October 05, 2003

Placenta now seen as 'hazardous waste'

This weekend I am in Northern Ireland, presenting a workshop for midwives from the Belfast area. We also have two students from the first direct entry midwifery course participating, which is very encouraging.

At one stage, the conversation turned to the placenta and how it is dealt with after the birth. Most had never heard of lotus birth so I duly described the basics of placental care when the placenta is left attached to the baby until it separates of its own accord. This raised an interesting discussion, because apparently the “rules” in Northern Ireland (and perhaps the UK at large) state that the placenta must be disposed of soon after birth and that the midwife is accountable for its safe dispatch. The regulations that were quoted are European directives and are basically to do with the safe disposal of animal and human body parts. No doubt the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease and other noxious diseases have played a part in the development of these guidelines, and for very good reasons. Body parts (left from surgery, for example) may also be diseased and may present a health hazard if they were not incinerated.

What concerned me was the statement from one midwife that when she attended a home birth she was legally obliged to take the placenta away in a hazard bag and to have it incinerated at the hospital. She had to sign a form to indicate she had supervised its disposal.

I find it impossible to believe that the authorities would consider the placenta in the same way as a dead sheep or an gangrenous limb that had been amputated (but then again, I could believe anything of authorities, who frequently operate within very narrow boundaries designed to stifle independent thought). Never mind the parent’s wishes, the healthy state of the placenta and the complete lack of evidence that a placenta poses any health risk at all if appropriately handled.

Another wonderful example of bureaucracy gone mad. The European Union may be a good idea in many ways but it is increasingly dictating how people will lead their lives, often in the most surprising ways. Watch out for placentas - the EU considers them a biological hazard!

Posted by andrea at October 05, 2003 04:07 AM

Comments

Hi,
I really enjoy reading your diary. It's my best method of keeping current with info at present.
I'm an Aussie midwife, living in Canada, and supporting women birthing at home. Midwifery is not licensed in the province where I live.
Recently I had an enquiry about the VBAC research done in Scotland, that has made doctors very jittery about allowing women to attempt VBAC.
What do you think of that research info?
Thanks
Su

Posted by: Su Olmstead on October 17, 2003 10:18 AM

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Hi Andrea,

Just wanted to say hello and to thank you for the very interesting Active Birth seminar which you held in Belfast on the 4/5th October - myself and the other direct entry student really enjoyed the experience and hope to be able to put your advice into practice.

Best wishes
Charlene Bremner

Posted by: Charlene Bremner on October 18, 2003 06:44 AM

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