Why do we grow a placenta and What is it used for?
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Kaely Harrod 0:00
Hey welcome back to Kaely Daily. Today's question is, why do we grow a placenta and what is it used for? This is Kaely Daily, the bi weekly podcast about all things doula Tips and Tits where we answer one question about pregnancy, labor, postpartum, or lactation, in order to have your journey in this parenting world be just a little bit more informed and filled with consent. Hello, welcome back to Kaely Daily. I'm Kaely Harrod, your host, childbirth educator, and mother and owner and all the things over at Herat doula Services. Today, we are starting a short series on placentas. So it's actually two questions that we're answering today. Why do we grow placenta? And what is it used for? So placentas are awesome. They are the only temporary organ that we grow for each pregnancy. So if you have multiple pregnancies, you've have grown multiple placentas. They are a filter. And also they are how the baby is fed and oxygenated in the womb. So a placenta attaches to the uterine wall. So there is a maternal side or a side that is connected to the uterus. And then there is a fetal side or the side that is connected to the fetus or the baby. That side is where the umbilical cord comes out, it connects to the umbilicus of the baby. And that is where the exchange of nutrients and oxygen happens. At any given time, the placenta has 1/3 of the blood volume, and the baby has two thirds of that blood volume. So there's a constant exchange happening between the baby and the placenta. Now, if you've ever heard about things, crossing the placenta, if you've heard that phrase, that means something that the placenta does not filter out. So like there are medications, for instance, that cross the placenta, we have a good amount of research at this point that things like foods that you eat in pregnancy cross the placenta, some forms of immunity cross the placenta. So all of that is your body allowing that to come to the baby. It's also how your body gets nutrients in the form of like micronutrients and things that your body is feeding to the baby, but also the food that you take in, is being kind of filtered through to the baby from there. So the placenta has tons of amazing functions, it is keeping your little one alive. And then you deliver it after birth. And it's done. It's done being used. So it is a really cool organ, we are going to be chatting soon with my dear friend Jade, who is a placenta encapsulation specialist. And we're going to talk about some myths around placenta encapsulation. And so I'll dive a little bit more into like the hormones that are in the placenta and things like that. But this is just your kind of short and sweet. What is the placenta? Why do we have it? And so stay tuned for those other episodes coming up shortly. Do not forget that I have my brand new free guide the oxytocin six sources of oxytocin that you need to know to have a satisfying birth. So go ahead and use the link in the show notes or the description of the video if you're watching this video. For to grab that free guy. And then stay tuned to hear what Jade has to say all about Placenta Encapsulation, and what's good to know about that process. All right. In the meantime, I wish you well informed consent filled births and I will see you in the next episode. Edited and produced by Kaely. Her rod as I'm sure you can probably tell, and our amazing music is credited in the shownotes as well. So we look forward to seeing you on the next episode. And in the meantime, have a wonderful and consent filled birth.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Why do we grow a placenta and What is it used for? The Placenta is the only temporary organ and it’s grown during pregnancy (a new one for every pregnancy!). It is a wonderful organ and this episode goes into some more details about what it is and what it does.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
You grow a placenta to nourish your little one!
Each pregnancy has a new placenta (sometimes two if you have twins!)
The placenta feed and oxygenates your baby until they’re born
RESOURCES
FREE OXYTOCIN GUIDE:
6 Ways to Increase Oxytocin for Labor Progression
https://www.harroddoulaservices.com/free-guide-6-oxytocin-tips
CONNECT with Kaely on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/Harroddoula/
This podcast is hosted by the Birth Prep Blueprint - comprehensive Childbirth Education for expectant parents to feel calm, prepared and confident about labor and birth. Podcast listeners (that’s YOU!) get 10% off! Use the link below to get that great deal!
https://thebirthprepblueprint.com/offers/884d5a56-9089-4482-a944-6bb7c26c9b04
If you like this episode, don't forget to share it to your Instagram stories and tag me @harroddoula
Kaely Daily is produced by Kaely Harrod of Harrod Doula Services
It is sponsored by The Birth Prep Blueprint Childbirth Class
Music by Madirfan: Hidden Place on Pixabay
