What it is
Culturally and personally meaningful placenta practices exist worldwide. In the U.S., families sometimes take the placenta home for burial, planting, art (cord keepsakes, prints), or encapsulation into capsules taken postpartum. Lotus birth means not cutting the cord at all — the placenta stays attached to the baby, wrapped in salt and herbs, until the cord dries and separates naturally (usually 3–10 days). None of these are evidence-based medical interventions; they're personal choices. If you plan any of them, coordinate with your hospital or midwife in advance — some hospitals require specific paperwork or won't release a placenta after certain complications (chorioamnionitis, some infections).
Evidence review links
Each link opens the full review on the publisher's site in a new tab.
- ACOG Practice Advisory: PlacentophagyACOG
- Notes from the Field: Late-Onset Infant Group B Streptococcus Infection Associated with Maternal Consumption of Capsules Containing Dehydrated PlacentaCDC MMWR
- RCM Position Statement / RCOG Statement on Umbilical Cord Non-Severance ('Lotus Birth')Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
- ACOG Committee Opinion 814: Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping After BirthACOG
Possible benefits
Possible risks
- Placenta encapsulation: no proven benefits for mood or milk supply, and CDC has documented at least one case of infant sepsis from group B strep in encapsulated placenta — avoid if there was chorioamnionitis or GBS[CDC MMWR↗][ACOG↗]
- Lotus birth: theoretical infection risk as the placenta decomposes; not enough safety data to recommend routinely[Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists↗]
- Some hospitals won't release a placenta with certain infections or complications — check in advance[ACOG↗]
Alternatives
Current evidence
ACOG's clinical evaluation of placentophagy concludes there is no evidence of benefit and documented cases of harm. The Royal College of Midwives urges caution around lotus birth pending better safety data. Non-ingestive options (burial, planting, art) are low-risk personal choices.
Where the evidence is clear · where people may choose differently
For most topics, guidelines from ACOG, WHO, and other major bodies broadly agree on the core safety points (when to act in an emergency, informed-consent standards, monitoring baselines). Where reasonable people — and even guidelines — differ tends to be around thresholds (when to start or stop something), preferences (comfort, environment, support), and values (how you weigh small risks against benefits). Use the questions below to explore those pieces with your care team.
Educational only. Your care team can help you weigh what applies to your specific situation.
Related evidence topics
- Delivering the PlacentaThe placenta usually comes out on its own within 5–30 minutes after the baby, with a small gush of blood and a mild contraction. What signs mean it's ready, what your team is watching for, and what to expect physically.
- Delayed / Optimal Cord ClampingWaiting at least 30–60 seconds (often longer) after birth before clamping and cutting the umbilical cord.
- Active vs. Physiologic Management of the Third StageAfter the baby is born, the placenta still has to come out. 'Active management' uses a Pitocin injection plus controlled cord traction; 'physiologic' or 'expectant' management waits for your body to do it on its own. Active reduces heavy bleeding; physiologic keeps the space quieter.
- Cord Blood Banking and DonationAfter the cord is clamped and cut, the blood remaining in the cord and placenta can be collected and either publicly donated, privately stored for your family, or discarded. Public donation is the option major medical bodies recommend first.
- Informed Consent & RefusalYour right to information about, and to accept or decline, any proposed care.
Questions to ask your care team
- ?Does your hospital have a placenta-release policy? What paperwork is needed?
- ?Are there any complications (chorio, GBS, meconium, cesarean) that would change eligibility?
- ?If we want lotus birth, how would newborn checks, feeding, and diapering work?
- ?Do you have any concerns about my birth history that would change this decision?
Universal questions (works for any decision)
A short BRAIN-style set you can bring to any conversation about interventions, monitoring, or care decisions.
- ?Why are you recommending this now — is it urgent, routine, or optional?
- ?What happens if we wait an hour (or longer) before deciding?
- ?What signs would tell us this is working — or that we need to change course?
- ?What are the alternatives, including doing nothing?
- ?What would you recommend if this were your family?
- ?What would change your recommendation?
Sources & provenance
Tap a source to open the original guideline or review in a new tab.
- ACOG Practice Advisory: Placentophagy — ACOG
- Notes from the Field: Late-Onset Infant Group B Streptococcus Infection Associated with Maternal Consumption of Capsules Containing Dehydrated Placenta — CDC MMWR
- RCM Position Statement / RCOG Statement on Umbilical Cord Non-Severance ('Lotus Birth') — Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
- ACOG Committee Opinion 814: Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping After Birth — ACOG
Plain-language paraphrase. Re-verify before publish.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-03
Further reading — canonical references
Read the source material directly. Each link opens the publisher's own current guidance in a new tab — cross-check what we summarize against what they say.
Tier 1 · Clinical guidelines
- ACOG guidance on “What to Do With the Placenta (Encapsulation, Burial, Lotus Birth)”ACOG — U.S. clinical guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
- NICE guidance on “What to Do With the Placenta (Encapsulation, Burial, Lotus Birth)”NICE — UK clinical guidelines — often useful when ACOG and WHO differ.
Tier 2 · Systematic reviews
- Cochrane reviews on “What to Do With the Placenta (Encapsulation, Burial, Lotus Birth)”Cochrane Library — Systematic reviews — top of the evidence stack when available.
- PubMed studies on “What to Do With the Placenta (Encapsulation, Burial, Lotus Birth)”PubMed — Primary research — filter by review or meta-analysis for strongest evidence.
Educational only. Guidelines evolve — the linked publisher pages will reflect newer guidance than any static snapshot.
Version history — v1.0.0
v1.0.0 · 2026-07-03 · LlaMamma editors
Initial placenta options topic — neutral coverage of encapsulation, burial, lotus birth.
New guidance from ACOG, WHO, Evidence Based Birth, or other listed sources is recorded here and can be updated remotely without a new app release.