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1/10/2016 5 Comments

I Didn't Eat My Placenta

There's something special about kids and their dogs. My kids grew up with a dog that we all loved very much. His name was Taz. My daughter and Taz were inseparable, best friends.
Picture
They played dress-up
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They colored together
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They took naps together
As years went on, Taz grew old and no longer had the energy to play with my daughter. Instead, he kept a watchful eye on her from the front porch. A mass developed on his chest that we later learned was bone cancer. With arthritic hips and advanced age, the best we could do was keep him comfortable.

Taz eventually lost his ability to walk. The pain medications became ineffective, even at the highest dosage. One night Taz began screaming and howling in agony. We took him to the vet's office where the vet confirmed that the cancer had spread to his spine. Taz was suffering.

Euthanizing the family dog was difficult even though we knew we were ending his pain and suffering. It was especially difficult because my husband and I had to tell our young children that Taz was going to die. They were comforted by having the opportunity to say good-bye. They hugged him and gave him treats. Then they said good-bye one last time.

Birth and death seem like direct opposites; however, they share some similarities. Birth and death are transitions. When I had my first child, I transitioned into motherhood. My old sense of self died. Moments after my daughter was born, I delivered the placenta. I inspected it with my midwife. The placenta was, in a sense, dying at that moment of my daughter’s birth. Its job of sustaining my baby’s life while in my womb was complete. I felt a sense of gratitude as I looked at it. I didn't want to discard such a precious organ as medical waste. It deserved something better, but I didn't know what. I stored the placenta in my the deep freezer for safe keeping until I could figure out how to honor it.

When Taz died, we had a short burial ceremony in our backyard. I think by including our children in the burial ceremony, they were able to understand death better. My daughter wrote Taz a letter and placed it in the grave with him. Then I went to the freezer and pulled out my daughter's placenta that had sustained her life while I carried her in my womb. I placed her placenta in the grave next to Taz  and whispered, "Job well done."
5 Comments
Julia
1/11/2016 04:41:53 pm

I truly wish I knew with 4 births what I have learned..... Life is so much more full now!

Reply
Jai Hawkins link
1/12/2016 12:55:48 am

Thank you for this touching story. Great job and welcome to the blogosphere lol

Reply
Lindsey
1/14/2016 09:09:59 pm

I love this. What a special way to honor your dog and your baby.

Reply
Nikcole Landon link
1/14/2016 09:13:48 pm

The pictures and story you shared are so sweet. I can feel the love you and your daughter felt for Taz. I appreciate your connection of life/death.

Reply
Donyell Campbell
1/29/2016 08:46:58 am

This is very touching and thank you very much for sharing this.

Reply



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    Living the JACK'd Life

    Author

    I am a certified birth doula (BAI) in Charlotte, NC . I provide information and support to pregnant individuals and couples so they can have satisfying and empowering births. I am a married mother of 4 trying to navigate life, unafraid of sharing my truly JACK'd up missteps.

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