Definitions for placentophagy
pla·cen·tophagy

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. placentophagynoun

   The feeding on placenta

2. Etymology: From placenta and the suffix -phagy (to feed on)

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Placentophagy

   Placentophagy, also known as placentophagia, is the act of consuming part or all of the afterbirth following parturition in mammals. Parturition involves the delivery of the neonate, as well as the placenta and fetal membranes. The placenta is a critical organ that develops in the maternal uterus during pregnancy to support the fetus. It connects to the baby via the umbilical cord in order to allow nutrient transport, waste excretion and gas exchange between mother and baby. The morphological features of the placenta differ among species, but the function is universal. The behaviour is characteristic to the mother of the majority of placental mammals. Significant documentation has been provided on placentophagy in a range of animals. Anomalies generally include humans and aquatic species, as well as camels. However, the concept is becoming more popular among women in the Western World despite its controversial overtone.Theories as to why mammals engage in placentophagy are related to the many proposed benefits of placental consumption. These vary between animals but tend to be behavioural, medical or spiritual in nature.

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Placentophagy

   Placentophagy is the act of mammals eating the placenta of their young after childbirth. The placenta contains high levels of prostaglandin which stimulates involution of the uterus, in effect cleaning the uterus out. The placenta also contains small amounts of oxytocin which eases birth stress and causes the smooth muscles around the mammary cells to contract and eject milk. There is no scientific evidence, however, that eating placenta provides these hormonal effects. There is also a school of thought that holds that placentophagy naturally occurred to hide any trace of childbirth from predators in the wild. Most placental mammals participate in placentophagy, including herbivores; exceptions include Pinnipedia, Cetacea, the camel and the human. Placentophagy has been observed in Insectivora, Rodentia, Chiroptera, Lagomorpha, Carnivora, Perissodactyla, Artiodactyla, and Primates. Marsupials, which are an order of metatherian mammals, resorb rather than deliver the placenta, and therefore cannot engage in placentophagia; they do, however, vigorously lick birth fluids as they are excreted.

How to pronounce placentophagy?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

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   Mark

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   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

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   Karen

   Australian

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   Australian

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   Indian

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   Neerja

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   Zira

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   Oliver

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   Wendy

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How to say placentophagy in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of placentophagy in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of placentophagy in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

References

1. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Placentophagy
2. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placentophagy
3. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=placentophagy