The placenta is a wondrous thing. In your belly, it supports your unborn baby for nine months. It is the only organ that the body rejects after it has done its job. At the same time, this is also why it is one of the least-studied organs in science: shortly after birth, the placenta loses its function, and to avoid endangering the unborn child, more extensive research during pregnancy is avoided. In this article, we’ll give you an overview of what is currently known about the placenta. You’ll learn what the placenta is, how it forms, what happens to it after birth, and which placenta-related complications can occur.

What is the placenta?

The term placenta comes from Latin and means “cake.” This is where the term Mother's cake comes from. After implantation of the fertilized egg, the placenta develops from both embryonic cells and maternal cells of the uterine lining. It consists of a network of fine blood vessels surrounded by soft connective tissue and grows in parallel with the developing embryo into a disc-shaped organ. It remains attached to the Uterine wall until the end of pregnancy—either on the back wall or the front wall. Both are completely normal. If the placenta is located on the front wall, you may simply feel your baby’s movements later in pregnancy. By the end of pregnancy, the placenta is usually about 3 centimeters thick, has a diameter of about 20 centimeters, and weighs around 500 grams .

What is the function of the placenta?

The placenta’s main function is the Care of the growing child with oxygen, nutrients, vitamins, and water from the maternal blood. The embryo is connected to the placenta via the umbilical cord . In the other direction, carbon dioxide and waste products are transferred from the child’s blood into the maternal bloodstream. In the placenta, the mother’s blood and the baby’s blood circulate close to each other, but they do not mix. The two circulatory systems are separated by the so-called placental barrier, which also functions as a kind of filter. This protects the unborn child, for example, from viruses and bacteria. However, the membrane is not impermeable to all substances, so alcohol, nicotine, and some medications can pass through and harm the baby.

When and how does a woman expel the placenta?

Usually, about ten to fifteen minutes after the actual birth of the child, one or two strong Afterbirth contractions occur. These contractions cause the placenta to detach from the uterine wall and, together with the remaining cut umbilical cord, to be expelled through the birth canal. Since the birth process is physiologically only complete with the afterbirth, midwives traditionally congratulate the new mother only then. The midwife also checks whether the placenta is complete. If Remaining parts of it stay in the uterus (med. placental retention), this can lead to heavy bleeding and may require a curettage, also known in medical terminology as scraping.

Customs surrounding the placenta

In most Maternity Hospitals , the placenta is disposed of via the hospital incineration plant after it is expelled and properly disposed of. Of course, all necessary examinations of the organ are carried out beforehand. If you do not want your placenta to be disposed of, it’s best to inform your caregiver before the birth. Your Midwife can help you with this. Besides disposal, there are numerous customs surrounding the placenta and what happens to it after birth.

1. Lotus Birth

In a lotus birth, do not cut the umbilical cord after birth , so the baby and the placenta remain connected until the umbilical cord naturally falls off after a few days. To prevent the placenta from starting to decay, it must be preserved—for example, by storing it in a small bag with edible salt. For a pleasant scent, essential oils and dried herbs can also be added. Advocates of Lotus Birth believe that the natural detachment of the umbilical cord is less traumatic for the baby (and also for the parents) than artificial clamping. Additionally, about a quarter of the baby’s blood is in the umbilical cord and placenta at birth, so a Lotus Birth is believed to protect the baby from blood loss.

However, the blood supply from the placenta to the baby stops within a few minutes after birth. In addition, this method carries a certain Risk of infection , which is why most clinics do not offer it due to the increased microbial density there. If you decide on this type of birth, be sure to have an experienced midwife accompany you and advise you.

2. Eating placenta

Because it contains numerous Nutrients , some people attribute special healing powers to the placenta. This is why some mothers choose to consume it raw or in other forms after childbirth. All kinds of recommendations circulate online—from smoothies to lasagna, from serious to bizarre. Eating the placenta should Postpartum depression prevent, stimulate milk production, support Postnatal recovery , and relieve pain. However, there are currently no studies that scientifically prove these effects.

In fact, many mammals, such as cats or goats, eat their placenta after giving birth. Critics of so-called placentophagy in humans argue that the reasons for doing so in the animal kingdom are quite different: it is suspected that animals need the nutrients contained in the placenta because, weakened by birth, they would be unable to find food elsewhere. Additionally, by removing the organ, they prevent the smell of decay from attracting predators. Finally, critics point out that animal placentas are often structured differently from human ones, making comparisons problematic. Since the placenta acts as a kind of filter, it can also contain various toxins, such as high concentrations of heavy metals. This is not only unhealthy for the mother; the toxins can also be transferred to the baby through breast milk, even though the organ is meant to keep them away from the infant. If you are still interested in placentophagy, it’s best to consult your doctor to avoid any health risks.

3. Have placental doses or globules made from placenta

Nosodes are homeopathic remedies, and their starting material is “pathological” material or body-derived components. They are taken in the form of globules. To produce placental nosodes, a piece about the size of a bean is cut from the organ and placed in a vial with a special solution. You can obtain this from pharmacies that offer the production of nosodes. Afterwards, you either return it there or send it in and receive the finished globules back.

These remedies are credited with numerous effects: after birth, they are said to promote faster postpartum recovery, stimulate milk production, support recovery later on, relieve menstrual discomfort, and, later in life, ease menopausal symptoms. When used for the child, the nosodes are said to support children’s illnesses and infections. Other family members are also supposedly helped by the globules with skin conditions, allergies, migraines, or respiratory problems. However, there is no scientific evidence for any of these effects.

If you’re interested, it’s best to contact a homeopath or your midwife. The cost of production is about 100 euros.

4. Tree for Birth

The placenta is also called the Tree of Life because of its appearance – the surface consists of numerous branching structures. That’s why the custom of burying the placenta and planting a tree on top of it seems almost obvious. Some parents love the symbolism of new life growing from the organ that accompanied their child into the world.

5. Placenta Image

If you want to keep a visual memory of your placenta, you can, for example, take a photograph of it. Not only many midwives, but also some mothers, are fascinated by the appearance of this wondrous organ. A somewhat more abstract keepsake can be a Placenta print . For this, the placenta is pressed onto a piece of paper shortly after birth. If that’s too bloody for you, you can also wash it (or have it washed) and use paint for the imprint.

6. Placenta Cosmetics

This form of use is admittedly a bit outdated, as it was especially popular in the 1980s: cosmetics containing components from placentas. The growth hormones they contain were believed to have a skin-rejuvenating effect , which is why they were mainly used in facial creams and masks. Even though the trend declined with the discovery of the HIV virus, such cosmetics are still available on the market. However, their effectiveness is not scientifically proven .

7. Donate to research

Do you want to give your placenta a second purpose after birth but would rather not use it yourself? Then you can also donate the organ to research. In pharmaceutical research, placentas are used, for example, for the Development of medications to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs. For this, substances are extracted from the placenta that prevent the body from rejecting the baby as a foreign object. If you give birth in a hospital, you may already be asked whether you would like to donate your placenta. With a Birth house or at a home birth , you will probably have to organize the donation yourself.

The topic of the “placenta” and what happens to it after birth polarizes like almost no other. What some find repulsive is, for others, a symbolic or empowering ritual. In the end, the most important thing is that it feels right for you. Don’t push yourself into anything because of a supposed effect if you feel aversion. And don’t hesitate to talk to your midwife about the topic.

What complications can occur regarding the placenta?

• Placenta previa: Sometimes the placenta is located in the lower part of the uterus, covering the cervix (medical term: placenta previa). If this is the case, a vaginal birth is not possible and a Cesarean section is necessary.

• Placental insufficiency : In about two to five percent of all pregnant women, the placenta provides an insufficient supply of nutrients and oxygen. Placental insufficiency can, in the worst case, be life-threatening for the unborn child and may require an emergency cesarean section.

• Calcification: If the placenta begins to calcify toward the end of pregnancy, it is not necessarily a cause for concern. It is a completely normal sign of aging; after all, the organ is only designed for a limited period of use. However, smoking, alcohol consumption, illnesses, or genetic predisposition can lead to more extensive calcification of the placenta and at an earlier stage of pregnancy. Severe calcifications can result in placental insufficiency, which requires appropriate measures.

• Preterm placental abruption: Although very rare, the placenta can detach during pregnancy, for example after a fall. Depending on the size of the detachment site, this may be a life-threatening complication for mother and child and may lead to an emergency cesarean section.

Even though complications can never be completely ruled out, you don’t need to worry unnecessarily. Your doctor will regularly check the function and condition of your placenta during prenatal examinations. Your placenta does an amazing job and usually provides your baby with everything it needs without any problems.

We wish you a smooth pregnancy!