I Want to Be Like Kim Kardashian {because placenta encapsulation is so IN}

I’m going to go ahead and stop the judgment now: I actually don’t aspire to be Kim K. in any aspect of my life. To be completely honest, I’ve never been a big fan of the Kardashian clan. I was never interested in “keeping up” with them, or their weird rich people antics. I’m actually still not 100% sure why it is that they’re rich and famous in the first place, but that’s a whole different story, and I haven’t had enough wine this morning (yes I said “morning”–don’t judge) to even try to understand any of it. I’ve also never been a fan of keeping up with any celebrities, really, or any of the trendy things that magazines say I should be doing. I didn’t get a cute “lob” haircut, even though all the blogs said I should. I didn’t get my hair colored in that ombre style that everyone loves. I’m just not the “follow the flock” type, as anyone who knows me will tell you. My son doesn’t have a trendy name like Saint or Apple or Blue Ivy (sorry, kiddo), and my future children will have names just as boring as my first. And that’s why I was shocked when Kim K. [West] did something that I actually realized I want to do. And when I found out it’s become the next “it” thing in Hollywood, I really wished I didn’t want to follow the trend, but I do.

Placenta encapsulation, y’all.

Please stop gagging. This isn’t nearly as gross or weird as it sounds, I promise. I’m a believer, and it’s not by complete accident that placenta encapsulation has become the next big thing among celebrity moms and “regular” moms alike.

So what is placenta encapsulation? Well, a quick Google search will tell you it’s a process in which, immediately following the birth of your baby, your placenta is dehydrated and ground into a coarse powder, which is then placed into small capsules that look exactly just like any other vitamin or supplement we might take. The best part? It’s believed to have a ton of benefits, and is completely natural and safe. Also, you’re not the one doing the dehydrating and grinding, so that definitely helps.

Why for heaven’s sake would any woman choose placenta encapsulation?

1. It could help raise your oxytocin levels. You’ve probably heard of oxytocin if you’ve had a baby or are pregnant. This is the hormone that causes your uterus to contract, and consequently helps that bundle of joy go from inside mommy’s tummy and into her arms. A synthetic form (pitocin) is used to help induce labor. Oxytocin is good after Baby is born, because it helps contract the uterus and bring it back to its original pre-baby size, helping you fit into those pre-pregnancy jeans quicker. Not to sound super vain here, but that sounds wonderful to me. Oxytocin has also been proven to play a role in social bonding, and helps Mom bond even more with Baby.
2. It could help raise your levels of CRH. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is hormone and neurotransmitter that is involved with your body’s response to stress. Higher levels of CRH cause your mind and body to reduce stress. Seeing as the addition of a tiny human into your life is probably as stressful as it gets, any amount of stress reduction is definitely a benefit.
3. It’s thought to help decrease risk of postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a very real and very scary condition to live with. I personally suffered from postpartum depression after the birth of my son, and it made the first year of his life very difficult. Knowing that placenta encapsulation can help reduce my risk of suffering from PPD when I have my future children is plenty of reason for me to consider it.
4. Increased iron levels in your blood. Ingesting placenta pills is thought to help with postpartum anemia, which is a big concern for a lot of new moms. Increased iron will help with that exhausted feeling you naturally have the first few months after Baby is born, and will help you overall feel better.
5. It can increase your milk supply. This is a huge positive effect of taking placenta pills after you have your baby. As any breastfeeding mom will tell you, increasing your supply as your baby grows can be difficult at times. I took fenugreek in order to increase my supply when I was breastfeeding my son, and although it worked beautifully, I didn’t really enjoy smelling like pancakes 24/7. To know that my body naturally produced something that I can easily have made into a pill to help with my milk supply is amazing. I wish I’d known about it sooner!

So there you have it. My embarrassing confession: I actually will be doing something like a Kardashian. Thank goodness I’m not crazy enough to try that weird Kylie Jenner lip thing!

Where in Memphis can you find someone to give you more information about placenta encapsulation? Kate Burrows at Woman King Maternity and Childbirth Services is more than happy to answer any questions you have, and provide placenta encapsulation services for you, along with doula services, lactation help, and many other services for you as a new and/or expectant mom!