placentophagy

PlacentophagyStudent’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Introduction
The rate at which females are consuming their placenta is so alarming that the once non-issue has turned out to be a global concern. Placentophagy is a common practice among other mammals but could have been hardly experienced by the human beings. This is because there is no culture in the contemporary society that perpetrates ingestion of one’s placenta as defined by societal traditions (Hayes, 2015). Though the practice is not yet common in all the six continents of the world it is gaining momentum among women from minority groups; particularly in Europe, Australia and North America. Besides, placentophagy has also been reported to sprout in the so-called traditional medicine of the Chinese culture. Precisely, preparation of the placenta involves drying, roasting, and processing into capsules before consumed by the newly delivered lactating mothers.
Despite the subjectivity of the evidence supporting the benefits associated with placentophagy, numerous companies have shown their interest in processing human placenta specifically for new mothers to use. It is essential to note that the existing evidence mostly emanates from self-report surveys hence their credibility cannot be guaranteed before proper research.
Individuals in support of placentophagy argue that the intake of the capsules results in specific mental and physical benefits (Hayes, 2015). Being a practice whose uses are still debatable, analyzing the evidence of potential risks and benefits of placentophagy makes it relevant to determine the role of nurses in guiding their patients to make an informed choice on the placentophagy issue.

Background
As much as most of the mammals apart from human beings, camels and some sea creatures in the Class Mammalia consume their placentas, tangible evidence has not been put on the table in support of the rapidly growing practice. Some of the notions associated with this ingestion include; keeping the habitat clean, decreasing the odors to prevent enticing the predators, to satisfy the mother’s hunger after a period of labor and giving birth, and to supply the mother with hormones and nutrients (Coyle et al., 2015).
The mammal’s impermanent carnivorous nature is also a contributing factor in the conduction of the practice. Historically, an ethnographic study of a hundred and seventy-nine cultures found out that only a single woman had fed on the placenta. Furthermore, an assumption is made that associates those cultures that sacrificed human beings to have engaged in the placentophagy. Nonetheless, this assumption is limited to just a mere claim as it lacks anthropological evidence.
Currently, the use of the placenta is encouraged in the traditional Chinese medicine as it has been treating various sicknesses for more than a century. However, the medicine does not apply to mothers or infants. As per the Chinese medicine, consumption of human placenta helps in the proper functioning of the kidney and liver as it has nutritional value and also assists in the management of lactation (Coyle et al., 2015).
Women from the western countries, those with high incomes and women with the college education are at high risk of consuming their placenta. Besides, women who have experienced homebirths are also likely to feed on the placenta as compared to those delivered from hospitals. Basing on placenta encapsulation companies, a significant number of women take part in the practice prefer it when encapsulated. These women take them placenta capsules when raw or after being refrigerated whereas others include them in juices when blending before taking the juice (Coyle et al., 2015).
Literature Review
Farr et al. (2017) assert that there is no scientific evidence concerning the clinical benefits of the placentophagy among human beings. Moreover, authors claim that encapsulation process gets rid of the essential hormones and nutrients in postpartum from the placenta being processed. The scholars highlight a recent warning from the CDC against the view regarding benefits of placentophagy among human beings (Farr et al., 2017).
The warning came as a result of a case whereby an infant suffered from Streptococcus Sepsis Group B immediately after its mother consumed placenta capsules that had been contaminated with Streptococcus agalactiae. According to the CDC, there is the need for avoiding ingesting the capsules with the view that the encapsulation method may fail to inadequately deal with the destructive pathogens (Farr et al., 2017).
The scholars suggest that physicians should take the responsibility of informing women interested in the practice of the associated risks and the fact that there is no evidence which indicates the clinical benefits of the practice after consumption (Farr et al., 2017). It is also advisable for clinicians to make inquiries on the history of ingestion of the capsules in the event of maternal infections.
From the scholars’ perspective, medical practitioners do not have the professional obligation to provide newly delivered mothers with placental capsules. Furthermore, it is perceived that counseling about placentophagy should be in a live setting to have more impact as far as the goal of discouraging the practice is concerned. The scholars also suggest that public health organizations should formulate directives regarding the application of an expert and scientific approach to the practice (Farr et al., 2017).
Coyle et al. (2015) explain that the existing evidence does not indicate the importance of placentophagy in the treatment of postpartum depression by necessarily supplying estrogen. Additionally, authors have an assertion that the practice does not facilitate gaining back the usual postpartum estrogen cycle. It is perceived that inasmuch that women lose certain amounts of estrogen during birth, it is not expected that they will suffer from postnatal mood symptoms. Therefore, the significance of estrogen in the management of postpartum depression is yet to be defined (Coyle et al., 2015).
There is also a perception that various forms of biochemical and psychosocial factors contribute to the development and management of postpartum depression and that most of the factors have not been studied or being exhibited in animal studies. Therefore, it becomes challenging to interpret reports from animal studies regarding human beings. Reports from animal studies do not also support the arguments in favor of conduction of the placentophagy by human beings regarding improving lactation, facilitating the contraction of the uterine, decreasing pain, and providing nutrients and hormones during the postpartum depression (Coyle et al., 2015).
Moreover, the placebo effect which tends to be highly effective in human beings is similarly not proven to be effective in animals. It is assumed by Geers et al. (2013) that most individuals who have benefited from placentophagy must have done so from the placebo effect. Coyle et al. (2015) suggest further studies in the materials present in placental tissue and the associated stability, the impact of placentophagy on medical conditions in human beings, changes in moods using reliable techniques, and if the post-birth activities exhibit varied effects on the placental issue. The scholars in the review all suggest the need for further studies on placentophagy as there lacks evidence supporting its use. Furthermore, medical practitioners should discourage the practice as it is harmful to both the mother and the newborn (Coyle et al., 2015).
Local/National perspective
From a national perspective, United States to be precise, it is estimated that a significant number of women engage in the placentophagy basing on the reviews from encapsulating companies. However, there is no significant estimate on the number of women engaging in the practice. The insignificant figure implies that it is an issue which requires attention since there is no clear evidence as most of the women might be suffering from the effects brought about by the placentophagy.
The practice is mostly associated with Latina women within the boundaries of United States as they view it as effective during postpartum depression. It is vital to note that the legal policies in Oregon, Hawaii, and Texas do not prohibit women from taking their placentas with them after delivery in hospitals. However, other states lack clear regulation on the placentophagy as they do not prohibit or allow women to engage in the practice (Hayes, 2015).
International Perspective
Globally, the placentography is spreading in the new boundaries among women from minority groups; particularly in Europe, Australia and North America. The risks associated with the intake of the placenta make it a local, national and global public health issue. Current research indicates its use in Europe, Australia, and North America implies that there is the need for all people, the nurses and other qualified medical practitioners to be informed on its risks since it is an issue that impacts the public health sector (Hayes, 2015).
Potential threats of PlacentographyOne of the effects of consuming placenta is that it exposes the mother to pathogens from the tissue. It is perceived that virus such as hepatitis or HIV may spread to individuals directly holding the placenta especially the individuals taking part in its preparation. Also, it is perceived that a woman who acquires intrauterine infection when giving birth, may risk exposure to the pathogen when taking a raw placenta. Therefore, it is vital to note that placentas that are assumed to be clean and healthy might not be sterile especially when they are poorly handled resulting in their contamination. An example of poor handling is improper refrigeration.
The recommendations from the placenta encapsulation certification suggest the need for placenta preparation in the mother’s premises, using disposable covering to cover the work areas and utilizing dedicated instruments. A placenta preparer is advised to abide by the guidelines provided by the federal system (Hayes, 2015).
Another potential risk is that both postpartum and pregnant women risk themselves in undergoing a thromboembolic event. It is factual that the placenta provides most of the estrogen when one is pregnant. Also, the external administration of estrogen in the form of contraceptives is prohibited when one enters the postpartum period due to the high risk of undergoing a thromboembolic experience. The idea is that consuming the placenta results in an increase in estrogen levels and hence promoting the occurrence of a thromboembolic experience. Be that as it may, the rare occurrence of the event makes it difficult to justify the effect of consuming the placenta (Hayes, 2015).
It has also been proven that estrogen provokes prolactin through the suppression that takes place in the hypothalamus. This makes most of the medical practitioners that deal with women’s health to oppose the use of contraceptives which contain estrogen during lactation. The argument is based on the assertion that its use may lower the rate of milk production. Also, some experts argue that placentophagy improves lactation by its proponents. However, by suppressing the production of prolactin, it becomes difficult for the mother to produce enough milk. Similarly, reports from animal studies regarding the impact of placentophagy on the prolactin levels of animals is unconvincing. Hayes (2015) says that there is no substantive evidence showing whether the process affects or does not affect women after giving birth.
Some scholars claim that the information regarding the concentrations of active hormones in the placental tissue after undergoing cooking, freezing, and drying or rather being processed is not enough to justify the argument. Fresh Human placental tissue which has been dried can be said to contain determinate levels of estrogen. Studies indicate the presence of estrogen in the placenta after undergoing processing, and that estrogen is capable of facilitating thromboembolic activities. Nonetheless, further studies are ideal to determine the impact of estrogen in the human body after being ingested (Hayes, 2015).
Assumptions on the benefits of placentography
Despite the presence of scarce research, the supporters of placentophagy argue that some of its potential benefits include: increased lactation levels, elevated energy, the decrease of the risk associated with the development of postpartum depression, decreased levels of vaginal bleeding, and quickening of uterine contraction. Hayes (2015) states that a study carried out by Salender et al. in 2013 on 189 women indicated that forty percent of the women reported improvements in moods, twenty-six percent reported a decrease in fatigue and improvements in energy while seven percent reported decreased levels of vaginal bleeding.
Another argument states that the consumption of placenta supplies iron to the mother after delivery. However, there is no substantive evidence which supports the theory. Another proposed benefit regarding managing postpartum depression and improving moods is that the ingestion of placenta supplies the body with vitamin B. The placental tissue contains determinate amounts of thiamin, pyridoxine, and riboflavin. The encapsulation of the placenta is likely to interfere with the concentrations of vitamin B since high temperatures often affect the concentration levels of vitamin B.
Correspondingly, the supporting evidence that illustrates the efficiency of vitamin B levels present in the placental tissue for the postpartum women when the placenta is eaten raw is not enough to justify the claim. Another argument is that the consumption of placenta supplies the body with hormones associated with pregnancy and hence preventing the occurrence of postpartum depression. However, the impact of manipulation of hormone levels has not yet been proven (Hayes, 2015).
Nursing roles in addressing the public health issue
No practical documentation explicitly defines the role of nurses on placentophagy despite the fact that the issue has been under investigation for quite some time now. However, nurses have a significant role when it comes to managing the practice among patients. It is vital to note that no medical practitioner is professionally obligated to accord the treatment to patients. This practice is not yet evidenced-based relation to the postpartum women.
However, because of the uncertainties, nurses and other medical practitioners have a significant role to play since placentophagy is a public health issue (Hayes, 2015). As highlighted earlier, Farr et al. (2017) explain that physicians should take the responsibility of informing women who might be considering undertaking the practice on the associated risks and the non-documented clinical benefits claimed to be resulting from the practice.
Nursing Implications on placentophagyNurses are supposed to have enough knowledge concerning placentophagy. Thus, they should be aware of the associated risks and benefits, the preparation process as well as the consumption process. Besides, nurses should comprehend the rules and regulations that impact the individuals considering undertaking the practice. The nurses should be ready to discuss the benefits and the risks associated with the practice (Hayes, 2015).
The knowledge will be useful to enable the medical practitioners to provide better counseling to the women so as they become in a position to make sound decisions. When a woman is still certain of taking part in the process even after exhaustive counseling, she should receive proper advice on the method to employ when choosing a preparer or how to prepare the placenta individually. As the placenta preparer, one is expected to demonstrate adequate knowledge of the placentophagy regarding safety management practices such as handling of food and disposal of waste.
Women should be advised on how to prepare the placenta and the risks associated with eating the raw placenta. Furthermore, a certified preparer should give more guidelines on safety and quality. It is highly emphasized that there exists little evidence illustrating the benefits and the damages associated with the condition.
Hayes (2015) suggests that there is a need to carry out placebo-focused studies while analyzing the benefits and damages associated with placenta capsules. Moreover, studies should put more focus on the theorized benefits and threats that are affiliated with the process using adequate effect measures and applicable sample sizes to assess intermittent cases; a good example being thromboembolism. Nurses may, therefore, engage in the research activities particularly in determining the areas that may cause harm to the patients.
Conclusion
As stated earlier, being a practice whose uses are still debatable, analyzing the evidence of potential risks and benefits of placentophagy makes it relevant to determine the role of nurses in guiding their patients to make informed choices about placentophagy. Most of the scholars align with the view that the practice lacks substantive evidence in regards to health benefits.
Some of the proposed benefits include; increased lactation levels, elevated energy, the decrease of the risk associated with the development of postpartum depression, decreased levels of vaginal bleeding, and quickening of uterine contraction. Other benefits include the consumption of placenta supplies iron to the mother after delivery and supply the body with vitamin B and hormones. The potential risks include the exposure of the mother to pathogens from the tissue.
Subsequently, both postpartum and pregnant women risk undergoing a thromboembolic event and estrogen which provokes prolactin through the suppression that takes place in the hypothalamus and hence interfering with lactation. Similarly, there is inadequate information on the concentrations of active hormones in the placental tissue after undergoing cooking, freezing, drying or even processing. Placentophagy lacks substantive evidence, and hence nurses should be keen when administering care to patients.
Furthermore, the fact that the encapsulation method may fail to deal with the destructive pathogens inadequately puts both the mother and the newborn at risk. Therefore, it becomes important for nurses to discourage interested parties concerning the practice by emphasizing the insufficient evidence regarding the benefits of placentophagy. Most scholars highlight the need for further research on the practice such that nurses and other medical practitioners are adequately informed on it and may accord relevant methods in ensuring there is sufficient care.
References
Coyle, C., Hulse, K., Wisner, K., Driscoll, K., & Clark, C. (2015). Placentophagy: therapeutic miracle or myth? Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 18(5), 673-680. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00737-015-0538-8Farr, A., Chervenak, F., McCullough, L., Baergen, R., & Grünebaum, A. (2017). Human placentophagy: a review. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2017.08.016Geers, A., Rose, J., Fowler, S., Rasinski, H., Brown, J., & Helfer, S. (2013). Why does choice enhance treatment effectiveness? Using placebo treatments to demonstrate the role of personal control. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 105(4), 549-566. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0034005Hayes, E. (2015). Consumption of the Placenta in the Postpartum Period. Journal Of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 45(1), 78-89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2015.10.008