What Is the Placenta and Why It Matters: A Doula’s Guide for Empowered Birth

Eva Monhaut-Jenkins
May 26
2 min read

What is the placenta? Learn all about it with doula support.

When we think about pregnancy and birth, we often focus on the growing baby or the labor process—but one of the most powerful and essential parts of that journey is often overlooked: the placenta.

As a birth doula in the Michiana area, I believe that education is empowerment. Understanding your body—especially the parts of it working quietly behind the scenes—can help you feel more confident, connected, and in control of your pregnancy and birth experience.

So, what is the placenta?

The placenta is a temporary organ that develops in your uterus during pregnancy. It’s often called your baby’s “lifeline”—and for good reason. The placenta is responsible for:

Delivering oxygen and nutrients from your body to your baby
Removing waste from your baby’s blood
Producing hormones like progesterone, estrogen, and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
Protecting your baby by acting as a partial immune barrier

This incredible organ forms shortly after conception and grows alongside your baby. By the time you give birth, the placenta can weigh about one pound!

The Third Stage of Labor: Delivering the Placenta

After your baby is born, you’ll enter what’s known as the third stage of labor—the delivery of the placenta. This phase may be short and straightforward, but it’s still an important part of the process. Your body will continue contracting to help the placenta detach from the uterine wall, and you may be asked to push again to deliver it.

As your doula, I support you through this stage just as I do through every other part of labor—offering encouragement, explaining what’s happening, and helping you advocate for your preferences.

Some birthing people choose to delay cord clamping, keep the placenta for ceremonial reasons, or explore options like placenta encapsulation. Even if you don’t pursue those paths, it’s still empowering to know your options and understand the placenta’s role.

Learn more about what the placenta is and how it fits into birth.

Why does the placenta matter for informed birth?

Knowing how your body works helps you ask better questions, spot red flags, and make confident decisions. Placental health can affect everything from your baby’s growth to your own risk for complications like preeclampsia or postpartum hemorrhage. If you're told your placenta is anterior, low-lying, or shows signs of calcification, you deserve clear explanations and the space to ask: What does this mean for my birth?

That’s where birth advocacy comes in—and where doulas can be especially helpful. While we don’t provide clinical care, we do help you understand medical information, build questions for your provider, and feel supported at every step.

Final Thoughts

Your placenta may not get much time in the spotlight, but it is one of the most vital players in pregnancy and birth. Understanding it is part of understanding your own power—and that’s something every birthing person deserves.

If you’re pregnant in Michiana (Southwest Michigan or Northern Indiana) and want compassionate, evidence-based support as you prepare for birth, I’d love to walk with you. Together, we can create a birth experience where you feel informed, respected, and centered—every step of the way.