7 Things to Do With Your Placenta Besides Leaving It at the Hospital
Explore unique, meaningful, and practical ways families can honor the placenta beyond traditional hospital disposal.
For centuries, the placenta has been revered for its role as a life-giving organ during pregnancy. Yet in modern hospitals, it’s often treated as a clinical byproduct. Increasingly, parents are choosing to reclaim the placenta’s significance, whether for cultural, spiritual, or health-related reasons. If you’re wondering what to do with your placenta after birth, there are a variety of meaningful and practical options available. Here, we explore seven alternatives that go far beyond hospital disposal, each with its own unique symbolism and level of involvement.
Understanding the Placenta: More Than Just an Organ
The placenta is a remarkable, temporary organ that forms during pregnancy and functions as the baby’s lifeline. Its primary roles include:
- Delivering oxygen and nutrients: The placenta provides everything a fetus needs to grow, transferring vital substances from the birthing parent’s blood to the baby.
- Removing wastes: Waste products like carbon dioxide travel back through the placenta to the parent for elimination.
- Producing hormones: The placenta creates hormones critical to pregnancy, birth, and even the initiation of breastfeeding.
- Providing immune protection: It transfers antibodies, protecting the newborn in those vulnerable first months.
- Creating a unique connection: Physically, emotionally, and metaphorically, the placenta binds parent and child, sparking traditions and beliefs worldwide.
Given its importance, many families choose purposeful ways to honor or repurpose the placenta. Below, discover popular as well as lesser-known options.
1. Encapsulate It Into Pills
Placenta encapsulation involves steaming, dehydrating, and grinding the placenta into powder, which is then placed into capsules. Some parents choose this practice in the hope of benefiting from nutrients and hormones retained in the placenta. Advocates suggest these capsules may help with:
- Reducing postpartum depression
- Replenishing energy
- Speeding postpartum recovery
- Supporting milk supply
Although scientific evidence is limited and often inconclusive regarding these claims, the practice has grown in popularity, especially among those seeking a natural approach to postpartum recovery. Numerous professional placenta encapsulation services are available, but regulations, safety, and sanitary standards should always be top priorities. Always consult your healthcare provider beforehand.
2. Create a Placenta Print or Keepsake
The appearance of a placenta—with its branching veins and circular form—can be striking and beautiful. Some families choose to make a “tree of life” print by pressing the placenta onto paper with natural food dye or blood, creating a lasting piece of art. Other creative keepsake options include:
- Making paper or clay impressions of the umbilical cord
- Preserving a section of the dried umbilical stump or cord in resin
- Framing artistic placenta images for nursery decor
This approach provides a unique, tangible memento to honor the connection between parent and child.
3. Plant It in a Memorial Ceremony
Among the most symbolic uses of the placenta is planting it beneath a tree or flowering bush—a tradition practiced in cultures worldwide. This ritual can serve as a powerful way to acknowledge the placenta’s role in supporting new life and to commemorate the birth itself.
- Plant the placenta directly in the ground, wrapped in biodegradable material, and choose a special tree or perennial as a living monument.
- Some families add birth records, wishes, or other mementos to the planting ceremony for additional meaning.
This enduring gesture creates a natural legacy, literally allowing the roots of a tree to grow from the origins of your child’s journey.
4. Incorporate It Into Spiritual or Cultural Traditions
Across the globe, the placenta is imbued with deep spiritual and cultural significance. In Maori, Navajo, and Filipino traditions, ceremonies surrounding the placenta include specific handling, burial, and even communal gatherings to explain its meaning to the child. Some notable customs include:
- Returning the placenta to the earth to ensure the baby’s health and ancestral connection
- Burying the placenta with sacred objects or family heirlooms
- Burning the placenta in a ritual fire to symbolize transformation or rebirth
If you come from a community rich in such traditions, or simply wish to honor the placenta’s symbolism, incorporating cultural practices can be deeply rewarding.
5. Use It for Scientific Research or Medical Donation
Placenta donation to research or medical programs is a meaningful way to contribute to science and help future families. Researchers study placental tissue to advance knowledge about pregnancy, immune disorders, cancer, and regenerative medicine. Certain hospitals or cord blood banks may accept placenta donations for:
- Stem cell research
- Developing better treatments for wounds and burns (amniotic membrane grafts)
- Enhancing understanding of pregnancy complications
How to participate:
- Discuss donation options with your healthcare provider during pregnancy.
- Register with an accredited medical program or tissue bank prior to delivery.
- Follow hospital protocols for safe collection and handling.
Your choice can contribute to advances that may benefit many families in the future.
6. Consume It—Traditional and Modern Approaches
The practice of placentophagy—consuming the placenta after birth—has deep roots in certain cultures and has gained traction among advocates for holistic postpartum care. Methods include:
- Cooking and eating the placenta as a stew, soup, or blended into smoothies
- Dehydrating for inclusion in other recipes (in addition to encapsulation)
Enthusiasts often cite anecdotal benefits, such as improved mood or energy, hormonal balance, and increased milk supply. However, scientific data remains sparse, and health authorities caution that risks (such as infection or improper handling) exist. If considering consumption, it’s essential to use safe, hygienic preparation methods and consult your healthcare provider.
7. Keep It Attached: The Lotus Birth
Less common but increasingly discussed is the Lotus Birth, in which the placenta remains attached to the baby until the umbilical cord naturally dries and separates—often taking three to ten days. Supporters believe this:
- Allows for gentle, uninterrupted transition from womb to world
- Reduces risk of infection (if properly cared for)
- Offers time for symbolic closure of the birth process
Careful cord and placenta hygiene is critical in this approach. Aromatic herbs and salt are frequently used to preserve the placenta during this period. Always discuss such plans with your birth team to ensure a safe experience for both parent and infant.
Guidance and Safety Considerations
Prior to pursuing any placenta-related practice, consider the following tips to ensure safety and legality:
- Check local regulations: Some hospitals have policies restricting the release of placentas, while others facilitate alternative handling upon request.
- Prioritize cleanliness: Whether making keepsakes, encapsulating, or planting, ensure the placenta is handled in a sterile manner to minimize infection risks.
- Consult your provider: Always discuss your plans with a licensed healthcare professional—especially if considering ingestion, encapsulation, or lotus birth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is keeping your placenta legal?
Regulations vary by country and region. In many areas, parents may request to take their placenta home by signing a release form, but some hospitals have disposal policies or require special procedures. Learn policies early in your pregnancy to avoid disappointment.
Are there any health risks to consuming your placenta?
Yes—potential risks include bacterial infection, improper processing, and exposure to toxins the placenta may have filtered during pregnancy. Scientific studies are limited, and US health agencies do not endorse consumption due to lack of proven benefit and possible hazards. Always consult your provider and use qualified encapsulation or culinary services.
Can you donate your placenta to science at any hospital?
No. Placenta donation for research or medical purposes is only possible at select hospitals with approved programs and protocols. Advanced planning and registration are essential for donation to proceed smoothly.
What is the symbolic significance of planting a placenta?
Planting the placenta beneath a tree or special plant symbolizes the life-giving connection between parent and child. The growing tree becomes a living tribute to the birth and new beginnings, echoing spiritual and cultural meanings across societies worldwide.
How do I safely transport my placenta home?
Hospitals may provide a sterile container; otherwise, bring your own (clean and sealable). Keep the placenta chilled during transport in an insulated cooler with ice packs to avoid spoilage, and refrigerate or process promptly.
Placenta Rituals at a Glance
| Option | Purpose | Preparation Required |
|---|---|---|
| Encapsulation | Postpartum wellness | Professional service or DIY; strict hygiene |
| Print/Keepsake | Commemoration/artwork | Art materials, basic cleaning |
| Planting | Symbolic/living tribute | Biodegradable wrap, tree/seeds |
| Spiritual/cultural ritual | Ancestral connection | May involve ceremonial objects |
| Donation | Research/medical use | Advance hospital arrangements |
| Consumption | Traditional/modern belief in health benefits | Safe cooking or encapsulation |
| Lotus Birth | Natural transition/birth ritual | Preservation techniques, cord care |
Final Thoughts
The placenta’s vital role doesn’t have to end at birth. Modern and ancient practices offer diverse ways to honor, remember, or even benefit from it. Whether your motivation is symbolic, spiritual, environmental, or personal, choosing a meaningful fate for your placenta can be a powerful extension of your birth story.
