Placenta Encapsulation: A Postpartum Secret Moms Keep Talking About
If you’ve been hanging out in mom groups or chatting with other new parents, you may have heard whispers about placenta encapsulation. Some moms swear by it, others wrinkle their noses, and many are super curious. As a doula, I’ve walked alongside many families who’ve chosen it, and I’d love to share what it’s all about, where the practice comes from, and what moms say they notice most when they give it a try.
A Little Backstory
Eating the placenta might sound new and “out there,” but the truth is, it’s not. In fact, Traditional Chinese Medicine has been using dried placenta, called Ziheche, for over a thousand years to support recovery, milk supply, and energy. And while most Western cultures never picked up the practice, moms in the U.S. began turning to placenta encapsulation in the 1970s, and it’s been growing in popularity ever since!
The idea is simple: your placenta sustained your baby for nine months, packed full of iron, hormones, and nutrients. Instead of discarding it, encapsulation allows you to take it back in a form that feels approachable! While you can consume it raw in a smoothie, or even stop postpartum hemorrhage with a slice of it in the cheek… encapsulating it tends to be the preferred method of consumption because your placenta is packed into small casings, just like a vitamin,
The Two Main Ways It’s Done
There are a couple of different methods to pick from!
Traditional (TCM-Inspired) Method
The placenta is gently steamed (sometimes with herbs like ginger or lemon), then dehydrated, ground into a powder, and put into capsules.
Moms who choose this often say the capsules feel grounding, nourishing, and steady, like a gentle hug for your postpartum body.
Raw Method
This skips the steaming and goes straight to dehydrating the raw placenta.
The capsules are thought to feel more energizing, which some moms love in those sleepy early days!
Your placenta encapsulation specialist can guide you on choosing the method that works best for you, depending on the events of your birth! You do not have to select the method beforehand.
What Moms Notice Most
While the science is still catching up, I can tell you what moms share with me again and again. The three biggest benefits they notice are:
More Energy
Let’s be honest, postpartum tiredness is next-level. Many moms tell me their capsules gave them a noticeable boost. In a 2018 survey of 189 women published in Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 40% said they felt increased energy, and 26% said it helped reduce fatigue.
Emotional Balance
Those first few weeks can feel like a rollercoaster. Between hormones shifting, sleep deprivation, and learning to care for a newborn, it’s a lot. Moms often say their capsules helped smooth out the mood swings and lessen the “baby blues.” One study found about 1 in 4 moms felt an improvement in mood when taking them.
Support with Milk Supply
Worrying about whether your body is making enough milk is incredibly common. In the Birth survey (2013), 15% of women who consumed their placenta said it positively impacted lactation. While studies are limited, many women feel it makes a difference, and the confidence that brings is worth it’s weight in gold!
My Doula Takeaway
Placenta encapsulation isn’t a magic pill, but for many moms, it feels like a gentle, natural way to support their recovery. What I love most is that it gives moms a sense of connection and intentionality in those blurry newborn days! It’s a way of honoring the placenta that worked so hard during pregnancy and continuing to benefit from it.
If you’re curious, reach out to a certified specialist in your area (safety and cleanliness matter a lot here!). Ask questions, explore your options, and decide if it feels right for you.
Every postpartum journey is unique, and encapsulation is just one of many tools that might help you feel more supported, nourished, and balanced as you step into life with your new baby!
