I am of the honouring belief, it always astounds me to hear of hospitals treating this precious life sustaining force as biohazardous waste! Anyhow - thought that this was an interesting (albeit brief) read from an International Midwifery newsletter...


Western culture tends to view the placenta as a waste product to be disposed of after the birth. In many cultures though important ceremonies takes place involving the placenta.

It is common to find the placenta being buried in or near the child's home, believing that the placenta binds a child to his or her ancestral beginnings. The Hmong communities in Asia call the placenta the "black jacket" - a child's finest clothing that will be carried with them after death. Balinese fathers are responsible for washing and preparing the placenta, and subsequently burying it by the front door of the family home. Maori of New Zealand also bury the placenta - the same word is used in the Maori language for placenta and land, "whenua". The Sundanese bury the placenta under a window at the back of the family home.

Navajo parents bury the placenta and the umbilical cord in a place that represents their dreams for their child. Thai parents also bury the placenta. It is first salted to preserve it, then it is placed in an earthenware pot, before being buried on an auspicious day. The location is chosen depending on when the child is born, with a site chosen where a plant that represents the child's year of birth is grown. For example, the coconut tree watches over the placentas of babies born in the year of the rat, the dragon or the rabbit, while the lotus protects babies born in the year of the tiger and dog.

Many cultures believe the placenta has its own spirit. Aymara and Quecha fathers from Bolivia wash and bury the placenta in a secret shady place to protect the mother and baby. The Ibo people of Ghana and Nigeria give the placenta a traditional burial as the twin of the child.

Traditional Turkish families believe that the way the placenta and umbilical cord are treated can influence the child's future. The umbilical cord will be buried in a place that then determines the child's characteristics as an adult. Burying the cord in the courtyard of a mosque ensures they will become devout, while throwing it into the water means the child will seek their destiny away from the family home. The placenta is believed to be a part of the child and, like the Ibo, it is wrapped and buried.

What interesting traditions!

Honour the Placenta!

I was just thinking today about all the discarded placentas and how welcome they would be in my gardening! Our little family buried ours in a pot underneath a glowing olive tree which we will plant on our future organic food farm/retreat. Nettles are also growing from the soil. I picked heaps for dinner a few nights ago and felt amazing afterwards!

They definatly should be honored. Two of mine were lost to hospitals, one was buried in the garden and the other I ate most of and buried the rest.
We must also remember to honor our bodies as they too do a wonderfull job in nuturing and birthing our babies.

OG are you serious? Goodness, that's shocking. I've heard that they use Thalidomide in cosmetics now. I wonder what they list the ingredient 'placenta' as. What's the latin name for it... does anyone know?

xoxoxo

For my first son's placenta, we kept it in the freezer until his first birthday then buried it under an elder bush (which now produces the most amazing flowers and berries) in a simple ceremony, and for my second sons' we practiced Lotus Birth until he let go of it 5 days after he was born. We then buried it under a mandarin tree (which produces huge fruit now).

there are some older threads about placentas if ur interested.   

1st time we saved & planted under an avocado seedling. 
2nd time (Kittyk don't read any further!!!), i did further research into what other mammals do with theirs, & i ate it (raw in raspberry smoothie).  mums will understand that in those first few days after birth you are in a very different space - babymoon period - and for me in that space it felt right & normal & not yuk at all.... & i know it contributed to my feeling invincible in those early days after birthing :D