PBi is pleased to offer the first of many first person testimonials. These testimonials will highlight the benefits, effects, and changes that using placenta therapy can make in postpartum recovery. We hope that these testimonials will help you see through the eyes of other women and understand what it’s like to “Avoid the Baby Blues”.
My Experience with Placenta Pills
Guest PBi Blog Post written by:
Jereka Hunt, Placenta Encapsulation Specialist®
Wombmart.com, Charlotte, NC
“I knew nothing about placenta encapsulation when I had my first son in May of 2006. I had a wonderful pregnancy with no complaints; not even morning sickness. I gave birth naturally, at a lovely birthing center outside of Tampa, FL, where I did most of my laboring in the water. It was a fantastic experience and much easier than the delivery of my second. However, having no knowledge of the power of placenta, I was unable to reap it’s benefits. On the opposite end, in May of 2010, I had my second son after a far more stressful pregnancy and delivery. Although both of my deliveries were empowering, my first son came easily while I had a hard time with my second. Birthing him took many tries, a lot of pushing and far more convincing (“Please come out little baby!”)
In 2006, my mother stayed with me for a month, helping with the baby and with my postpartum recovery. Physically, I was intact, but cognitively I was a complete mess and the fatigue was overwhelming. I honestly do not remember much about that first month, least of all, bonding with my son. It was like living in a fog. Eventually, I recovered, but at around six months postpartum I experienced some depression. It caught my husband and I by surprise because the change was subtle. Neither of us knew what was happening. I did not want to go anywhere, see anyone or even talk to anyone. My motivation was at an all-time low, my feelings were tender and I was very emotional. It was only in retrospect that I realized I was suffering from mild postpartum depression. I had this bouncing beautiful baby boy but, at that time, I honestly did not enjoy his company.
My postpartum periods with my boys were like day and night! After having my second son, I was a mess, physically. Due to major blood loss during the delivery, I could not walk without getting dizzy or fainting. I had a major tear; he was born 2.1 pounds bigger than my first. I was not able to encapsulate my placenta until five days postpartum, but I knew I had to do it. I felt the mood shift occur on day five. I felt the beginnings of depression and I refused to feel that way if there were something I could do about it. Interestingly enough, that number of days coincides exactly with the scientific research which shows that hormone levels drop to lower than pre-pregnancy level at around the fifth postpartum day. No wonder that 80% of women suffer from some form of mood instability following childbirth! I gathered every bit of strength I had and, with my husband’s assistance, I was able to make and start taking my wonderful pills by the sixth day.
The change was astounding! I felt immediate results from taking the pills.
While I was exhausted and hardly able to walk during the first five postpartum days, once I took my pills, I was up doing laundry, the dishes, cleaning my home, preparing meals and several other activities that would make my midwife cringe (as she gave me strict instructions to stay put). Though I had anxiety pre-birth (and even pre-conception), my anxiety was non-existent. Throughout the following weeks, when I missed a dose, my husband and I could tell. In fact, my husband is an even bigger advocate for placenta pills than I am. He even speaks to a potential client’s husband to help them fully understand what is in it for them, as the partner of a soon-to-be postpartum woman.
I felt that my mood was elevated due to the pills. I found myself to be perfectly calm and relaxed in situations that would typically upset me. I have totally enjoyed every single moment with my second child (who is now almost eight months old), and I wish I would have known about this back in 2006. At least I know now! Now, I can spread the word of the positive benefits of placenta encapsulation. And at least now, I can let other women know that they have options that do not have to include prescription pharmaceutical pills or just “hanging in there” until the feeling passes. My hemoglobin levels went from a 7.9 to a 11.9 in about a week and my midwife is confident that this is majorly due to the placenta pills! She has been recommending placenta encapsulation to her clients ever since.
Wombmart is glad to have joined with PlacentaBenefits.info in this national movement to educate women about the power of the placenta and their options for natural postpartum recovery. I would not dream of going without placenta therapy in my future births.”
Thank you Jereka for providing such wonderful PBi service and helping women in the greater Charlotte, North Carolina area!
Jereka Hunt is a former Environmental Professional with a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She recently left work in the government sector, ensuring environmental health and water quality, to be a full-time caregiver to her children and to pursue a career doing what she loves: Assisting Women With A Quick & Positive Postpartum Recovery. She is a wife and a mother of two boys.
If you’d like to share your first hand placenta encapsulation experiences with with the PBi Community, please email us at WebAdmin@placentabenefits.info. The more people we can reach, the more families we can help. Help us help create joyous postpartum periods to chase away those Baby Blues!
