enhance your postpartum recovery and health
Since 2013, I have worked with hundreds of postpartum families.
While scientific research on placenta encapsulation remains limited, many clients choose this service based on personal values, traditional use, and reported postpartum experiences. The information below reflects client reported feedback, available scientific literature, and historical/traditional context. My goal is to be as transparent as possible so families can make informed decisions that feel right for them.
TNL client report
Based on voluntary feedback collected from The Nurtured Leaf clients over 13 years.
These outcomes are self reported and individual experiences vary. Not all clients choose to provide feedback, and results cannot be guaranteed.
client reported experiences:
100% Recommend The Nurtured Leaf
98% Would choose placenta encapsulation again
88% Reported increased energy
88% Reported feeling more balanced
86% Reported increased milk supply
78% Reported quicker physical recovery
77% Reported improved mood
75% Reported reduced anxiety
73% Reported fewer feelings of sadness
Commonly reported postpartum areas of support
Energy & Vitality
Some hormones and nutrients present in the placenta have been studied for their role in postpartum physiology. Many clients report improved energy levels during early postpartum, though this experience varies and has not been conclusively demonstrated in clinical trials.
Lactation Support
The placenta contains hormones involved in lactation physiology, including prolactin. While controlled studies have not shown a consistent increase in milk supply, many clients report perceived improvements. Some lactation professionals urge caution, and responses may differ between individuals.
Physical Recovery
Research has identified bioactive components within placental tissue that are associated with wound healing and tissue repair in laboratory settings. How these findings translate to encapsulated placenta consumption in humans is still not fully understood. PubMed
Emotional Well Being
Historically, placenta consumption has been associated with postpartum emotional support. Modern research has not established clear benefits for mood regulation, though many clients report feeling more emotionally balanced during postpartum recovery.
Research & Historical Context
The following studies, reviews, and historical texts are often referenced in discussions of placentophagy. They provide context but do not constitute definitive clinical evidence for specific postpartum outcomes.
unlv Study
A controlled study from UNLV found no evidence of harm to newborns when mothers consumed their placenta, though the study did not evaluate long-term outcomes or specific benefits.— UNLV
Placentophagy Papers, Reviews & Studies: What They Really Mean
“Powdered placenta hominis was used for 57 cases of insufficient lactation. Within 4 days, 48 women had markedly increased milk production, with the remainder following suit over the next three days.”
-Bensky/Gamble. 1997. Materia Medica, Eastland Press, 549.
“Giving…placenta to a new mother following birth has become standard protocol among a growing number of midwives in the United States. By nourishing the blood and fluids, endocrine glands and organs, placenta will …reduce or stop postpartum bleeding, speed up recovery, boost energy and relieve postpartum blues.”
-Homes, Peter. 1993. Jade Remedies, Snow Lotus Press, 352.
“It has been shown that the feeding of desiccated placenta to women during the first eleven days after parturition causes an increase in the protein and lactose percent of the milk… all the mothers were receiving the same diet, and to the second set 0.6mg of desiccated placenta was fed three times a day throughout the period. Certain definite differences in the progress of growth of the two sets of infants are to be observed. It is evident that the recovery from the postnatal decline in weight is hastened by the consumption of milk produced under the influence of maternally ingested placenta.”
-McNeile, Lyle G. 1918. The American Journal Of Obstetrics And Diseases Of Women And Children, 77. W.A. Townsend & Adams, Original Press: University Of Michigan
an informed, individual choice
Placenta encapsulation is a personal decision. While many clients report positive postpartum experiences, scientific research remains limited and outcomes vary. Placenta encapsulation is not a substitute for medical care, mental health support, or lactation guidance.
I encourage all clients to discuss postpartum concerns including mood, recovery, and milk supply with their healthcare provider or lactation consultant alongside any complementary practices they choose.