Previously, the placenta was routinely regarded as medical waste; however, this is no longer the case. Females should have a say in what should happen to this magnificent organ after childbirth and most of them are choosing to take it in the form of placenta pills.
Placentophagy or eating the placenta is a practice that is frequently observed in the animal kingdom. During pregnancy, the organ supplies oxygen and nutrients to the growing baby while also removing waste.
A number of mothers choose to keep the placenta for a variety of reasons, including cultural, sentimental, and beauty benefits. Some people even eat it for different health benefits, which include improved mood, energy, milk supplies, and postpartum depression prevention.
When it comes to Hollywood, no trend goes unnoticed, and these celebrity moms have publicly shared how they kept their placentas after childbirth for numerous benefits.
These celebrity mothers claim that eating their placenta relieves postpartum stress, increases milk supply, boosts energy levels, and promotes mother-child bonding. That is why it sounds reasonable. After all, the placenta is a shared organ between mother and child, that supplies nutrients and support to the fetus. Why shouldn't it provide some kind of value after birth as well? More service providers have emerged online in recent years, offering to pulverize or encapsulate your placenta. The concept has permeated the mainstream for new mothers as well, transcending the realm of Rich Lady wellness.
January Jones
After her son, Xander Dane was born, Jones jumped onto the placenta trend in January. The Mad Men actress claimed that eating dried placenta capsules gave her more energy and helped prevent postpartum depression. “It’s something I was very hesitant about, but we’re the only mammals who don’t ingest our own placentas,” The mother of one credited it, along with a doula-approved diet, vitamins, and teas, which allowed her to return to set just seven weeks after the birth of her son. As if sensing the impending whiplash, she exclaimed, “It's not witch-crafty or anything! I suggest it to all moms!”
Alicia Silverstone
After her son, Bear Blue was born in 2011, the Clueless actress and author of the attachment parenting book The Kind Mama ate her dried, ground-up placenta in daily capsules. The pills had such an impact on Alicia's mood that her husband, Christopher Jarecki, began referring to them as her “happy pills.” “To be fair, the pills were a gift”, and she rationalized, “This came from my body—what the heck? It was love at first swallow… I've got to the point that my husband said, ‘Did you have your happy pills today?” Silverstone confessed on Live with Kelly and Michael, “And I was really sad when they were gone. It really helped me.”
Holly Madison
The playboy model had considered placentophagy even before the birth of her daughter Rainbow. “This might sound gross, but I'm totally planning on having my placenta turned into pills I can take after giving birth,” she mentioned on her personal blog. “I heard it helps women recover faster and I want to recover as quickly as I can!” Fortunately, Madison found the pills to be much easier to swallow and far less gruesome than she had anticipated.
Crissy Teigen
Teigen also wanted to beat the “baby blues” after the birth of her second child, Miles, in May 2018 with husband John Legend. During an appearance on CBS Sunday Morning, the model revealed she ate her placenta and credited the act to why she felt happier after her second pregnancy with daughter Luna than her first. Teigen responded with a laugh when host Rita Braver expressed skepticism about the placenta practice. “Really? That's not a normal thing? I'm in L.A., it's very normal. They grill it here. You can try some of mine after.”
Katherine Heigl
During her pregnancy with son Joshua, Katherine Heigl worked with a naturopath and had her placenta encapsulated following birth in 2016. She confirms that she's been happily popping placenta pills since shortly after her C-section when another mother down the hall in the hospital mentioned a company that freeze-dried pills. “This guy came, he was a total cowboy: Cowboy hat, cowboy boots … and a bag of placenta! He took it to his wife who freeze-dried it and turned it into pills,” she says.
Kim Zolciak
Perhaps the only thing less appetizing than a placenta smoothie for this Real Housewife of Atlanta is suffering from exhaustion and postpartum depression. So, after giving birth to twins in November, Zolciak drank the fruity afterbirth drink (“I can do anything for my babies,” she explained later). Of course, Nene's favorite foe wasn't going down alone, she made her husband Kroy Biermann into drinking it. Kim's exact words, as heard on her spin-off show “Don't Be Tardy: “You're drinking the f*&% ing smoothie, Kroy.”
References
January Jones in this article: https://www.chatelaine.com/living/why-is-january-jones-eating-her-placenta/
Alicia Silverstone in this article: https://www.madeformums.com/news/alicia-silverstone-why-giving-birth-is-sexy/
Holly Madison’s Blog: https://hollymadisonblog.com/
Katherine Heigl in this article: https://people.com/parents/stars-who-ate-their-placentas/?slide=6403387#6403387
Kim and husband Kroy: https://www.bravotv.com/dont-be-tardy/season-3/blogs/kroy-biermann/kroy-on-the-placenta-smoothie-experience
