If celebrity trends are anything to go by, eating the placenta is becoming increasingly popular. Will Rogers-Coltman looks at the possible benefits and the potential dangers.
The debate about where wellness ends and superstition begins resurfaced after an Instagram post from Calvin Harris this month. The post showed several happy photos of his wife, presenter Vick Hope, and their newborn son, Micah. One image showed the baby sitting on his father’s knee, and another captured Harris beside the birthing pool in a tender family moment.
However, the fourth photo took an unexpected turn — it showed a placenta, followed by pieces of it placed in a dehydrator. The final image revealed the result: capsules made from the placenta, ready to be consumed.
While some viewers were shocked, Harris is not alone. Many celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow, have publicly supported the practice of eating the placenta — known as placentophagy — which has now become a trending topic.
The placenta is a temporary organ that nourishes and protects a baby during pregnancy. It attaches to the wall of the womb and acts as a filter, allowing the umbilical cord to deliver oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to the baby while keeping the mother’s and baby’s blood separate.
Some believe eating the placenta after birth provides health benefits for mothers. Helen Wright, a hypnobirthing therapist and doula, offers “placenta services” and says many of her clients report positive effects such as less bleeding after birth, increased milk supply, balanced hormones, healthier hair, skin, and nails, lower stress levels, and even protection against postnatal depression.
Known as “the placenta lady,” Wright’s website, birthwright.co.uk, offers several placenta-based products: smoothies (£125), capsules (£325), and even whipped body butter (£55). She also sells placenta prints and dried umbilical cord keepsakes that can be framed or shaped into words as a way to “honour and treasure this incredible feat of nature.”
However, scientific support for these claims is minimal. Nutritionist Dr. Federica Amati, from ZOE and a mother of two, says that research not only fails to show benefits but also demonstrates possible risks. “Eating placenta is not considered safe for humans,” she explains. “Health experts strongly advise against it due to the lack of proven benefits and the risk of infection from bacteria such as group B Streptococcus (GBS), which has caused serious infections in newborns.”
In one 2016 case in Oregon, a baby was hospitalized with a bloodstream infection just three days after birth. The infection was traced back to GBS bacteria found in the placenta capsules the mother had consumed, which matched the bacteria in the baby’s blood.
Although Wright admits there isn’t strong scientific evidence, she believes the practice still supports new mothers. “My work is about helping women transition into motherhood physically, emotionally, and spiritually,” she says. “Placenta remedies are part of that — they help mothers feel nourished and cared for during a time that can be both wonderful and overwhelming.”
Source: Standard, UK
