The question of a placenta’s “worth” involves complex discussions of cost, ownership, and utility. The placenta is a temporary organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy, serving as the interface between the pregnant person and the developing fetus. Its primary function is to connect the two circulatory systems, enabling the exchange of necessary substances for fetal growth. While priceless in its biological function, its post-delivery value is debated in commercial, legal, and personal contexts.
The Placenta’s Essential Biological Role
The placenta is a sophisticated, multi-functional organ sustaining the entire pregnancy. It provides the fetus with life support by facilitating the transfer of oxygen and nutrients from the maternal bloodstream. Simultaneously, the placenta acts as a filtration system, removing carbon dioxide and other metabolic waste products for excretion.
This organ also functions as a temporary endocrine gland, producing hormones necessary to maintain the pregnancy. Early in gestation, it secretes human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which helps maintain the corpus luteum. As the pregnancy progresses, the placenta produces large amounts of progesterone, which prevents the shedding of the uterine lining and suppresses uterine contractions.
The placenta also secretes estrogen, which helps regulate the pregnancy and prepares the breasts for lactation. Another hormone, human placental lactogen (hPL), promotes the growth of the mammary glands and influences the pregnant person’s metabolism. Without these integrated functions of gas exchange, nutrient delivery, waste removal, and hormonal regulation, a full-term human pregnancy would not be possible.
Commercial Uses and Associated Costs
The monetary value of the placenta lies in the services and products derived from it, which can cost consumers a few hundred dollars. The most common consumer practice is placenta encapsulation, where the organ is steamed, dehydrated, ground into a powder, and placed into capsules for ingestion post-delivery. Services for this process typically range from $150 to $500, depending on the provider and the package selected.
These encapsulation services often include add-ons, such as umbilical cord keepsakes or a “tree of life” print, which contribute to the overall fee. The cost covers the provider’s time, equipment, safe handling, and delivery of the final product, not the purchase of the biological material. Some packages offer raw cubes for smoothies or tinctures, increasing the total expense for the new parent.
The placenta also holds value in the medical and cosmetic industries, though parents are rarely compensated. Placental extracts, particularly from animal sources like sheep and pigs, are used in high-end cosmetics for their purported anti-aging properties due to their rich content of proteins and growth factors. Human placental tissue, specifically the amniotic membrane, is sometimes used in wound healing and ophthalmology. This material is usually obtained through donation for research or medical product manufacturing. Parents pay for services to process their own placenta, while the medical industry procures tissue without compensating the original source.
Ownership and Legal Considerations
Post-delivery, the legal status of the placenta significantly impacts a parent’s ability to utilize it. In many jurisdictions, including the United States, the placenta is often classified as biohazardous medical waste under federal and state regulations. This classification means that hospitals are typically required to dispose of it through incineration, treating it like any other pathological waste generated during surgery.
Parents can often reclaim the placenta for personal use, such as encapsulation or burial, but this requires proactive planning and adherence to specific hospital protocols. Parents must usually inform the medical team of their intent in advance and sign waivers of responsibility. Many hospitals will release the placenta if the parents make a request, provided no complications necessitate sending the organ to pathology for examination.
Some states have specific laws that exempt the placenta from medical waste regulations, making it easier for parents to take ownership. Even without explicit state law, the ability to reclaim the placenta often depends on the individual hospital’s policy and the willingness of the parents to advocate for their choice. Hospitals may refuse to release the placenta if the parent has certain infectious diseases, such as Hepatitis B or HIV, to prevent health risks.
Physical Characteristics and Typical Measurements
The physical characteristics of the placenta are defined by its dimensions and mass at full term. The organ is discoid, or flat and round, in shape, resembling a thick pancake. A full-term human placenta typically weighs around 500 to 600 grams, which is slightly more than one pound.
This weight generally correlates to about one-sixth of the baby’s weight at birth. The diameter usually measures 20 centimeters, with a thickness of about 3 centimeters at its center. These measurements can vary based on the gestational age and the overall health of the pregnancy.