopolysaccharides that protects the blood vessels inside. It contains one vein, which carries oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood to the fetus, and two arteries that carry deoxygenated, nutrient-depleted blood away. 

"We surveyed 189 females who had ingested their placenta and found the majority of these women reported perceived positive benefits and indicated they would engage in placentophagy again after subsequent births. When asked to describe any positive effects experienced, the majority of women in the sample claimed that they experienced improved mood as a result of consuming their placenta postpartum (40%). The second most frequently given response to this question was increased energy/decreased fatigue (26%). Women also reported benefits related to improved lactation (15%) and alleviated postpartum bleeding/discharge (7%)."
Selander, J., Cantor, A., Young, S. M., & Benyshek, D. C. (2013). Human Maternal Placentophagy: A Survey of Self-Reported Motivations and Experiences Associated with Placenta Consumption. Ecology of food and nutrition, 52(2), 93-115.

"An attempt was made to increase milk secretion in mothers by administration of dried placenta per os. Of 210 controlled cases only 29 (13.8%) gave negative results; 181 women (86.2%) reacted positively to the treatment, 117 (55.7%) with good and 64 (30.5%) with very good results.... This method of treating hypogalactia seems worth noting since the placenta preparation is easily obtained, has not so far been utilized and in our experience is successful in the majority of women."
Soykova-Pachnerova E, et. al. (1954). Placenta as a Lactogen. Gynaecologia, 138(6):617-627.

“Powdered Placenta Hominis was used for 57 cases of insufficient lactation. Within 4 days, 48 women had markedly increased milk production, with the remainder following suit over the next three days.”
Bensky/Gamble. (1993). Chinese Materia Medica. Eastland Press, 549.

“Giving…placenta to a new mother following birth has become standard protocol among a growing number of midwives in the United States. By nourishing the blood and fluids, endocrine glands and organs, Placenta will …reduce or stop postpartum bleeding, speed up recovery, boost energy and relieve postpartum blues.”
Homes, Peter. (1997). Jade Remedies. Snow Lotus Press, 352.

"The maternal ingestion of desiccated placenta produces an increase in the rate of growth and growth capacity of the breast-fed infants above that normally occurring."
Frederick S. Hammett. (1918). The Effect of the Maternal Ingestion of Desiccated Placenta Upon the Rate of Growth of Breast-Fed Infants. J. Biol. Chem, 36:569-573.

"The ingestion of desiccated placenta has an effect upon the factors concerned in the regulation of the chemical composition of milk. There is a stimulation of the sugar- and protein-producing mechanism with an apparent depression of the function of the fat-secreting apparatus."
Frederick S. Hammett and Lyle G. McNeile. 1917. The Effect of the Ingestion of Desiccated Placenta on the Variations in the Composition During the First Eleven Days After Parturition of Human Milk. J. Biol. Chem. 30:145-153.

Placenta – Worth Trying? Human Maternal Placentophagy: Possible Benefit and Potential Risks

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6138470/

Maternal placenta consumption causes no harm to newborns

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180503142610.htm

Does eating placenta offer postpartum health benefits?

https://placentaremediesnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Michelle-Beacock-BJM-article-copy.pdf

Research shows how placenta umpires fight for nutrients between pregnant mother and foetus

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20160913/Research-shows-how-placenta-umpires-fight-for-nutrients-between-pregnant-mother-and-foetus.aspx

Introduction: Clinical studies conducted in the early to mid-twentieth century, and recent self-reports by some maternal placentophagy practitioners, suggest that human maternal placentophagy improves breast milk quality and quantity, although little research has evaluated this claim. Some placentophagy providers and advocates suggest that increased prolactin levels after placenta ingestion could account for the purported lactation benefits. The current study was conducted to evaluate these claims by comparing plasma prolactin levels of women consuming steamed, dehydrated, and encapsulated placenta with those of women consuming a placebo. Neonatal weight gain was also compared between the 2 groups.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial was conducted in which postpartum women (N = 27) were given a supplement containing their dehydrated placenta (n = 12) or placebo (n = 15). Plasma prolactin concentrations were measured 4 times across late pregnancy and early postpartum, and neonatal weights were recorded 3 times over the first 3 weeks postpartum.

Results: The results showed no statistically significant (P < .05) differences in either plasma prolactin levels or neonatal weight gain between groups.

Discussion: Maternal consumption of steamed, dehydrated, and encapsulated placenta postpartum does not appear to affect maternal postpartum prolactin or neonatal weight in the first 3 weeks postpartum. Further research is needed to investigate the possible effects of variation in placenta preparation methods or daily intake on human lactation.

Keywords: encapsulated placenta; placentophagia; placentophagy; postpartum supplement.

© 2019 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

• Effects of Human Maternal Placentophagy on Maternal Postpartum Iron Status: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study.Gryder LK, Young SM, Zava D, Norris W, Cross CL, Benyshek DC.J Midwifery Womens Health. 2017 Jan;62(1):68-79. doi: 10.1111/jmwh.12549. Epub 2016 Nov 3.PMID: 27809380 Clinical Trial.
• Placentophagy among women planning community births in the United States: Frequency, rationale, and associated neonatal outcomes.Benyshek DC, Cheyney M, Brown J, Bovbjerg ML.Birth. 2018 Dec;45(4):459-468. doi: 10.1111/birt.12354. Epub 2018 May 2.PMID: 29722066
• Effects of placentophagy on maternal salivary hormones: A pilot trial, part 1.Young SM, Gryder LK, Cross C, Zava D, Kimball DW, Benyshek DC.Women Birth. 2018 Aug;31(4):e245-e257. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2017.09.023. Epub 2017 Nov 27.PMID: 29174274 Clinical Trial.
• Human placentophagy: a review.Farr A, Chervenak FA, McCullough LB, Baergen RN, Grünebaum A.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Apr;218(4):401.e1-401.e11. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2017.08.016. Epub 2017 Aug 30.PMID: 28859955 Review.
• Placentophagy: therapeutic miracle or myth?Coyle CW, Hulse KE, Wisner KL, Driscoll KE, Clark CT.Arch Womens Ment Health. 2015 Oct;18(5):673-80. doi: 10.1007/s00737-015-0538-8. Epub 2015 Jun 4.PMID: 26043976 Free PMC article. Review.

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