Vick Hope, wife of music mogul Calvin Harris, has joined a growing list of celebrities who have turned their placenta into pills after giving birth. The couple welcomed a son named Micah, and Harris shared images on Instagram showing the placenta being prepared for encapsulation, sparking mixed reactions from followers.
The controversial practice, known as placentophagy, involves consuming the placenta after childbirth, often in pill form. Supporters claim it aids recovery, boosts energy and milk production, and reduces the risk of postpartum depression and insomnia. However, these benefits are not backed by strong scientific evidence.
A 2017 study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found no clinical benefit of placentophagy in humans and noted that placental nutrients and hormones are not retained in sufficient amounts after encapsulation to be helpful to the mother postpartum.
Despite the lack of evidence, placenta encapsulation services are available in the UK, with prices around £250. Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Alicia Silverstone have also endorsed the trend, which continues to gain popularity among new mothers seeking natural postnatal remedies.
