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How To Make A Placenta Print

So you have heard about, seen and or wanted to make a placenta print from your child's birth as a lasting momento? Well then, I'll show you what we did and suggest that you find the other few references and give it your best shot.

We, Amy and I, were scheduled for induction. We arrived in Admissions and asked that the clerk put in our chart that we wanted to save the placenta and that she add that to our chart.

After the birth of Evelyn (which went very smoothly with all the phenominal folks we had with us, the OB birthed the placenta for us into a container for safe keeping. The Postpartum nurses were confounded as to why we (I) was asking for refrigeration and I was met with a "No! You can't put that in OUR fridge there's food in there." response. They did give me ice and I wound up being able to run home and put our placenta into our fridge.

I read that this will keep the placenta fresh for 3 or 4 days. One could freeze the placenta for up to 6 months without significant degradation.

Three days after being at home my friend, David and his trusty Nikon, came over and we/ I began the process.

First gather all your tools and supplies so that they are at hand. Mine were, an absorbent pad, some towels, rubber gloves, an ink roller, ink, watercolor paints, a large pot for clean water, a sponge and paper. I used some rice paper and some 140# Arches paper.

When you pull the placenta from the container find the umbilical cord. This is the baby side and the side you will want to print. There is a membrane surrounding this. Pull the membrane back and tuck it under to reveal the veins that are the "Tree of Life" you are looking for.

Lay out the placenta on your surface as you wish arranging the umbilical cord as fitting. I straight up printed the first couple using the blood which after some time will turn to brown tones.

Carefully place and lay your paper on the placenta gently rubbing the back of the paper to transfer the image. I found the rice paper to give the most immediate results but only because it is so thin and absorbent. You can see the results as you go. The Arches takes a little longer to transfer.

Next gently lift and pull the paper from the placenta from the end of the paper and watch to insure the cord and placenta do not stick or come up with the paper.

I used the pot of clean water to clean stray markings from the prints with a sponge as I went.

Some variations I tried were using the ink roller with black india ink and adding spot watercolor with the sponge.

You can work as slow or as fast as you wish. I was outside and losing my shade toward the end of the inking. The main goal is to have fun creating a print that will stay with you and yours for a lifetime.

*The placenta is considered "hazardous waste" so dispose of properly. We planted a tree.

Special thanks to Evelyn and Amy for without you there would be no Tree of Life. Thanks to Melanie Dabbs at http://www.birthwellpartners.org for all her support and help. Big thanks to David for the photographs and the tree, an Oak.

Below is some information you may find interesting:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_life_(biblical)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_Life

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_life_vision

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_life_(Kabbalah)

#childbirth #placenta print #birth art #oak tree #grace #doula #midwife #changes #family #fun