Are placenta traditions changing? | The Conversation | Focus on Africa

To eat or not to eat? A small but growing number of women around the world are choosing to consume their own placenta after childbirth, often turning it into pills or smoothies to boost post-pregnancy health. But across Africa, deep-rooted cultural traditions mean the organ is usually buried, not consumed. So, why are some modern African mothers breaking with tradition? Focus on Africa host Nkechi Ogbonna spoke to maternal health advocate Ruth Sally Kodam and a placenta encapsulation specialist, Mary-Nissi Lemon. 00:00-00:30 Coming up 00:30-02:00 Meeting MaryNissi and Ruth Sally 02:00-03:45 What is placenta encapsulation and the benefits 03:45-05:20 What is the science behind placenta encapsulation? 05:20-08:20 Placenta traditions in Africa 08:20-10:00 Hearing from different mothers 10:00-11:30 What midwives recommend women do with their placentas 11:30-13:00 How to do placenta encapsulation safely 13:00-14:20 What do doctors think about eating placentas? 14:20-17:45 Will placenta encapsulation become more common? 17:45-20:00 Would MaryNissi or Ruth Sally eat their placentas? Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/ Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Fana Negash and Carolyne Jotham Senior Producer: Priya Sippy Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla