by Chantia Smith
As a midwife I have a special admiration for placentas, having been fascinated by them ever since I learned about their great healing benefits in my early studies of Chinese medicine. Traditionally, the placenta has been used to augment the chi and nourish the blood, support new mothers, women in menopause, and people who are suffering from adrenal exhaustion and chronic fatigue.
It wasn't until my sister gave birth five years ago that I began my journey of making placentas into capsules. Since then I have been privileged to process about 100 placentas. Each placenta that I work with is awe-inspiring. This unique organ portrays a beautiful image of the tree of life illustrating it's integral role in the health of a baby. The placenta gives oxygen and nourishes a little one during its' time in the womb.
Not many know that postpartum the placenta can continue to benefit the mother and her baby. I have seen it help mothers with recovery after birth, postpartum blues, increasing milk supply, restoring energy, as support in subsequent pregnancies, and menopause. It can also be given to infants in very small doses during times of growth to remember their connection to their original nourishment.
I practice universal precautions when working with placentas. I consider it a sacred process and spend much of the time in meditation. It is a great honor to transform the placenta into a nourishing supplement for both momma and baby.
Here are a couple of reports from clients who benefited from placenta capsules:
"The capsules are wonderful. I can't tell you how lucky I feel to have them. How amazing that so few women choose to eat their placentas. I'm definitely telling everyone to do it." -- P. G., postpartum mother, July 2007
" Thank you so much!! Amy is noticing an immediate beneficial effect, and they [mom and baby] had the best afternoon of their life yesterday." --P.F., new father, September 2008.
For more information about placenta encapsulating you can contact me at chantiajoy@gmail.com or 510-432-8181.
About me: I am a new arrival to Ashland from the Bay Area. I am a homebirth midwife trained in herbalism, acupressure, craniosacral therapy, birth trauma resolution and re-patterning, and yoga and movement. With loving presence I support families and individuals in their journey through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
