Tina Delisle
Appearances
Radiolab
Everybody's Got One
Only recently are we beginning to see that scientific discourse is taking the placenta seriously.
Radiolab
Everybody's Got One
In Native cultures, the placenta is a friend, a companion, grandmother. And when you think about the placenta that way... As a relation... they're going to treat it very differently. And that explains why throughout a lot of Native cultures, the emphasis is on proper burial of the placenta. Tina explained that you see this practice of burying the placenta all over the world.
Radiolab
Everybody's Got One
In various African cultures, in Native American culture. In Hawaii. French Polynesia. In Aotearoa. Tahiti. Vanuatu. And where she's from. Born and raised in Guahan. In the Marianas? For Chamorros, the indigenous people of Guam. When you bury the placenta or the gatsum, it ensures that baby's safety.
Radiolab
Everybody's Got One
You know, even examples like when they're young and they're learning how to walk, it protects them so they don't fall down. It was a way of protecting children into adulthood. Huh.
Radiolab
Everybody's Got One
Yeah, but also for the well-being of the land. Because when you plant the placenta, it connects people to place. The idea is that if someone moves away, they always remember, my placenta is buried there, and they will take care of that land. Did you bury your kids' placentas? No. I had inquired about the possibility of taking home the placenta. This was 2006.
Radiolab
Everybody's Got One
When I was there, I was told that, and when I say there, this is when, you know, in the middle of labor. And I was told that they wouldn't let me take home my baby's placenta. And why is that? Like, why wouldn't they let you? Because of the law. And I was told that I'd have to go to court to get that. it would be really difficult.
Radiolab
Everybody's Got One
You know, I felt really bad about that. I had my partner, my husband, take pictures and video of the placenta, right? I was like, okay, I need something to remember my baby's placenta with right.
Radiolab
Everybody's Got One
The only consolation I had really was maybe this will be different next time around for my daughters.