Introduction: The term placentophagy means that the mother ingests the placenta after giving birth. In the animal kingdom, placentophagy has always been present in most mammals. In humans, according to official records, the phenomenon was detected in 1970 in North America. In the last ten years, the trend of ingesting the placenta has been increasing, especially in the developed world. Women choose to use the placenta for the supposed benefits. With the increasing trend of placental use, however, safety questions arise, as the placenta may contain some potentially pathogenic bacteria, heavy trace metals below the toxicity threshold, and accumulated medications - antibiotics and anesthetics. New research also confirms presence of microplastic in the placenta. Placentophagy is mostly associated with natural childbirth and home birth movement, but more and more women who give birth in hospitals are chosing it. These mothers may have difficulty getting their placenta from hospitals. In hospital environment, the placenta is classified as infectious waste and because of that, they do not allow it to be taken home. In addition, mothers often encounter disapproval from healthcare professionals regarding placentophagy. Purpose: The purpose of the thesis was to present the positive effects and potential dangers of placentophagy for mother and child. We wanted to gain insight and study the current scientific research in this field. The aim of the diploma work was to enable healthcare professionals and mothers who want to ingest the placenta, to deepen their knowledge about placentophagy and to form an expert opinion. Methods: In the diploma work we used a descriptive method with qualitative data analysis. In reviewing the literature, we used foreign and domestic literature found on search databases: CINAHL, PubMed, Medscape, DiKUL. Results: In modern times, there are many ways to use the placenta after childbirth. Increasingly common is placentophagy, where the consumption of encapsulated placenta predominates. The placenta is high in protein, cholesterol, iron, calcium and selenium. Potentially toxic elements are well below the level of harmfulness. Heat treatment of the placenta reduces the content of hormones and the possibility of bacterial contamination. Studies in the field of placentophagy have different findings. In some, most women who have ingested the placenta report improved mood, more energy, and increased lactation. In other studies, there is no evidence that ingestion of the placenta has a positive or negative effect on postpartum mood, increased energy, blood iron levels, and improved lactation. Discussion and conclusion: In the field of placentophagy and the use of the placenta after childbirth, very little research has been done, and the research to date has small samples. After reviewing previous research, we cannot prove with certainty the positive or negative health effects in the case of placental ingestion.
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