An Oregon woman taking dehydrated placenta pills unwittingly passed bacteria present in the placenta to her infant, according to the CDC's most recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
An infant born in fall 2016 was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and diagnosed with a group B Streptococcus agalactiae infection shortly after birth, according to the report. After being discharged and treated with a course of antibiotics, the infant was hospitalized again for strep infection.
After physicians discovered the child's mother was consuming her placenta in pill form, they tested the pills. The dehydrated placenta tested positive for strep. CDC researchers suspect the pills increased strep colonization in the mother, thereby facilitating the transmission of bacteria to the infant.
"The placenta encapsulation process does not per se eradicate infectious pathogens; thus, placenta capsule ingestion should be avoided," wrote the CDC researchers. "Clinicians should inquire about a history of placenta ingestion in cases of late-onset GBS infection and educate mothers interested in placenta encapsulation about the potential risks."
A number of companies offer to encapsulate a mother's placenta in pill form — some even make chocolate placenta truffles, according to STAT. Advocates of the practice cite its ability to mitigate post-partum symptoms. While the practice has gained popularity among several celebrities who have openly endorsed placenta consumption, it lacks scientific merit.
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