Placenta Te whenua
Your placenta (whenua) nourishes your pēpi (baby) when you are pregnant. Find out about the placenta and options for its care, burial or disposal after your pēpi is born.
Your placenta after the birth
The placenta is an organ that grows with your pēpi and attaches to the lining of your uterus. It keeps your blood supply and your baby's blood supply separate, while acting as a link between you.
At the end of your labour, you give birth to your pēpi first, then the placenta is usually delivered within the next 30 minutes to an hour.
Umbilical cord
The umbilical cord joins your pēpi to the placenta. The cord needs to be clamped and cut after birth. It is best if the cutting is delayed for 2 to 3 minutes. This will mean your pēpi will continue to receive oxygen through the umbilical cord and will have higher iron levels for at least their first 6 months.
For premature births, delaying clamping the cord protects the pēpi from some of the problems that can be caused by being born early.
Cord clamping can be delayed at most births, including caesarean section. Make sure you talk about this with your midwife or doctor before the birth.
Placenta praevia
Sometimes your placenta connects to your uterus in a lower position than normal. This is called placenta previa or low lying placenta. There are 3 kinds of placenta praevia:
- marginal placenta praevia is where the placenta implants in the lower part of your uterus
- partial placenta praevia is where the placenta implants in the lower part of your uterus and partially covers the neck of your cervix
- complete placenta praevia is where the placenta implants over the neck of your uterus.
Women with placenta praevia may have some bleeding in the third trimester. If the placenta is too close to the neck of your uterus, or covering it at the end of pregnancy, you will need to give birth by caesarean section.
Placenta praevia is usually picked up during an ultrasound scan.
Types of placenta praevia
Care of the placenta
If you do not want to keep the placenta following the birth of your pēpi, you can leave it at the hospital to be disposed of.
In Māori culture, the whenua (placenta) is traditionally returned to the whenua (land) by burying it in a significant place.
If you had complications during pregnancy or childbirth, doctors may ask to test your placenta. This is so they can understand why the complications happened. They will track the placenta while it is being tested and can return it to you if you wish. If this happens, the placenta will have been treated with chemicals. You must handle it with gloves and bury it in a suitable place (where pets cannot dig it up). It will not look the same and will have had pieces removed for testing.
You can choose not to have your placenta treated with chemicals. In this case you will need to collect it as soon as the hospital contacts you to say it is available.
Māori care for whenua
The tikanga (custom) of returning the whenua (placenta) to Papatūānuku is important to Māori — it acknowledges the deep connection between the pēpi and the land. This act honours whakapapa, identity, and birthright, symbolising how Papatūānuku nurtures and sustains life, and reinforces unity and belonging within te ao Māori.
Kōrero with your midwife or doctor about your wishes.
You are welcome to use your own waka (vessel) for your whenua. You are encouraged to use hue (gourds), kete (woven baskets) or other natural products.
If you have no ipu whenua, bring biodegradable bags or similar for storage. You are likely to be provided with another option for taking your whenua home if needed. Remove your whenua from any plastic before you bury it.
Planting or burying your whenua may not be an option for you if you live in the city or live away from your tūrangawaewae or ancestral home.
If you are not sure what you want to do with your whenua, you could think about the following options.
- Consult your kuia, kaumātua or whānau
- Bury the whenua at your tūrangawaewae, place of whānau, hapū or iwi tribal origin.
- Bury the whenua at your home and plant a native tree, bush or plant.
- Bury the whenua near where you were born.
For reasons of tapu (sacredness), avoid storing your whenua in the fridge or freezer where food is kept. Korero more about this with your kaumātua if you are not sure.
As an alternative, bury your whenua (placenta) in a large pot with a shrub or plant on top. This is a temporary option until you are able to return to your own whenua (land). You could plant a rongoā plant on top like a kawakawa plant.
The hospital will dispose of the whenua if you choose not to take it yourself. It will usually be cremated and disposed of in landfill.
If your whenua needs to be tested, you will first be asked for your consent. This may be done if there was a complication during your pregnancy or birth that may need more investigation. Testing may give important information that can help to explain what has happened and improve the care you receive in future pregnancies.
Your whenua will be returned as soon as possible. It usually takes from 1 to 4 weeks depending on which tests are needed. Test results will be discussed with you at a follow up appointment.
Your whenua will be treated with care and respect at all times.
If removing your whenua from plastic for burial, you should wear gloves. It is recommend you do not bury any plastic into Papatuanuku (Earth Mother), as plastic does not biodegrade or break down.
Wash your hands well after burying your whenua, particularly if it has been returned to you after testing.
It is a good idea to talk about your plans for the whenua with your midwife or doctor before the birth.