# Placenta as an organ deserves more attention
The placenta is one of the most remarkable organs the human body ever creates – and yet it is spoken about surprisingly little. It develops alongside the pregnancy, fulfils an irreplaceable function throughout all nine months, and after birth is typically quietly set aside before most new mothers have had a chance to realise what has just left their body. And yet this is an organ that deserves far greater attention – not only from a biological perspective.
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The placenta as an organ: what does it actually do?
The placenta begins to develop shortly after the egg implants in the uterine lining and, by the end of the first trimester, takes on a key role in supplying the foetus. It functions as a bridge between mother and child – transferring oxygen, nutrients, antibodies and hormones, while simultaneously removing waste products and carbon dioxide back into the maternal circulation. It is, in essence, a temporary yet extraordinarily efficient filter, regulator and communications centre all in one.
What is truly fascinating about the placenta is its immunological role. The placenta actively protects the foetus from the mother's immune system, which would otherwise be able to recognise it as a foreign body and attack it. It creates a kind of immunological truce – while at the same time producing hormones such as progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the hormone that forms the basis of pregnancy tests. According to information from the World Health Organization, proper placental function is essential for healthy foetal development, and complications associated with it are among the leading causes of perinatal mortality worldwide.
At birth, the placenta weighs an average of approximately 500 grams and has a characteristic shape resembling a disc or flat cake – which is, in fact, where its name comes from: the Latin word placenta literally means "flat cake." After the baby is born comes the so-called third stage of labour, during which the placenta is expelled. Midwives routinely examine it to ensure that no tissue remains in the uterus, which could cause bleeding or infection.
What happens to the placenta in maternity hospitals?
This is the moment that many women never even register – and yet it involves a decision that directly concerns their own body. In most Czech maternity hospitals, the placenta is considered biological waste following routine examination and is disposed of in accordance with the relevant hygiene regulations governing the handling of biological material. Women rarely ask about it, staff rarely offer to show it to them, and so one of the most significant organs of pregnancy quietly becomes part of hospital waste.
The situation is, however, slowly changing. With growing interest in natural birth, conscious parenting and alternative approaches to childbirth, an increasing number of women are beginning to ask what happens to the placenta and whether they have the right to keep it. The answer in the Czech Republic is unequivocal: yes, you have that right. The placenta is part of your body, and if you wish to take it home, you simply need to ask – ideally in advance, preferably as part of your birth plan or upon admission to the delivery suite. Most maternity hospitals will accommodate this request without difficulty, although the precise conditions (for example, the container in which the placenta will be stored) may vary.
It is worth knowing that cultures exist around the world with deeply rooted rituals surrounding the placenta. The Māori of New Zealand traditionally bury the placenta in the earth as a symbol of a person's connection to the land of their ancestors. In some African cultures, burying the placenta is a ceremonial act symbolising the welcoming of new life. In modern Western medicine, by contrast, a purely pragmatic approach dominated for many decades: the placenta had done its job, the birth was over, and away it went.
What you can do with the placenta
If you decide to keep your placenta, a surprisingly wide range of options opens up before you – from the deeply symbolic to the practical and scientifically studied.
One of the most widespread options in recent years has been placenta encapsulation – that is, processing it into capsules that the mother then takes as a dietary supplement. Proponents of this practice claim that the placenta is rich in iron, hormones and growth factors that can aid recovery after birth, alleviate symptoms of postnatal depression and support breast milk production. It is a practice with roots in traditional Chinese medicine, where the placenta – known as zǐhé chē – has been used for centuries.
It must be said, however, that the scientific evidence regarding the efficacy of placenta encapsulation is currently limited and the results of studies are mixed. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states in its recommendations that there is insufficient evidence to support the health benefits of consuming the placenta, and draws attention to potential risks associated with improper processing. Nevertheless, many women report a positive experience, and demand for certified placenta encapsulation specialists is growing in the Czech Republic too. If you are considering this path, it is essential to ensure that the processing is carried out by an experienced person holding a hygiene certificate and under strictly maintained conditions.
A second popular option is burying the placenta – quite literally. Many families choose the ritual of planting a tree or shrub above the place where the placenta is buried. This creates a living memorial to new life, which the child may one day visit. It is a gesture with profound symbolic meaning, and an increasing number of families regard it as a meaningful completion of a circle: new life emerged from the body, and part of this gift returns to the earth. As midwife Jana Kovářová once put it: "The placenta is not waste. It is an organ that nourished, protected and loved the child – and it deserves a dignified farewell."
Some parents have an artistic print made from the placenta – the placenta is pressed onto paper or canvas to create a natural print resembling a tree or flower. This print is then displayed at home as a keepsake of the pregnancy. It is a beautiful, gentle way of preserving a memory of one of the most important moments in a family's life.
There is also the option of donating the placenta for scientific purposes. The placenta is an extraordinarily valuable material for researchers – it is studied in the context of pre-eclampsia, autoimmune diseases, oncological research and the development of new medicines. If personal rituals do not appeal to you, but you would like the placenta to have meaning beyond birth, ask at your maternity hospital whether it works with research institutions.
How to prepare
If you are thinking about what to do with your placenta, the most important thing is to start talking about it early. Make sure to include the topic in your birth plan and discuss it with your midwife or gynaecologist. Most healthcare staff are accustomed to these questions today and will not be surprised.
If you are planning encapsulation, arrange in advance with a specialist who will carry out the processing – and make sure you know how to store the placenta correctly (usually in a clean, lidded container, kept cool) and how to hand it over as quickly as possible. Time matters: the sooner the placenta is processed, the better its components are preserved.
For burial, you can bring the placenta home in a sealable container or bag designed for biological material. Ideally, it should be buried to a depth of at least 30–50 centimetres to prevent animals from digging it up. You can then plant a tree, herb or shrub of your choice above the spot – popular options include an apple tree, lilac or lavender.
The whole debate surrounding the placenta is, in reality, far broader than simply the question of what to do with it physically. It is an invitation for women to take greater awareness and control over their own birth and postnatal period – to ask questions, seek information and make decisions based on their own values. The placenta as an organ deserves the same attention as any other part of the body – and what you do with it is entirely up to you.
Whether you choose encapsulation, burial, an artistic print or donation to science, one thing is certain: a conscious decision is always better than quiet disregard. Pregnancy and birth are among the most intense physical and emotional experiences in life – and the placenta is an integral part of them, one that deserves to be seen.
