Some shots of recent placenta prints I've done!
I find this so interesting. The shape is there waiting to be explored. All you need is time and paint!
I have not done many, but if anyone is interested, please feel free to ask!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
How Cooking Placenta Became Normal - Part 2
How Cooking Placenta Became Normal – Part 2
Natasha Longridge, Doula, PES
I remember telling my friends and family what I had done, and of course, they thought I was insane. Staring at me with slack jawed awe at how I could cook and consume something that was once part of my body. I’m pretty sure cannibalism came up in a conversation or two. I didn’t mind, I felt great!
After spreading the word amongst family and friends, and co-workers . . . other women became more and more interested. Some people were a little more soft stomached, and wanted the benefits, but didn’t want to handle the organ. I volunteered. I felt every woman who wanted to experience the benefits should have the capacity to do so.
After a couple years of doing this for friends, I decided I really enjoyed this. I had a strong desire to learn more. The more placentas I saw, and encapsulated, the more I felt I needed to know. Each placenta has its own unique smell, colour, and story. I looked into courses for encapsulation training. The only “local” class I could find was through Placenta Benefits.info (PBi) - Avoid the baby blues with placenta capsules. It is a distance course offered out of Vegas! But what the hey! I found someone who can educate me on the science behind placenta encapsulation! It took me a couple months to finish the course, and I can now give people the many, many benefits of placenta encapsulation.
I love it! I love everything about it! Every time I am called upon to encapsulate another placenta, I feel giddy. I am so proud of the women who are taking their health and postpartum into their hands. I find being proactive is often the best cure, and I am blessed to be able to assist these women along their journey. Every placenta I hold, I admire. I thank Mother Nature for providing such a wondrous organ, which, not only, nurtures a baby for nine months, but also can provide nutrients to the mom thereafter. What an amazing thing this is! I take the placenta, go through each step, and feel grateful to be a part of it. I feel extremely honoured to be a part of each new family. Even if only for a short while!
The quirky thing about all of this, is, when people hear about it for the first time, they shudder. They look at me like I’m a nut, and they pause. After the pause, they start asking questions, “why”, “how come”, “does it work”. I give my little spiel on how it all goes down, about what it did for me, about how there is actual research on the how’s and whys. And of course, it works! Then, people pause, and most often, I get a “hey, I wish I had known about that 5 years ago”, or I’ll get the “wow, that is amazing!” It suddenly becomes “normal”. As with anything, information and truth, is key.
(c) Natasha Longridge, PES, Doula
Natasha Longridge, Doula, PES
I remember telling my friends and family what I had done, and of course, they thought I was insane. Staring at me with slack jawed awe at how I could cook and consume something that was once part of my body. I’m pretty sure cannibalism came up in a conversation or two. I didn’t mind, I felt great!
After spreading the word amongst family and friends, and co-workers . . . other women became more and more interested. Some people were a little more soft stomached, and wanted the benefits, but didn’t want to handle the organ. I volunteered. I felt every woman who wanted to experience the benefits should have the capacity to do so.
After a couple years of doing this for friends, I decided I really enjoyed this. I had a strong desire to learn more. The more placentas I saw, and encapsulated, the more I felt I needed to know. Each placenta has its own unique smell, colour, and story. I looked into courses for encapsulation training. The only “local” class I could find was through Placenta Benefits.info (PBi) - Avoid the baby blues with placenta capsules. It is a distance course offered out of Vegas! But what the hey! I found someone who can educate me on the science behind placenta encapsulation! It took me a couple months to finish the course, and I can now give people the many, many benefits of placenta encapsulation.
I love it! I love everything about it! Every time I am called upon to encapsulate another placenta, I feel giddy. I am so proud of the women who are taking their health and postpartum into their hands. I find being proactive is often the best cure, and I am blessed to be able to assist these women along their journey. Every placenta I hold, I admire. I thank Mother Nature for providing such a wondrous organ, which, not only, nurtures a baby for nine months, but also can provide nutrients to the mom thereafter. What an amazing thing this is! I take the placenta, go through each step, and feel grateful to be a part of it. I feel extremely honoured to be a part of each new family. Even if only for a short while!
The quirky thing about all of this, is, when people hear about it for the first time, they shudder. They look at me like I’m a nut, and they pause. After the pause, they start asking questions, “why”, “how come”, “does it work”. I give my little spiel on how it all goes down, about what it did for me, about how there is actual research on the how’s and whys. And of course, it works! Then, people pause, and most often, I get a “hey, I wish I had known about that 5 years ago”, or I’ll get the “wow, that is amazing!” It suddenly becomes “normal”. As with anything, information and truth, is key.
(c) Natasha Longridge, PES, Doula
How Cooking Placenta Became Normal
How Cooking Placenta Became Normal – Part 1
Natasha Longridge, Doula, PES
My journey into placenta encapsulation was fairly straight forward. I had been introduced to the idea by my midwives while pregnant with my fourth child. I had experienced horrible postpartum depression with my 2nd and 3rd children, and I was looking into “non-traditional” ways to prevent and treat myself with this upcoming birth.
As anyone who has ever suffered postpartum depression can understand, the depression didn’t stop once my baby was a toddler; it carried its way through all aspects and many years of my life. I needed to find something, anything, which had the potential to “cure” all symptoms. Or, in the very least, make life bearable.
After researching the idea, and convincing me and my husband, that this placenta could be my cure, we decided to give it a go! After all, what could it do to make things worse! I got the various recipes; how to make placenta Shepard’s pie, great placenta spaghetti sauce and raw placenta smoothies along with the encapsulation steps. Reading about cooking it up with onions and chilli powder didn’t strike me as something I could do (I haven’t eaten red meat in decades). The thought of a raw organ drink curdled my stomach. So, here we are left with the task of the encapsulation process. Not bad I thought, just clean it, steam it, bake it, crush it, and put it into capsules. All a fairly painless process, how hard could this be!
May 13th 2007, we not only left the birth centre with our new beautiful daughter, but the organ that had sustained her for 9 precious months. Packed snuggly in the car seat was our daughter, and snugly in my purse (in a bio hazard bag), was the placenta. Once we got home, I was still on the adrenaline rush of having my baby, and I poked the placenta into the back of my fridge. Still not 100 percent sure I needed to cut up this recently birthed organ.
My daughter was a couple days old, when I had this nagging feeling in the back of my mind,” I need to be prepared!”. So, I decided, I’m going to cook my placenta. First though, I had to admire the beauty of this thing. The veins, the membranes, the shape, all in a perfect tree form. I could see the branches, feeling how each one pulsated life into my daughter. I was enthralled at how something so soft and delicate feeling, could be so phenomenally strong and capable of sustaining a child. And, how it can also give me the strength to have a positive outlook on my postpartum!
My husband helped me clean and prepare the organ. We did it in the kitchen sink, as I watched the blood pour from the veins, I felt a little squeamish, and could I really do this? Could I really consume part of my body? Striping off the remaining membranes, placing it into the steamer, I actually started to feel good. I am taking control of my life, my pain, and my future.
Placenta in a pot on the stove. Not an everyday occurrence in most households. The house began to smell like liver and iron. Very potent, and we had to open the windows, breathing new air into the house. It was perfect, the smell of placenta invigorated me, the fresh air awoken me. I was getting so excited at the idea that this may just work!
After the steaming was finished, we let the placenta cool enough to touch. I suddenly had my doubts back, this steamed dark chunk of meat was supposed to help me? It didn’t look overly promising. Kind of like boiled liver, smelly and disgusting really. But I pressed on, if this has worked for thousands of women before me, I was going to see it through. I cut it up, stuck it on a cookie sheet, and put it in the oven.
Eight hours later I was the proud owner of placenta jerky. Gives new meaning to “mom’s home cooking”. I had a little hand blender that my mother gave me for Christmas, she thought it would be nice for shakes and fruit smoothies for the kids. I gave it a new role. It took me about 45 minutes to crush and grind up the dried placenta strips.
Now I am ready to make my happy pills! I sat down at the kitchen table, with a little encapsulation machine, 200 capsules, and my new placenta powder. It wasn’t too hard really, put the capsules in the machine, put the powder in the capsules, put the caps on, start again. My 4 year old son sat beside me, passing me the caps, telling me my vitamins smelled funny. My husband took pictures of us while we completed the project.
Finally, my miracle was complete! I ended up with almost 200 pills! I kept them in the fridge, and took a couple a few times a day for the first 6 weeks or so of my postpartum. I can honestly say I felt wonderful. I had plenty of milk, my mood was impressive, and I could handle nights with limited sleep. I still had the over tired days, that kept me in pyjamas doing nothing but boob my baby and neglect house work. Although, I believe that every mother, even on her best day, needs a day or too like that. After all, at that time, what better excuse to sit around than to cuddle and nurse a new born.
(c) Natasha Longridge PES, Doula 2011
Natasha Longridge, Doula, PES
My journey into placenta encapsulation was fairly straight forward. I had been introduced to the idea by my midwives while pregnant with my fourth child. I had experienced horrible postpartum depression with my 2nd and 3rd children, and I was looking into “non-traditional” ways to prevent and treat myself with this upcoming birth.
As anyone who has ever suffered postpartum depression can understand, the depression didn’t stop once my baby was a toddler; it carried its way through all aspects and many years of my life. I needed to find something, anything, which had the potential to “cure” all symptoms. Or, in the very least, make life bearable.
After researching the idea, and convincing me and my husband, that this placenta could be my cure, we decided to give it a go! After all, what could it do to make things worse! I got the various recipes; how to make placenta Shepard’s pie, great placenta spaghetti sauce and raw placenta smoothies along with the encapsulation steps. Reading about cooking it up with onions and chilli powder didn’t strike me as something I could do (I haven’t eaten red meat in decades). The thought of a raw organ drink curdled my stomach. So, here we are left with the task of the encapsulation process. Not bad I thought, just clean it, steam it, bake it, crush it, and put it into capsules. All a fairly painless process, how hard could this be!
May 13th 2007, we not only left the birth centre with our new beautiful daughter, but the organ that had sustained her for 9 precious months. Packed snuggly in the car seat was our daughter, and snugly in my purse (in a bio hazard bag), was the placenta. Once we got home, I was still on the adrenaline rush of having my baby, and I poked the placenta into the back of my fridge. Still not 100 percent sure I needed to cut up this recently birthed organ.
My daughter was a couple days old, when I had this nagging feeling in the back of my mind,” I need to be prepared!”. So, I decided, I’m going to cook my placenta. First though, I had to admire the beauty of this thing. The veins, the membranes, the shape, all in a perfect tree form. I could see the branches, feeling how each one pulsated life into my daughter. I was enthralled at how something so soft and delicate feeling, could be so phenomenally strong and capable of sustaining a child. And, how it can also give me the strength to have a positive outlook on my postpartum!
My husband helped me clean and prepare the organ. We did it in the kitchen sink, as I watched the blood pour from the veins, I felt a little squeamish, and could I really do this? Could I really consume part of my body? Striping off the remaining membranes, placing it into the steamer, I actually started to feel good. I am taking control of my life, my pain, and my future.
Placenta in a pot on the stove. Not an everyday occurrence in most households. The house began to smell like liver and iron. Very potent, and we had to open the windows, breathing new air into the house. It was perfect, the smell of placenta invigorated me, the fresh air awoken me. I was getting so excited at the idea that this may just work!
After the steaming was finished, we let the placenta cool enough to touch. I suddenly had my doubts back, this steamed dark chunk of meat was supposed to help me? It didn’t look overly promising. Kind of like boiled liver, smelly and disgusting really. But I pressed on, if this has worked for thousands of women before me, I was going to see it through. I cut it up, stuck it on a cookie sheet, and put it in the oven.
Eight hours later I was the proud owner of placenta jerky. Gives new meaning to “mom’s home cooking”. I had a little hand blender that my mother gave me for Christmas, she thought it would be nice for shakes and fruit smoothies for the kids. I gave it a new role. It took me about 45 minutes to crush and grind up the dried placenta strips.
Now I am ready to make my happy pills! I sat down at the kitchen table, with a little encapsulation machine, 200 capsules, and my new placenta powder. It wasn’t too hard really, put the capsules in the machine, put the powder in the capsules, put the caps on, start again. My 4 year old son sat beside me, passing me the caps, telling me my vitamins smelled funny. My husband took pictures of us while we completed the project.
Finally, my miracle was complete! I ended up with almost 200 pills! I kept them in the fridge, and took a couple a few times a day for the first 6 weeks or so of my postpartum. I can honestly say I felt wonderful. I had plenty of milk, my mood was impressive, and I could handle nights with limited sleep. I still had the over tired days, that kept me in pyjamas doing nothing but boob my baby and neglect house work. Although, I believe that every mother, even on her best day, needs a day or too like that. After all, at that time, what better excuse to sit around than to cuddle and nurse a new born.
(c) Natasha Longridge PES, Doula 2011
Monday, October 25, 2010
Catch up
Since it's been well over a year since I last blogged, I really have no idea where to start. Obviously, I shouldn't blog. I own a journal, and seldom write in that as well, I mainly keep it for when I'm feeling a little homesick, or want to remember what my kids are doing. A blog, however, which is meant for who ever wants to read it, to read it, I have no idea what to say.
It's October, and it snowed today. I know every year it's coming, we live in Canada, but every year I am baffled by the first snow. I go to bed, and dread the cold, have night mares about the impending white doom, and wake up to find it enveloping my yard. Whatever beautiful semblance of fall is now gone, buried under the white, pristine blanket of cold. It looks beautiful, but dear God, why so soon!! I will admit, the yard was looking a little dead, so, I guess it needed it's new winter wardrobe.
Halloween is coming soon! So exciting!! I have a Cleopatra, a dead ninja dude, a Little Mermaid, and a Snow White. I think this is actually my favorite holiday. It's the only time of the year that you can eat candy til you go cross eyed, dress like an imaginary friend, and knock on strangers doors expecting more candy, and not get locked up! It's a crazy persons dream! Just jokes, just jokes! I love answering the door for all the kids, it's wonderful!
So, other then that, I really can't think of anything else to say. I'm gonna try and get back into my blogging.
Nite .
It's October, and it snowed today. I know every year it's coming, we live in Canada, but every year I am baffled by the first snow. I go to bed, and dread the cold, have night mares about the impending white doom, and wake up to find it enveloping my yard. Whatever beautiful semblance of fall is now gone, buried under the white, pristine blanket of cold. It looks beautiful, but dear God, why so soon!! I will admit, the yard was looking a little dead, so, I guess it needed it's new winter wardrobe.
Halloween is coming soon! So exciting!! I have a Cleopatra, a dead ninja dude, a Little Mermaid, and a Snow White. I think this is actually my favorite holiday. It's the only time of the year that you can eat candy til you go cross eyed, dress like an imaginary friend, and knock on strangers doors expecting more candy, and not get locked up! It's a crazy persons dream! Just jokes, just jokes! I love answering the door for all the kids, it's wonderful!
So, other then that, I really can't think of anything else to say. I'm gonna try and get back into my blogging.
Nite .
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Just Catching Up
So the month of April is almost done, and May is only a few short days away.
The sun has disappeared again, even if spring has come to stay.
The birds are chirping in the trees, and pollen's blowing through the breeze.
The fore cast says that it just might snow, which only proves to me,
We are here in Canada, the most exciting place to be!
K, so maybe I'm feeling a little silly. I just find it very funny how yesterday was +20, and today we are supose to get snow. Oh well. The kids are enjoying the weather, which is great. They are getting back into their active little selves. my youngest is able to play along this year. So very cute watching her older siblings push past her on the way to the slide . . . there have been a few minor incidents. Ironically, it's the older brother that ends up getting hurt the worst in amongst his crew of sisters. My husband is working on the deck. We now have stairs from our house to it! No more leaving the house, walking around the fence, then to the deck. Although, my daily exercise may plumet since I no longer have to make the extra 30 foot trek, but BBQ-ing will be much easier!
On another personal note, this is something a fellow Facebooker posted this morning, and I feel obligated to share. It is regarding some of the risks to the new Gardasil vaccine. This is something they are offering to grade 5 students here in our area. And truthfully, I think more study needs to be done before a generation of young girls are damaged. I know many people have already gone and recieved this vaccine, however, if you have not started yet, please do more research. I had a conversation regarding this vaccine with a friend the other day, and i mentioned that there have been about 30 deaths, the response was "ya but out of how many? that's not alot." Which is true, considering the many girls that have recieved this vaccine, that isn't a big number. However, it's too many. That is 30 young women that have needlessly died. If that was my daughter . . . .
Anyways, here's a video link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msoyRYSoSJk
There is much, much more info out there! Look it up! You'd research the car you'd like to get or the computer you'd like to upgrade to, why not research the vaccines our children are getting.
Anyways. As always, I hope you all enjoy your wonderful day. And Happy Earth Day!!!
The sun has disappeared again, even if spring has come to stay.
The birds are chirping in the trees, and pollen's blowing through the breeze.
The fore cast says that it just might snow, which only proves to me,
We are here in Canada, the most exciting place to be!
K, so maybe I'm feeling a little silly. I just find it very funny how yesterday was +20, and today we are supose to get snow. Oh well. The kids are enjoying the weather, which is great. They are getting back into their active little selves. my youngest is able to play along this year. So very cute watching her older siblings push past her on the way to the slide . . . there have been a few minor incidents. Ironically, it's the older brother that ends up getting hurt the worst in amongst his crew of sisters. My husband is working on the deck. We now have stairs from our house to it! No more leaving the house, walking around the fence, then to the deck. Although, my daily exercise may plumet since I no longer have to make the extra 30 foot trek, but BBQ-ing will be much easier!
On another personal note, this is something a fellow Facebooker posted this morning, and I feel obligated to share. It is regarding some of the risks to the new Gardasil vaccine. This is something they are offering to grade 5 students here in our area. And truthfully, I think more study needs to be done before a generation of young girls are damaged. I know many people have already gone and recieved this vaccine, however, if you have not started yet, please do more research. I had a conversation regarding this vaccine with a friend the other day, and i mentioned that there have been about 30 deaths, the response was "ya but out of how many? that's not alot." Which is true, considering the many girls that have recieved this vaccine, that isn't a big number. However, it's too many. That is 30 young women that have needlessly died. If that was my daughter . . . .
Anyways, here's a video link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msoyRYSoSJk
There is much, much more info out there! Look it up! You'd research the car you'd like to get or the computer you'd like to upgrade to, why not research the vaccines our children are getting.
Anyways. As always, I hope you all enjoy your wonderful day. And Happy Earth Day!!!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Dr. Suess For BreastFeeding Mommies (families)
(author unknown)
Would you nurse her in the park?
Would you nurse him in the dark?
Would you nurse him with a Boppy?
And when your boobs are feeling floppy?
I would nurse him in the park,
I would nurse her in the dark.
I'd nurse with or without a Boppy.
Floppy boobs will never stop me.
Can you nurse with your seat belt on?
Can you nurse from dusk till dawn?
Though she may pinch me, bite me, pull,
I will nurse her `till she's full!
Can you nurse and make some soup?
Can you nurse and feed the group?
It makes her healthy strong and smart,
Mommy's milk is the best start!
Would you nurse him at the game?
Would you nurse her in the rain?
In front of those who dare complain?
I would nurse him at the game.
I would nurse her in the rain.
As for those who protest lactation,
I have the perfect explanation.
Mommy's milk is tailor made
It's the perfect food, you need no aid.
Some may scoff and some may wriggle,
Avert their eyes or even giggle.
To those who can be cruel and rude,
Remind them breast's the perfect food!
I would never scoff or giggle,
Roll my eyes or even wiggle!
I would not be so crass or crude,
I KNOW that this milk's the perfect food!
We make the amount we need
The perfect temp for every feed.
There's no compare to milk from breast-
The perfect food, above the rest.
Those nursing smiles are oh so sweet,
Mommy's milk is such a treat.
Human milk just can't be beat.
I will nurse, in any case,
On the street or in your face.
I will not let my baby cry,
I'll meet her needs, I'll always try.
It's not about what's good for you,
It's best for babies, through and through.
I will nurse her in my home,
I will nurse her when I roam.
Leave me be lads and ma'am.
I will nurse her, Mom I am.
Would you nurse her in the park?
Would you nurse him in the dark?
Would you nurse him with a Boppy?
And when your boobs are feeling floppy?
I would nurse him in the park,
I would nurse her in the dark.
I'd nurse with or without a Boppy.
Floppy boobs will never stop me.
Can you nurse with your seat belt on?
Can you nurse from dusk till dawn?
Though she may pinch me, bite me, pull,
I will nurse her `till she's full!
Can you nurse and make some soup?
Can you nurse and feed the group?
It makes her healthy strong and smart,
Mommy's milk is the best start!
Would you nurse him at the game?
Would you nurse her in the rain?
In front of those who dare complain?
I would nurse him at the game.
I would nurse her in the rain.
As for those who protest lactation,
I have the perfect explanation.
Mommy's milk is tailor made
It's the perfect food, you need no aid.
Some may scoff and some may wriggle,
Avert their eyes or even giggle.
To those who can be cruel and rude,
Remind them breast's the perfect food!
I would never scoff or giggle,
Roll my eyes or even wiggle!
I would not be so crass or crude,
I KNOW that this milk's the perfect food!
We make the amount we need
The perfect temp for every feed.
There's no compare to milk from breast-
The perfect food, above the rest.
Those nursing smiles are oh so sweet,
Mommy's milk is such a treat.
Human milk just can't be beat.
I will nurse, in any case,
On the street or in your face.
I will not let my baby cry,
I'll meet her needs, I'll always try.
It's not about what's good for you,
It's best for babies, through and through.
I will nurse her in my home,
I will nurse her when I roam.
Leave me be lads and ma'am.
I will nurse her, Mom I am.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Messy house??
So, I am openly stating that I am no Martha Stewart. I cannot make cookies that look like cookies, I do have laundry put neatly into drawers (neatly anywhere, for that matter), and truthfully, I do not care. I vacuum daily, I make sure dishes are washed, kids are clean, and dinner is made every evening. I dance to stupid disco with my toddlers, I trip over blocks on my way to the bathroom, and we giggle over spilt milk. So based on the article I am about to link here, I have to wonder, am I a good mother? http://www.slate.com/id/2212318/
Please don't get me wrong, I am not disgracefully dirty. My home is well loved. Anyone who knows me can vouch that kids live here. ALL over here! I have dogs, cats, salamanders . . . what ever else the children drag through . . . My home is interesting! I hope, after reading that article, in 20 years if my kids did not go onto medical school, they won't blame me because of my messyness! Thanks!
Please don't get me wrong, I am not disgracefully dirty. My home is well loved. Anyone who knows me can vouch that kids live here. ALL over here! I have dogs, cats, salamanders . . . what ever else the children drag through . . . My home is interesting! I hope, after reading that article, in 20 years if my kids did not go onto medical school, they won't blame me because of my messyness! Thanks!
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