Create a Placenta Print

The placenta is an amazing organ. It grows, flourishes and ends with your pregnancy. For 9 months it is your child's constant companion and life source. While many women choose to allow a hospital to dispose of their placenta, there is a growing number of new mothers that want to honor their placenta somehow. Making a print with your placenta is an easy way to preserve the memory of your pregnancy and honor the work your placenta has done for you and your baby. There are two basic types of placenta prints. In one type you are using paint to decorate your placenta and then stamping it onto paper or canvas. The other involves using nature's paint: blood. You may choose to do the second option right after birth. If you would rather wait to make your placenta print you can freeze your placenta for later use.

You will need to gather supplies for either project. You will need:
While Construction Paper for practice prints
Canvas or High Quality Art Paper for the print
Paperweights
Newspaper or Tarp to keep mess under control
Basin to keep placenta in
Spray Sealer

If painting the placenta in addition you will need:
Acrylic Paints
Paint Brush
Small plate or tray for paints
Small cup for water
Towels

Begin by setting out your materials. It is helpful but not necessary to have an extra set of hands. If you have frozen your placenta then make sure to leave it at room temperature overnight to thaw.

Many women like to use the baby's side of the placenta because it has large blood vessels and makes for a nice print. The maternal side looks more like ground beef, but you can use that side if you wish. If you are making a natural print pick up the placenta and allow some of the blood to drain off of it. The membranes will likely still be attached so make sure you move those to the back so that they don't interfere with your print. Most women agree that the third print is the best. So place your placenta on a practice sheet of paper and allow it to sit for a moment. Have the extra hands hold the paper down or use the paperweights at the corners. Peel the placenta off the paper. Repeat this step with another practice paper or go straight to the canvas or high quality paper. Be aware that there may still be blood in the placenta and moving it around may cause the cord to leak.

If you want a more colorful print, then paints are for you. Start out by washing the placenta. I took mine to the backyard and turned the hose on it. Gently massage the placenta down to the cord to try to get most of the blood out. Then use the towels to dry it off. It is important that it is dry when you paint it or the paint will run and smear. Next, get creative and paint your placenta. Since the finished product looks like a tree some people paint the placenta green and the cord brown. Of course this is your project and you should paint it in a way that is meaningful to you. Once you are finished, use the placenta as a stamp following the directions in the previous paragraph. You could also embellish the print by painting special symbols or words around the print.

Allow your prints to dry. If you have pets make sure to keep them away from your art as they are drawn to the smell. After it has dried use a spray sealer to preserve your print. You can display your placenta print in your home and most of your guests will have no idea! The best part is that you will have a permanent reminder of the special time in your life when you were pregnant with your child.