Does eating placenta offer postpartum health benefits?

Eating one's own placenta (placentophagy) is undergoing a small revival in Western cultures. Some view this as a way of celebrating the placenta's significance and/or promoting postpartum physical and mental health. Placenta encapsulation is becoming a popular method of preparing the placenta for consumption. This article considers the potential of placentophagy to benefit human and non-human mammals and also evaluates placental encapsulation. Several credible theories and mothers' and midwives' experiences support placentophagy, but evidence is limited, dated and inconclusive. Current and systematic research is needed. Midwives should be aware of the evidence in order to support mother's decisions.