Should You Eat Your Placenta? Plus Other Things You Should Know About This Fascinating Organ

The placenta is what develops in the uterus during pregnancy, connecting a growing fetus to the mother’s womb. It provides oxygen and nutrients to the baby all while removing toxins and waste. Unfortunately, experts say it’s poorly understood, and the research field is severely underappreciated.

Here are five things that might surprise you about the placenta.

Yes, it’s actually an organ

Many are shocked to find out it’s an organ, and arguably one of the most important ones. I mean, c’mon, it builds life. The baby’s development depends on it, plus it provides immune protections and produces critical hormones.

“It serves multiple functions and essentially works as multiple little organ systems,” said Dr. Margareta Pisarska, director of reproductive endocrinology and infertility and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

It has a lasting impact beyond pregnancy

The placenta is delivered or removed after a baby is born. That's why it's often referred to as "afterbirth."

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DESIREE MARTIN/AFP via Getty Images

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It may be obvious that the placenta impacts both mother and fetus during pregnancy, but we now know it’s connected to their health post pregnancy and birth.

“These different patterns of injury in the placenta can dictate different ways in which the baby, once it’s born and grows up as an adult, is prone to different diseases later in adult life,” said Dr. Mana Parast, director of perinatal pathology at U.C. San Diego.

Parast says a baby that’s born early, for example, might be prone to obesity, diabetes or even cardiovascular disease later in life. Some placenta disorders, like preeclampsia (a serious blood pressure condition during pregnancy), may even provide insight into later health risks for mom. Plus, researchers are learning about the potential placental connection to things like auto immune disorders and even autism.

Stem cell research is critical

Human placenta is so different from animal models, Parast says. So using stem cells to model and research placentas is key. Studies are showing progress in experimenting on human placentas known as organoids or mini-placentas.

Eating your placenta? Maybe choose a different snack

A container of capsules with ground human placenta.

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Brendan Smialowski

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AFP via Getty Images

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Ingesting the placenta after birth is a long-running trend because the organ is so nutrient dense. According to Mayo Clinic, the most common way to do this is through capsules. Other methods include eating it raw or cooked.

While some research has shown benefits, you may not be getting the nutrients you think you are, plus the practice could even be harmful to you or your baby in some cases.

“The nutrients might not transfer to individuals because our intestines might break things down differently,” said Pisarska. “There are additional, natural ways to get those nutrients as well.”

Things you can do to increase chances of a healthy placenta

If you’re thinking about getting pregnant, start planning ahead at least three months out. This could include preconception counseling, taking prenatal vitamins and eating a healthy diet.

These things aren’t always planned, of course. Either way, it’s important to minimize negative exposures the best you can.

Learn more about the placenta

Drs. Pisarska and Parast joined AirTalk, LAist 89.3's daily news program, to discuss all things placenta. Take a deeper dive and listen to the full conversation below.