Week 17

Placentophagy….what’s the deal with that?!  I’m seeing more and more articles from Mom’s-to-Be touting the benefits of eating your own placenta.  And we’re not just talking about in secluded villages overseas…but right here in Ottawa!  There was an interview on CTV recently that highlighted a local business.  After birth, you simply place your placenta on ice and make a phone call.  She will pick it up, dehydrate and encapsulate your placenta, and will even make an artistic print of it for you to frame!!  All for the low price of $190.  (I’m sure I could buy a dehydrator and art paper for $50…and do it myself! lol)  So as “gross” as it sounds, the practice has been around for 1000’s of years - mostly in Eastern cultures but growing in popularity here.  Those in favour point out the fact that all other mammals consume their placenta.  Not to mention that humans have no issues eating other animal organs like livers and brains.  So what on earth are the benefits that would have people dehydrating and eating their own placentas?? Well, apparently it is full of many nutrients and hormones that stave off postpartum depression, assists with milk production, helps to shrink the uterus, and replenishes lost iron stores.  Not exactly sold on the idea…but definitely interesting!! http://www.ottawaplacenta.com/products
http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/can-eating-your-placenta-help-prevent-the-baby-blues-1.2084753

I also read an interesting article about fetal stem cells.  There has been a lot of talk/debate in recent years about using fetal stem cells in medicine.  Stem cells are harvested from non-viable fetuses and used to treat degenerative illnesses such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and arthritis, as well as injuries and disabilities from burns, spinal cord damage and traumatic brain injuries.  Doctor’s have known for a long time that there is a small amount of blood exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy. However, it was only discovered recently, that fetal stem cells are also able to cross the placental barrier, and remain in their mothers’ body for years! These fetal stem cells (which have the capability of transforming into ANY cell) have been identified at sites of damage and disease in the mother, attempting to repair tissues.  Crazy eh?  They suggest it’s a mechanism by which the fetus ensures maternal fitness in order to enhance its own chances of survival??  Unfortunately, having “foreign” cells in ones’ body can also lead to other problems- like autoimmune conditions. Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus, occur when the body’s immune system begins attacking the body as if it were a foreign invader. Doctors don’t completely understand why but know that these disorders occur more often in Women and during child bearing years.

On to baby news, I had my monthly checkup with Dr. Daisy. Everything is looking good so far.  We discussed the results of the IPS genetic screen.  Apparently my odds of chromosomal issues were 1/60 based on age alone.  But coupled with the ultrasound and 2 blood tests, my odds were reduced to 1/2800.  (Which according to the Doctor is “remarkable for 41 years old”!)  And surprisingly, I’ve only gained 6.5lbs which she says in right on target.  I feel like I’ve gained 20!   At my visit, I mentioned Anemia.  I had it with Bryce and have been feeling quite dizzy, pale, short of breath, fatigued, and have an elevated heart rate.  She said I started out with normal Iron stores according to my blood work, but pregnancy can quickly deplete those.  (By the 2^nd trimester, we’ve increased our blood supply by 50%.  That’s a lot of new red blood cells!!)  Anyway, she gave me a requisition for more blood work and we’ll see if I need to supplement with pills.  In the meantime, I’ve been trying to eat iron rich foods but short of eating a can of clams every day, it’s hard to really rack up those numbers.

What’s new with baby this week?  “My how your baby has grown! Your little one weighs about three and a half ounces and is about the size of your palm (or about five inches long). Body fat (baby's, that is) is beginning to form and will continue to accumulate through the end of your pregnancy (join the club, baby!), so that by the time you give birth it will make up about two-thirds of his or her weight. Baby’s heart is now regulated by the brain (no more random beats) to beat 140 to 150 times per minute — about twice as fast as yours! And since practice makes perfect, your baby is sharpening his or her sucking and swallowing skills in preparation for that first (and second…and third) suckle at your breast or bottle. In fact, most of the survival reflexes that your baby will have at birth are being perfected in-utero right now. Here's some proof that your baby is truly one of a kind (as if you needed any!). Within the next week or so, the pads on your baby's fingertips and toes will become adorned with completely individual swirls and creases (aka fingerprints). Your baby is almost certainly listening up by now. In fact, loud noises — the dog barking, the doorbell ringing — will actually startle your baby (and also get him or her used to such noises — for instance, fetuses who regularly hear a dog barking will become babies who sleep right through Fido's outbursts). Your baby's eyes (which have fortunately finished their migration to the front of his or her head) are making small side-to-side movements and can even perceive some light, though the eyelids are still sealed.”

Almost half way there…..