Whose Organ, Whose Profit?

The Untold Truth About Placenta Harvesting

When a baby is born, we focus on the new life, the parent’s strength, the miracle of the moment. But right behind that miracle is something rarely talked about: the placenta.

Yes—the placenta is not just an afterthought. It’s a real human organ, built from your body, sustaining life for nine months. And what happens to it after birth is a story of money, power, and silence.

What’s So Valuable About the Placenta?

The placenta is loaded with:

  • Stem cells: regenerative, immune-boosting, used in advanced therapies

  • Hormones: like progesterone, estrogen, oxytocin

  • Proteins & peptides: used in skin care, anti-aging, healing

  • DNA & epigenetic data: crucial for biotech and medical research

If unclaimed, that organ becomes part of a multi-billion-dollar industry—often without your knowledge or direct benefit.

The Economics You’re Not Supposed to Know

  • The global placenta market (cosmetics, wound care, pharma) is worth over $600 million in 2024—on track to hit $1.4 billion by 2034.

  • The cord blood & stem cell banking industry? Over $33 billion, and climbing.

  • Placental tissue is sold, piece by piece, for surgeries, skin grafts, burn treatment, and stem cell isolation.

  • Your organ—the one your body grew—is harvested and commercialized by hospitals and biotech firms.

And here’s the catch:

You can’t legally sell your own organ.

But the hospital? They can hand it over for processing, partner with corporations, or use it in research that generates patents, profits, and products.

Why It Matters

Because this isn’t just about tissue. It’s about bodily autonomy, informed consent, and economic justice. If hospitals or corporations are profiting from what your body creates, you deserve:

  • To know

  • To consent (or decline)

  • And ideally, to benefit, too

What You Can Do Instead

  • Claim Your Placenta

  • Bring a cooler and include it in your birth plan.

  • State clearly: “I intend to keep my placenta after delivery.”

  • Use It for Yourself

  • Encapsulation, tinctures, burial, artwork—your organ, your ritual.

  • Ethical Donation

  • If you want to support research, do it through transparent, consent-driven programs.

  • Educate Others

  • Most people don’t even know this happens. Be the one who tells the truth.

Final Thought

We talk about birth as empowerment—but real empowerment means reclaiming what’s yours. Your placenta isn’t medical waste. It’s a biologically rich, sacred, and valuable organ. If anyone is going to benefit from it, it should be you.

So before you give birth—ask the question:

“What happens to my placenta and cord blood after delivery?”

And make sure the answer aligns with your values, not just someone else’s profits.

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