Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Postpartum Health: Benefits of the Placenta {A Birth Circle Topic}

Historically, midwives knew the placenta could be used to stop a postpartum hemorrhage when a small piece was cut off and placed in the mother's cheek, but the benefits of placentophagia, or consuming your placenta, extend far beyond that!

Encapsulation is on the rise with the placenta capsules giving you a consistent flow of oxytocin, making you feel good and encouraging your uterus to return to its normal size. Many studies have been published but for North America this is still a fairly new concept; that being said, with the many potential benefits and no negative side affects, why not?

Many mothers report a shorter period of lochia as well as increased energy. The placenta is rich in iron, which replenishes your blood, may regulate your hormones and along with B vitamins found in the placenta, boosts your energy, all of this preventing or lessening the risk of postpartum depression or 'baby blues'. Also found in the placenta are hormones made by you, for you, including cortisone, interferon, prostaglandins, hemoglobin, prolactin, Urokinate inhibiting factor and factor XIII, and of course, oxytocin.

As mentioned, oxytocin is a 'feel good' hormone- creating feelings of bonding, happiness and pain relief- but what are all of those other hormones?!

Cotrisone combats stress and unlocks energy stores in the body.
Interferon stimulates the immune system to fight off infections!
Prostaglandins act as an anti-inflammatory. Hemoglobin replenishes iron.
Urokinase inhibiting factor and factor XIII lessen bleeding and promote faster healing!
Proclactin stimulates milk production. The placenta also provides the mother with hPL hormone, Human Placental Lactogen, which helps establish early and healthy milk supply.

And for more about the placenta encapsulation and lactation, click below:
Image courtesy of MotherChi.
Click to read 'The Complementary Relationship Between Placentophagia and Lactation'
The placenta can be prepared via the raw method- meaning it is prepped and dehydrated to preserve the enzymes, it is then ground up and placed in capsules.

The Traditional Chinese Method- the placenta is steamed, often with complementing herbs, and then dehydrated, ground and encapsulated.

You can also make a piece of your placenta into a smoothie for immediate benefit or into a tincture for very long lasting benefits.

Interested in placenta preparation for yourself? Click on the link and contact me for more info!

And share your experiences with placentophagia here!

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Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Still A Birthday

October 15th is baby loss remembrance. Take time to not only say 'goodbye' but also say 'hello' and make those precious memories. I encourage you to participate in the Wave of Light at 7pm, in loving memory. Each beautiful baby is loved and remembered and mourned. If you are mourning a baby, find comfort from those who understand a pregnancy loss is still a loss. 


Baby Loss Remembrance

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Homeoprophylaxis {A Birth Circle Topic}

Laura Kenndy, NMD is our guest blogger and presenter for YC Birth Circle. 
September's topic was :: Homeoprophylaxis ::




Dr. Kennedy writes,

We are researching Homeoprophylaxis (HP) as an alternative to the current vaccination practice. The goal of HP is to stimulate the immune system is such a way that it knows how to get sick and how to recover. HP does this using nosodes, which are the viruses and only the viruses in a very diluted form which is given as a pellet under the tongue.
The current vaccination schedule introduces 14 diseases in 36 doses in the first year of life and 16 diseases in 69 doses from birth to 18 years of age. MMR and DTaP introduce 3 diseases at one time. 
We know that an infant under the age of 1 year has not developed an immune system capable of producing antibodies. In addition, the vaccines contain additives, adjuvants and use an attenuation process that further exposes this immature immune system to foreign substances and could set the stage for behavioral problems, auto-immune diseases, digestive disorders and chronic illnesses. 
Our research goal is to demonstrate an effective immune response as is evidenced by an improvement in all parameters of health. I encourage every parent to read The Solution, Homeoprophylaxis: The Vaccine Alternative by Kate Birch and Cilla Whatcott. 
The ISBN is 9781480001916 and it is available on Amazon.com.

If you are interested in being part of this study or learning more about Homeoprophylaxis,
please contact Dr. Kennedy or another accredited homeopathic supervisor. 

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Jennifer Valencia | Labor & Postpartum Doula | 928.300.1337

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