Placenta Encapsulation: Postpartum Hormonal Fluctuations
Postpartum hormonal fluctuations are caused by the release of the placenta and therefore the loss of the hormones produced by the placenta during pregnancy. There are many hormones that affect women during the postpartum period. Some of these hormones are prolactin which promotes lactation, oxytocin (also known as the love hormone) which decreases pain, stimulates uterine contractions during & after labor (after labor helping the uterus shrink back to normal), and increases bonding, cortisone which combats stress and unlocks stores of energy, hemoglobin which replenishes iron, reduces iron deficiency, and helps prevent anemia, estrogen which is an ovarian hormone and estradiol enhances "synthesis and reduced breakdown of serotonin", Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) which helps boost energy, regulates metabolism, and helps one recover from stressful events, interferon which stimulates the immune system to protect against infection, gammaglobulin which is an immune booster that helps protect against postpartum infections, and vasopressin which is a pituitary hormone that regulates electrolyte balance and blood pressure.
The research discussed in the article "Effects of placentophagy on serum prolactin and progesterone concentrations in rats after parturition or superovulation" showed that while concentrations of serum prolactin were elevated on day 1 in rats that were allowed to ingest the placenta after delivery, on Day 6 postpartum and Day 8 postpartum the levels of serum prolactin were low when compared to that of rats that were not allowed to eat the placenta after delivery. The study showed that the rat placenta contained "orally-active substance(s)" that affects levels of pituitary hormones and ovarian hormones in the blood. This leads to the belief that the human placenta contains similar "orally-active substance(s)" that similarly affect levels of pituitary hormones and ovarian hormones in the mother's blood.
According to the article "Baby blues - postpartum depression attributed to low levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone after placenta is gone", researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted a study that focused on Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH) which is a stress reducer, and is produced by the hypothalamus. CRH triggers the increase of cortisol in the blood stream. Cortisol raises blood sugar levels and helps maintain normal blood pressure which help one to preform well under stress. The study showed that during the third trimester of pregnancy the levels of CRH in a woman's bloodstream increase to three times the normal amount. It is thought that the significant increase of CRH is to help the woman through labor and childbirth. The study showed that after delivery the levels of CRH decrease drastically, and once the placenta is released it took some time for the hypothalamus to received the signal that it the CRH levels were low and it needed to start producing CRH again. The low levels of CRH compact the mental/emotional state after birth because it can lead to the baby blues and postpartum depression. The article "Hormonal Changes in the Postpartum and Implications for Postpartum Depression" by Hendrick, et al. confirms the research discussed above, regarding the affects of significant drops in CRH after the release of the placenta. The article also discusses the changes in progesterone and estrogen levels (Estradiol, which is correlated with seretonin levels), and the way that these changes affect the ability of mothers to cope with changes and life during the postpartum period.
By ingesting placenta capsules, women can prevent many difficulties experienced due to postpartum hormonal fluctuations, including the baby blues and postpartum depression, leading to a smoother transition form pregnancy to motherhood. After reading the research I believe that ingesting the placenta during the postpartum period can decrease the rapidity of and lessen the severity in the drop of hormones such as CRH, progesterone, and estrogen, therefore allowing for the mother to adjust to these changing levels in a more gentle way. This, in turn, can help to reduce mood swings, baby blues and depression for mothers during the postpartum period. It is important to note that existing research is flawed, as it does not factor in variables such as sleep deprivation during the postpartum period, and other variables which affect the mother and can also contribute to the development of postpartum depression. Another important consideration is the hormones released by breastfeeding, which can help decrease the likelihood of a mother developing postpartum depression. Due to these variables, it is important that further research be done to determine the interconnectivity and impact of all variables. Despite flaws in current research, it is my opinion that the ingestion of placenta during the postpartum period aids in the rebalancing of hormones postpartum, and is beneficial to women during the postpartum period.
The research discussed in the article "Effects of placentophagy on serum prolactin and progesterone concentrations in rats after parturition or superovulation" showed that while concentrations of serum prolactin were elevated on day 1 in rats that were allowed to ingest the placenta after delivery, on Day 6 postpartum and Day 8 postpartum the levels of serum prolactin were low when compared to that of rats that were not allowed to eat the placenta after delivery. The study showed that the rat placenta contained "orally-active substance(s)" that affects levels of pituitary hormones and ovarian hormones in the blood. This leads to the belief that the human placenta contains similar "orally-active substance(s)" that similarly affect levels of pituitary hormones and ovarian hormones in the mother's blood.
According to the article "Baby blues - postpartum depression attributed to low levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone after placenta is gone", researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted a study that focused on Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH) which is a stress reducer, and is produced by the hypothalamus. CRH triggers the increase of cortisol in the blood stream. Cortisol raises blood sugar levels and helps maintain normal blood pressure which help one to preform well under stress. The study showed that during the third trimester of pregnancy the levels of CRH in a woman's bloodstream increase to three times the normal amount. It is thought that the significant increase of CRH is to help the woman through labor and childbirth. The study showed that after delivery the levels of CRH decrease drastically, and once the placenta is released it took some time for the hypothalamus to received the signal that it the CRH levels were low and it needed to start producing CRH again. The low levels of CRH compact the mental/emotional state after birth because it can lead to the baby blues and postpartum depression. The article "Hormonal Changes in the Postpartum and Implications for Postpartum Depression" by Hendrick, et al. confirms the research discussed above, regarding the affects of significant drops in CRH after the release of the placenta. The article also discusses the changes in progesterone and estrogen levels (Estradiol, which is correlated with seretonin levels), and the way that these changes affect the ability of mothers to cope with changes and life during the postpartum period.
By ingesting placenta capsules, women can prevent many difficulties experienced due to postpartum hormonal fluctuations, including the baby blues and postpartum depression, leading to a smoother transition form pregnancy to motherhood. After reading the research I believe that ingesting the placenta during the postpartum period can decrease the rapidity of and lessen the severity in the drop of hormones such as CRH, progesterone, and estrogen, therefore allowing for the mother to adjust to these changing levels in a more gentle way. This, in turn, can help to reduce mood swings, baby blues and depression for mothers during the postpartum period. It is important to note that existing research is flawed, as it does not factor in variables such as sleep deprivation during the postpartum period, and other variables which affect the mother and can also contribute to the development of postpartum depression. Another important consideration is the hormones released by breastfeeding, which can help decrease the likelihood of a mother developing postpartum depression. Due to these variables, it is important that further research be done to determine the interconnectivity and impact of all variables. Despite flaws in current research, it is my opinion that the ingestion of placenta during the postpartum period aids in the rebalancing of hormones postpartum, and is beneficial to women during the postpartum period.