How do I get rid of the placenta?

Before you try to get rid of the Placenta, you need to look it over to make sure it is complete. Your midwife can show you how it worked and will be able to ensure the entire placenta has been expelled. It should look somewhat oval and look complete. If there is a problem, your midwife will know what to do.

If you are alone and any pieces appear to be missing, you will want to take the placenta with you to get help as quickly as possible. This is because if a piece was left in the uterus, it would prevent the uterus from closing as much as it should and can cause you to bleed too much. If it is not expelled or removed, it can cause an infection in your uterus making you very ill.

The placenta is human body tissue, so you shouldn't just throw it out in the garbage. If you hired a midwife, she probably has a way to get rid of it. If not, you might want to contact a local independent childbirth educator to see if she would like a donation to show her class a placenta. Some mother's bury the placenta under a special tree or bush in honor of the baby. I have read tales of mothers eating the placenta, but don't know of anyone who has tried this first hand. I suppose you could burn it like you would leaves, but it is body tissue and will probably stink.

I expected to be able to give the placenta to my midwife to dispose of, but forgot to take it to her office when I went to get a check up. We made a quick decision to plant it under a flowering bush in the front yard. We sold the house 7 months later, and I always secretly wonder if the new owner found the placenta while redoing the landscaping.

You May Also Be Interested In: The Coach's Notebook of positions, techniques and tools for labor Homebirth Books for more information. Midwife Directory to find homebirth midwives and midwife organizations. Virtual Labor to practice your laboring skills. Labor Progress Guide to help you understand the process of labor. Birth Challenges to help you learn to navigate through a challenging labor. This is the story of how I ended up at home for Jaron's Birth.

© Copyright 2000-2008 Jennifer VanderLaan and Birthing Naturally

Home | Site Index | Disclaimer | Contact