About This Project

Placentophagy is gaining in popularity as supporters of this behavior claim it has the ability to improve lactation, mood, recovery and engery level in childbirth. The placenta is often assumed to be sterile, but we now know that placentas have their own microbiome. This study aims to analyze the bacterial composition of processed placenta samples with attention on Group-B-Streptococci to understand potential bacterial infection associated with placentophagy.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Placentophagy is gaining popularity among postpartum women of industrialized societies. The possible risks and benefits of placenta consumption have been investigated in recent studies (Young et al. 2017a, Gryder et al. 2017a, Young et al. 2017b, Gryder et al. 2017b).

It is assumed that the fetus is inoculated with the maternal microbiome during pregnancy.

One single case published by the CDC describes a possible Group B streptococci infection oft the newborn after maternal placenta ingestion (Buser et al. 2017).

Does the vaginal colonization with Group B streptococci has an impact on bacterial composition of the placenta? More studies have to investigate the composition of microorganisms in the placenta and other niches of the human organism.

What is the significance of this project?

Contrary to traditional assumption, latest publications show that placental tissue is not sterile but shows various physiologic and microbial communities. A publication by Aagaard et al. discussed changes of the vaginal microbiom during pregnancy and found that the overall diversity and richness of microbial species is reduced compared to non-pregnant women. Group B Streptococci belong to the physiologic human vaginal flora and are detected in 25% of pregnant women.

What are the goals of the project?

What is the microbial composition of raw and processed placental tissue? Is placenta ingestion a risk for transmission of infections from the mother towards the newborn? We collect placentas from spontaneous and cesarean birth at the department of obstetrics at the Jena University hospital. Tissue samples from processed placenta are analyzed for microbial composition. With this data the occurrence of GBS colonization of placental tissue and the use of antibiotics in the peripartal phase will be discussed.