Family Feud Family Feud QuestionsQuestions

Family Feud Family Feud QuestionsQuestions

What countries are associated What countries are associated

with eating their own placenta?with eating their own placenta?

What do different cultures What do different cultures

around the world do with around the world do with

placenta’s?placenta’s?

Placentas Around Placentas Around The World The World

Placentas Around Placentas Around The World The World

Maddie White Maddie White Maddie White Maddie White

What is a placenta?What is a placenta?What is a placenta?What is a placenta?

Nutrient uptake within the fetus, waste removal, and gas exchange with the mother’s blood supply, fight internal infection and produce hormones to support pregnancy.

Placentophagy is the act of mammals eating their child’s placenta after parturition.

Cultural PracticesCultural PracticesCultural PracticesCultural Practices

Many different cultures across the globe Many different cultures across the globe

do many different things with the do many different things with the

placenta. placenta.

Most of these cultures have existed for Most of these cultures have existed for

many years with western medicine many years with western medicine

minimally influencing their beliefs. minimally influencing their beliefs.

Ceremonial BurialsCeremonial BurialsCeremonial BurialsCeremonial Burials

Maori (NZ), Cambodia, Indonesia, Maori (NZ), Cambodia, Indonesia,

Philippines, India, Malaysia Philippines, India, Malaysia

These cultures all have different beliefs as These cultures all have different beliefs as

to why the placenta needs to be buried. to why the placenta needs to be buried.

Birth Control Birth Control Birth Control Birth Control

Transylvania and UkraineTransylvania and Ukraine

These two cultures view the placenta as These two cultures view the placenta as

playing a role in preventing and stopping playing a role in preventing and stopping

the possibility of future pregnancies the possibility of future pregnancies

Other Practices Other Practices Other Practices Other Practices

Papua New Guinea natives considers the Papua New Guinea natives considers the

placenta/umbilical chord to have talisman placenta/umbilical chord to have talisman

powers. powers.

Samoan’s will massage the blood of the Samoan’s will massage the blood of the

placenta on the baby before they will placenta on the baby before they will

eventually bury the placenta or throw it eventually bury the placenta or throw it

into the sea. into the sea.

Human PlacentophagyHuman PlacentophagyHuman PlacentophagyHuman Placentophagy

Historically there have been few recorded instances of cultures Historically there have been few recorded instances of cultures

consuming their own placenta. consuming their own placenta.

Vietnam Midwives and Obstetrical nurses consumed placenta in Vietnam Midwives and Obstetrical nurses consumed placenta in

the 60’s.the 60’s.

Ancient Chinese civilizations used a mixture including placental Ancient Chinese civilizations used a mixture including placental

tissue to cure ailments.tissue to cure ailments.

There is some speculation of different African cultures eating There is some speculation of different African cultures eating

placenta. placenta.

In Fact, there has been no evidence of human maternal placentophagy as a traditional cultural practice among a sample of 179 societies around the globe

Humans Humans PlacentophagyPlacentophagy

Humans Humans PlacentophagyPlacentophagy

There is a current trend in western There is a current trend in western

countries of eating one’s placenta. This countries of eating one’s placenta. This

trend has only started recently. trend has only started recently.

The benefits of eating one’s placenta are debatable and have been a source of a lot of research

Improved mood, increased energy, improved lactation.

Cultural Vs. BiologicalCultural Vs. Biological Cultural Vs. BiologicalCultural Vs. Biological

There are a lot of different cultural There are a lot of different cultural

practices revolving around Placentas and practices revolving around Placentas and

after birth.after birth.

When it comes to animals, there seems to When it comes to animals, there seems to

be different practices that are beneficial to be different practices that are beneficial to

the health of the species. the health of the species.

Ex: Rats Ex: Rats

Biological/Environmental Biological/Environmental View View

Biological/Environmental Biological/Environmental View View

Different animals ingest the placenta for Different animals ingest the placenta for

different reasonsdifferent reasons

Marsupials absorb their placenta Marsupials absorb their placenta

Rats, primates, and even insects eat their Rats, primates, and even insects eat their

own placenta own placenta

Humans are one of the few mammals Humans are one of the few mammals

who do *not* eat their own placenta who do *not* eat their own placenta

Why Placentophagy?Why Placentophagy?Why Placentophagy?Why Placentophagy?

Most animals during parturition become very Most animals during parturition become very

hungry hungry

Despite being herbivores or not. Despite being herbivores or not.

The mother is in need of nutrients The mother is in need of nutrients

The mother wants to keep the nest site cleanThe mother wants to keep the nest site clean

Rats: They ingest their placenta to Rats: They ingest their placenta to

decrease the mother’s pain threshold decrease the mother’s pain threshold

CitationsCitationsCitationsCitations

http://news.unlv.edu/article/steamed-dehydrated-or-raw-placentas-may-helphttp://news.unlv.edu/article/steamed-dehydrated-or-raw-placentas-may-help-moms-moms’-post-partum-health’-post-partum-health

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-27307476

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placentophagy

http://thestir.cafemom.com/pregnancy/166981/Placenta_Traditions_From_Around_the

http://www.health.qld.gov.au/multicultural/support_tools/14MCSR-pregnancy.pdf

http://ac.els-cdn.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/0149763480900123/1-s2.0-0149763480900123-main.pdf?_tid=07544a88-cfdf-11e4-ad22-00000aacb35e&acdnat=1426951933_36dc0e6e18919a40448c4a9296c0e29d

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1807646/pdf/bullnyacadmed00120-0063.pdf