Eating the placenta: A good idea?

Eating the placenta after giving birth, called placentophagy, can be harmful for you and your baby.

The placenta is a complex organ that supports the growing fetus during pregnancy. The placenta provides nutrients and oxygen and filters waste through the umbilical cord.

After delivery, a common way to prepare the placenta for eating is to put it inside a capsule. A capsule is like a pill. This is done by steaming and dehydrating the placenta or by processing the raw placenta. People also have been known to eat the placenta raw or cooked. Some put it in smoothies or liquid extracts. These preparations may not destroy all the infectious bacteria and viruses that might be in the placenta. There is no standardized, safe way to prepare the placenta for eating.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning against taking placenta capsules. That warning was based on a case in which a newborn developed an infection called group B streptococcus after the mother took placenta capsules. The mother was thought to be infected with group B strep bacteria that came from the placenta because the capsules tested positive for the bacteria. Then the infection spread to the infant. Group B strep can cause serious illness in newborns. That may include a severe infection called sepsis. Group B strep also can lead to meningitis. Meningitis is an infection that affects the lining of the brain and spinal cord.

Some people believe that eating the placenta can prevent postpartum depression; ease bleeding after delivery; promote a healthy hormone balance in the body; improve mood, energy and milk supply; and provide important nutrients, such as iron. But there's no evidence that eating the placenta has health benefits.

Eating the placenta can be harmful. If you want to improve your health after giving birth, ask your healthcare professional about proven ways that can make a difference for you.