It seems like a bizarre practice in hindsight, but it's actually a growing trend.

The act of eating the placenta (or placentophagy) is becoming more popular thanks to celebrities like Kim Kardashian-West, Coleen Rooney, Hilary Duff and Kourtney Kardashian.

But what you may be surprised to know is that placenta consumption is an old tribal practice, and is only just undergoing a revival.

Especially in the US, more and more new mums are choosing to take their placenta home.

Why?

There are purported benefits to placenta ingestion. It can apparently increase iron levels, reduce the risk of postnatal depression, and aid milk production.

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(Stock image of placenta pill capsules. Photo: Pixabay)

How does it work?

The placenta is turned into powder form, blended with other key nutrients and then bottled up as capsules.

In the UK, multivitamin subscription brand WeAreFeel is offering its product PlacentaMax. It will encapsulate the placenta as part of its multivitamin subscription service.

After birth, the powdered placenta is blended with the recommended daily allowance of 18 other key nutrients, including vitamins C and D, Iron, Folic Acid, magnesium, Selenium, to ensure mums get everything their body needs post-birth.

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(Eating the placenta is apparently healthy for new mums. Photo: Pixabay)

WeAreFeel.com CEO Boris Hodekal, said: “Women go through a lot both physically and mentally when they give birth; and it doesn’t stop once baby arrives. A new mother will typically bleed for 3-6 weeks after birth, suffer sleep deprivation and also be producing milk if breastfeeding, so ensuring their bodies have everything they need to function with a newborn is crucial!

“Our Placenta+ capsules can help replenish, restore and aid recovery after birth. The added benefit of our blend of 18 other key micronutrients means new mums can worry a little less about their recovery and focus on their baby.”

How do I get started?

WeAreFeel.com is looking for mums due in December 2019 and January 2020 to trial Placenta+ for free.

Mums-to-be can register their interest here.

Once selected, mums will be sent a freezer pack which must be taken to the hospital. Once the midwife has bagged the placenta, new mums simply place it in the freezer pack and send it via WeAreFeel’s medical courier.