Is Eating Placenta Safe or Beneficial? Doctor Shares Insights After Calvin Harris Sparks Debate
Calvin Harris and his wife, Vick Hope, recently celebrated the birth of their first child, a son named Micah.
But the joyful announcement quickly turned into a talking point across social media after the DJ posted a graphic image of the newborn’s placenta. The photo showed the organ chopped into pieces, placed in a dehydrator, and prepared for encapsulation — a process intended to turn it into supplement pills for his wife to take.
The reaction was split. Some followers congratulated the couple and praised their decision to embrace what they saw as a natural postpartum health practice. Others were visibly disturbed by the image, saying they wished they had not stumbled upon such an intimate and graphic post.
A Practice Gaining Popularity
While eating the placenta — known as placentophagy — might sound unusual or even unsettling to some, it has become increasingly common in recent years. The placenta develops during pregnancy, providing oxygen and nutrients to the baby before being delivered after birth.
Traditionally, it has been discarded, but some mothers choose to consume it instead, hoping for physical and emotional health benefits. A number of celebrities have publicly endorsed the practice.
Kim Kardashian and her sister Kourtney have spoken about turning their placentas into capsules, while January Jones and Chrissy Teigen have also shared their experiences. This visibility has helped normalize the conversation, shifting it from fringe wellness circles into mainstream awareness.
In the UK, companies like Placenta Practice offer several preparation methods. Fresh placenta smoothies are priced at £50, while the most basic encapsulation service, which dehydrates, grinds, and packages the placenta into capsules, starts at £200. Some services also offer tinctures, creams, and even art prints made from the placenta.
Calvin Harris and his wife, Vick Hope, recently celebrated the birth of their first child, a son named Micah.
The Claimed Benefits
Advocates believe placentophagy can help new mothers recover faster and feel stronger during the postpartum period.
"Some proponents argue that eating the placenta may help reduce the risk of postpartum depression or improve mood due to the presence of hormones like oxytocin or prolactin," explains Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor.
Reported benefits also include higher energy levels, increased breast milk supply, and better iron stores — all appealing outcomes for mothers who are often physically drained in the weeks after giving birth.
Dr Wylie says, "Some anecdotal reports and small studies have suggested that consuming placenta might help with postpartum recovery by providing nutrients such as iron and certain hormones, potentially reducing fatigue or improving milk production."
However, she cautions that these reports are far from conclusive. "Robust clinical trials to substantiate these claims are lacking, and the medical community generally does not endorse placentophagy as a reliable health practice."
Some followers congratulated the couple and praised their decision to embrace what they saw as a natural postpartum health practice.
What Science Says — And What It Doesn’t
The research around eating placenta is still sparse, and most of what exists is based on small-scale studies or anecdotal evidence. While animal studies have shown some potential benefits, the results have not been strongly replicated in humans.
One key issue is that hormone and nutrient levels in the placenta vary widely from person to person, making it difficult to standardize findings. Furthermore, the dehydration process used to make capsules may destroy or reduce many of the claimed beneficial compounds.
Kim Kardashian and her sister Kourtney have spoken about turning their placentas into capsules.
The Risks and Concerns
Placentophagy is not without potential downsides.
"The placenta can potentially harbour harmful bacteria or viruses, posing a risk of infection if it is not prepared properly," Dr Wylie warns. "The process of preparing placenta for consumption is not regulated, and contamination is a real concern."
She also points out another important issue: "There is the risk of ingesting environmental toxins or medications that have accumulated in the placenta during pregnancy."
These risks are serious enough that, in 2017, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning after a newborn developed a life-threatening infection believed to be linked to the mother’s consumption of contaminated placenta capsules.
Why Some Still Choose It
Despite the uncertainty, some mothers choose placentophagy for deeply personal or cultural reasons. In certain traditions, consuming or burying the placenta is tied to beliefs about life, health, and family connection. Others simply feel it offers them a sense of empowerment or control during a time of physical and emotional vulnerability.
"Ultimately, while some women may choose to eat their placenta for personal or cultural reasons, they should be fully informed about the lack of proven benefits and potential risks, and discuss it with their healthcare provider," says Dr Wylie.
The Conversation Continues
Calvin Harris’s post may have shocked some fans, but it also sparked broader discussion about postpartum wellness practices, cultural perceptions, and the often-taboo realities of childbirth. For now, the medical community remains cautious, advising that anyone considering placentophagy should weigh personal beliefs against scientific evidence — and remember that “natural” does not always mean “safe.”
