In many cultures around the world the Placenta and the cord is regarded as sacred. It has been the life source for your baby and formed the sacred connection between mother and baby. Grandmother Midwife Ibu Robin Lim calls it the ‘forgotten chakra’ a concept she explains throughly in her book
For those that do not want to consume placenta planting is a great alternative creating a ceremony is a wonderful way To honour the centre and a life it gave to your baby while he or she was growing in the womb some people combine this with a naming ceremony full stop it can be a private affair or a family celebration it’s a wonderful way for children siblings to be involved and to welcome the new baby into the family
Choosing the tree or plant
You may want to spend some time thinking about type of tree shrub or flower and it’s meaning and also the type the time that it will bloom in for example if you have a April or maybe you may want to choose a cherry tree or or another spring type flower for March babies daffodils certain shrubs and trees hold significant meanings I’ve included a few below
- Cherry blossom tree- fragility of life, beauty, joy and patience.
- Magnolia Tree- Dignigty, gentleness and beauty.
- Crab apple tree: abundance, fertility, love, health
- Alder Tree: Protection, Strength, determination, goddess tree
- Hawthorn: Love, fertility, protection, fairy treeRowan: wards off evil spirits, protection, courage and wisdom
Weeping Willow: Adapatbility, wisdom, resiliance, trust
How to plant the placenta
Ideally the placenta should be starting to decompose before it is planted. If it is in the freezer take it out and expose it to the air, you want to make sure you have it placed in a bowl or another container to avoid leaking
Choose the area you would like to plant the placenta in and suitable tree shrub or flower some people even plants the placenta in what will become a vegetable garden it makes great fertilizer
You may wish to choose to plant it’s in a deep pot this is especially useful if you think you may move house or for those that don’t have space to plant elsewhere or you can choose a spot in your garden You need to plant the placenta deep enough for animals will not be able to get to it this is especially important if you have dogs about half a metre deep
- Start with a small amount of soil,
- next the placenta
- more soil
- then your tree or shrub or seeds
- lastly the remaining soil
Looking after the tree
In the first week it will require watering 2 to 3 times a week after this time it will need watering once a week check the instructions on the tree you plant pay attention requirement the light.
Each year remove the top ⅓ layer soil and replace with new soil
Creating a meaningful ceremony
Your placenta planting ceremony will be unique to your family it can be as big or small as you wish but it is usually an intimate celebration away to meaning meaningfully celebrate and welcome your baby into your family into your life and to thank and honour the placenta for the job at successfully completed.
Some families choose to include poems readings songs and speeches if you have older children they can think of how they would like to contribute to the family. I have included a few of my favourite poems readings and songs below.
Once you have set a date for the tree planting ceremony, you can consider who you would like there some parents choose a celebrant to facilitate the ceremony but you can also do this yourself or even ask somebody you know.
You may want to think about decorating garden if there will be food either outside or inside drinks and outfits asking somebody else to take photographs or video is also great idea so you can capture this special ceremony to look back.
As your baby gets older you can watch the tree grow together.
Take your baby out the tree often and point out the changes in the tree.
Each year on the child’s birthday you can gather around it as a family to sing to the child, hang wishes on the tree,- becomes a very special place for that child that family.
I hope you found this useful information and I would love to hear your stories and photos if you wish to share where of your tree planting ceremonies and any other ideas that you have to honour the centre and the life and gave you baby.
Readings and Poems
‘Love you more’ by James Carter Do I love you to the moon and back? No I love you more than that I love you to the desert sands the mountains, stars the planets and I love you to the deepest sea and deeper still through history Before beyond I love you then I love you now I’ll love you when the sun’s gone out the moon’s gone home and all the stars are fully grown When I no longer say these words I’ll give them to the wind, the birds so that they will still be heard I love you From A Poem for Every Night of the Year
Welcome by Selina Denton
Welcome to sunlight Welcome to the soft rain on your face Welcome to the rush of the wind Welcome to the hush of the sea Welcome to much joy and a little sorrow Welcome to birdsong Welcome to music and laughter Welcome to the leaves on the tree Welcome to the miracle of words Welcome to the whispering of rivers Welcome to dreaming Welcome to everything you can see and name Welcome to your mother’s care Welcome to your father’s smile Welcome to the love of all here Welcome to the world
Wishes
Wishing you many smiles and happy times to come. May life’s adventures be exciting and sweet Filled with love from the friends that you’ll meet You’ll soon grow up for time does fly So cherish each moment as it goes by From crawling and walking, To toddling and talking There’s no knowing what you’ll do next There’s a threshold to cross and a wide open door And a wonderful world for you to explore Sleep with the moonbeams and play in the sun Let your life be a long one and filled with fun May today and tomorrow and all days hereafter Be days that are happy and filled with your laughter. Anon
Parent’s Wish We wish you a childhood full of fun and games And we wish you memories that have little pain. We wish you to learn by making mistakes. We wish you to love and never to hate. We wish you the strength to make up your own mind But we wish that your heart will be gentle and kind. We wish you to reach out when a friend needs a hand And we wish you to help him face life’s demand. We wish your life brings you some ups and some downs. But we wish you will smile much more than you’ll frown. We wish you will taste life’s ‘Sweet smell of success’. Only to find no replacement for true love and happiness. We wish life will teach you to stand on your own. But we wish you to know that you’re never alone. We wish you success in all that you do. And we hope that all your dreams will come true. But the one thing above and beyond all of this Is the love that is felt by your ‘Parents’ Wish’ Anon
I love hearing how families choose to honour the amazing organ that is the placenta. You can email me at hey@lindsaydalton.com or message me on social media @gentlemamadoula
If you’re in Northamptonshire or within 2 hours, I offer naming day and placenta planting ceremonies which i’d be delighted to talk to you about how I can facilitate your baby’s special day.
You can contact me to enquire on availability or with any questions hey@lindsaydalton.com
Rewilding Birth 