Research on eating placenta health benefits has not shown clear benefits from consuming the placenta after birth. In particular, research on encapsulated placenta found little to no effect on postpartum mood and maternal bonding. [1]
That can be useful context if you are weighing claims you have heard during pregnancy or after delivery. This section looks at what research says about claimed benefits, not how to prepare placenta or a full safety guide. Some studies examined placenta that had been encapsulated, so their findings concern that approach. [1]
The evidence discussed here is narrower than a promise that every possible effect has been tested. For example, a study of encapsulated placenta cannot answer every question about every way of consuming it; the focus is on the outcomes researchers examined. [1] As you read, keep the distinction between a claim someone makes and a benefit demonstrated in research. The goal is to help you assess what has been studied without treating a popular claim as established fact.
Which claimed benefits have been studied?
The benefits studied most often—mood, bonding, energy, milk production, iron levels, and pain relief—have not shown clear gains. The findings offer a practical way to assess common claims: ask what outcome researchers measured, then compare that result with the benefit being promised.
Mood, bonding, and energy
For postpartum mood and maternal bonding, research found little to no effect among people who consumed encapsulated placenta. [1] That means a claim that placenta capsules will help you feel more emotionally connected or improve your mood is not supported by a meaningful change in the studied outcomes.
Two studies reported no significant changes in mood or energy. [2] So if a friend says the capsules helped her feel less tired, that personal experience does not match a significant improvement in the research findings.
Milk production
Studies on placenta consumption noted no benefit for milk production. [3] If you are considering it because you hope to make more milk, the findings do not support relying on placenta consumption for that purpose.
Iron levels and postpartum pain
A study found no effect on boosting iron levels among women who consumed placenta pills compared with women who did not. [4] This does not support the claim that the pills raise iron levels after birth.
Claims about reduced post-delivery pain have also been examined, but the study described in the research summary found no such benefit. [5] In practical terms, you should not count on placenta consumption to ease postpartum pain.
Taken together, these studied outcomes do not provide a strong basis for expecting a specific improvement in mood, bonding, energy, milk production, iron levels, or pain. If someone makes a broad promise, look for a finding tied to that exact outcome rather than assuming one claimed benefit applies to another.
How to interpret the findings
A careful reading separates popular claims from benefits actually demonstrated in research. A claim may sound plausible or appear in promotional material, but that alone does not show that consuming placenta produces the promised result. [6]
Claims are not the same as evidence
When you hear that placenta consumption may improve a particular part of postpartum well-being, ask whether research measured that outcome and found a meaningful effect. For example, a general promise of feeling better is different from a measured change in mood or energy; those studies reported no significant changes. [2]
This distinction helps you avoid treating an appealing explanation as a proven benefit. A claim can still be worth asking about, but it should not be presented as established simply because people repeat it or because it sounds reasonable. [6]
What “not demonstrated” does—and doesn’t—mean
A lack of demonstrated benefit is not the same as proof that every possible outcome has been fully studied. Research results describe the outcomes and approaches examined, so they cannot answer every question someone might have about placenta consumption. [1]
That limit cuts both ways: it is not a reason to assume there is a hidden benefit, and it is not a basis for claiming that every possible effect has been ruled out. If you are weighing a specific claim, keep it separate from outcomes the research actually measured rather than extending a finding beyond its scope. [2]
Keep the preparation in view
Some findings concern encapsulated placenta, so apply them to the approaches that were studied rather than assuming they settle questions about every possible preparation. [1] A result from research on capsules, for instance, should not automatically be treated as a direct finding about a different way of consuming placenta.
The practical takeaway is to match each claim to the evidence behind it: what form was examined, what outcome was measured, and what result was reported. This keeps you from turning a narrow research finding into a promise about a different method or a broader health benefit. [1]
How to weigh the claims against possible risks
An unproven benefit is not a reason to assume eating the placenta is harmless. If you are considering it, weigh the uncertainty about benefits alongside the possibility of harm, rather than treating a hoped-for effect as proof of safety. [6]
Put the claim in context
When you hear that eating the placenta could help with a specific concern, ask what you would need it to do for you. For example, if you are looking for help with recovery or day-to-day well-being, separate that goal from the claim that placenta consumption will meet it. A claim can sound reassuring and still leave you without a demonstrated benefit.
That distinction can help you avoid making a decision based on a promise alone. You can also ask what other options might address your concern, and what the tradeoffs are for each. Those are useful questions whether the claim comes from a friend, a social media post, or a product description.
Make room for safety questions
Eating the placenta can be harmful, so do not treat it as automatically safe just because it is described as natural or customary. [6] If you are drawn to the idea, pause before deciding and make a list of the questions you want answered. For instance, you might ask whether your personal health circumstances change the advice, or whether a concern you hope to address calls for a different kind of support.
Discuss those questions with a health professional who knows your situation. You do not need to settle every question on your own or rely on someone else’s experience as a guide to what is right for you. For a fuller discussion of potential harms and safety considerations, see the separate safety discussion.
A practical decision can hold two thoughts at once: a hoped-for benefit may matter to you, and that hope does not remove the need to consider possible harm. If you are uncertain, bring the specific claim you heard and your questions to your clinician before acting.
Common questions about placenta benefits
Does eating placenta boost milk supply?
Studies examining this claim did not find a milk-production benefit among women who consumed their placenta. If you are wondering whether it might help with breastfeeding, the findings do not support expecting more milk from eating placenta. [3]
Can it improve mood, energy, or bonding?
Research on placenta consumption has not shown significant changes in mood or energy, or a meaningful effect on maternal bonding. For example, studies of new mothers who consumed placenta did not find detectable improvements in those outcomes. [1][2]
Does eating placenta raise iron levels?
A study comparing women who took placenta pills with women who took comparison pills found no effect on iron levels. That means you should not count on placenta consumption to increase your iron. [4]
Can it reduce postpartum pain?
A study concluded that eating placenta offered no benefit for reducing pain after delivery. If pain is affecting your recovery, ask your care team what support is appropriate rather than relying on placenta consumption. [5]
The bottom line on placenta health benefits
The practical takeaway is to treat claimed placenta health benefits as unproven and talk with your clinician before deciding what to do. Research has not demonstrated clear benefits for the outcomes commonly promoted, and a clinician can help you weigh questions in the context of your own postpartum care. [5][1][6]
Promotional claims can sound convincing when you are tired, healing, or trying to support your recovery. Before acting on one, ask what specific benefit is being promised and whether research has demonstrated it; if you are unsure, bring the claim to a clinician rather than treating it as established guidance.
You might, for example, ask your obstetrician, midwife, or another clinician who knows your care: “What should I make of this claim?” and “What would you recommend for my situation?” Those questions leave room to discuss your priorities without assuming a product or practice will deliver a health benefit.
Keep the decision grounded in clear expectations: a claimed benefit is not the same as a demonstrated one. [6] If a claim would affect how you approach postpartum recovery, feeding, or mood, ask your clinician to help you sort out the decision and identify appropriate support for your needs.