The FT has the story, in What should we do with my wife’s frozen placenta?
With no clear plan, we decided to keep our options open. Which is why it is where it is now, lying in the freezer between the frozen peas and a half-eaten tub of ice cream. But time is ticking, and it will soon be past its best. What should I do? The most talked-about – and arguably most polarising – option is to eat it, which is known as placentophagy. . .
But while many mothers (and even a few adventurous partners) report feeling better after consuming it, scientific evidence remains limited and inconclusive. Most medical professionals remain cautious, but that hasn’t stopped the proliferation of placenta smoothies, capsules, pâté recipes – or even DIY skin creams made from dehydrated powder. . .
The placenta is loaded with regenerative stem cells that can be used for medical research and treatments, including immune conditions, wound healing and potential future therapies for your child. But again, this requires forward planning. Stem-cell collection needs to happen within 72 hours of birth, and if the placenta is stored in a home freezer, it is not considered viable for medical use.
Read the whole story here.
Those interested in scholarship on placenta might want to check out articles by Mathilde Cohen, including The Law of Placenta and The Law of Self-Eating — Milk, Placenta, and Feces Consumption.