dont animals eat their placentas as a survival mechanism? I grew up understanding that horses did this so no predators would catch any blood smells. I observed my horse do it when I was an impressionable 12 yr old and I was suitably grossed out! But I recall being fascinated by her attention to detail at leaving no trail behind.
Robin ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jodie Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2002 8:24 AM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Placenta and post natal depression > I wonder if there is veterinary research that you can extrapolate to the human > condition. Eg, mammals who eat their placenta and incidence of abandoning > offspring or some such. Not sure where you could start looking for that one > though! > > Jodie > > On Monday 14 October 2002 17:11, Veronica Herbert wrote: > > Dear Carol, > > Yep you are right there is no current research into this topic at all!!!! > > Very frustrating... but I am still pursuing the topic as I find it very > > fascinating. I have decided to do a Qualitative study entitled > > "Placentophagy - Personal experiences of an 'unmentionable' practice" in > > which I will interview 5 women who have undertaken placentophagy. Now as > > for the lit review, I think I will have to make close links to other > > alternative practices such as Lotus births. Not sure if I can stretch to > > the 1500 word lit review but will give it a shot!!! It is my understanding > > that in the lit review you also critique other research and I can point out > > the limitations in the research. from Veronica > > (Midwifery Student, University of Ballarat). > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Carol Thorogood > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sent: Monday, October 14, 2002 3:31 PM > > Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Placenta and post natal depression > > > > > > Dear Veronica > > > > Congratulations on your venture. My e-mail isn't very positive I'm > > afraid. I don't want to discourage you but..... There are no valid research > > studies that show that eating the placenta has any beneficial effects. > > There are a few anecdotal studies which refer to its beneficial effects but > > in terms of evidence based midwifery there is nothing useful in the > > literature. So, if you have to do a literature review for your research > > proposal it will be awfully thin. However, there are a few women who eat > > it and swear by it but it'd be awfully hard to prove. So, my advice is to > > find something that others have done so you'll have lots to talk about in > > the proposal. Alternatively you could set up a randomised controlled trial > > to see if it has an effect in reducing the incidence of PND. But that would > > be awfully hard to do and you'd probably need a couple of thousand women > > who are prepared to eat their placentas and then match them with a couple > > of thousand who don't. It all sounds too hard to me! Anyway good luck and > > have fun. Carol > > > > > > Carol Thorogood > > > > Visiting Midwifery Scholar > > School of Nursing and Midwifery > > Flinders University, Adelaide, 5001 > > > > Telephone: 08 8201 3924 > > Fax: 08 8201 3410 > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
