Episode 8: Placental Calcification - What is it and why do we care?

In  episode 8 of the Birth Like a Mammal podcast, we explore the topic of placental calcification. This is a topic posed by the community for discussion as there is often many questions and confusion regarding how concerned we should be about a calcified placenta at the end of gestation. Lindsay discusses the connection between mammalian biology and human birth processes, shedding light on how modern obstetrics often overlooks this natural alignment, almost always leading to preventable complications. 

The focus is on informing parents and birth workers about the causes, risks, and preventive measures related to placental calcification, emphasizing the importance of a healthy lifestyle and dietary choices during pregnancy. Lindsay thoroughly examines factors contributing to placental calcification, such as smoking, hypertension, and excessive calcium intake, and offers practical advice for expecting parents to mitigate these risks. Through expert insights and personal anecdotes, this episode gives listeners the power and confidence to navigate their pregnancy and birth experiences with knowledge.

Key Takeaways:

1. Placental Calcification: characterized by excessive calcium phosphate mineral deposits in the placenta, somewhat affecting its functionality and potentially leading to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.
2. Factors Contributing to Calcification: These include unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as smoking and poor diet, prenatal stress, excessive ultrasound exposure, and certain medications.
3. Preventive Measures: Emphasizes the critical role of diet, stress management, and reducing exposure to environmental toxins and unnecessary medical interventions, before and, during pregnancy.
4. Empowerment through Knowledge: Encourages parents to be well-informed about their pregnancy, questioning conventional obstetric practices that may not align with the natural process of mammalian birth.
5. Community Support: Highlights the importance of community and shared experiences in navigating the challenges and uncertainties of pregnancy and birth.

Quotes:

• "More than lifestyle choices, it's about understanding and respecting the natural process of birth as designed by our mammalian biology."
• "By addressing the root causes of complications like placental calcification, we can shift towards a more natural, less interventionist approach to childbirth."