Mum reveals how she decorates her baby’s nursery with artwork made from her PLACENTA
Placenta decorations aren't the only bizarre post-pregnancy ritual that Michelle has carried out
A NEW mum wanted to capture the miracle of childbirth... so she decided to make a piece of artwork out of her PLACENTA.
First-time-mum Michelle Amaya-Schmidt, 40, used the bloody organ to create five creative prints after giving birth to her son Asher four months ago.
After suffering a tragic miscarriage two years ago, Michelle was determined to appreciate every moment of her next pregnancy.
Michelle explained: "I had a miscarriage two years ago at ten weeks, so giving birth to Asher was all the more special.
"I wanted to catalogue every aspect of his birth and remember it forever – and that included making a print.
"My doula, a woman who supported my birth, asked me if I wanted prints made of my placenta.
"I'd not heard of it before but I agreed."
After a quick labour which lasted just four hours, the New Mexico mum gave the placenta to her midwife Alyssa Hope who created the art by printing the organ onto crisp white paper.
Five weeks later, Michelle was presented with the unusual post-pregnancy gift, using the five prints to decorate her house.
Proud mum Michelle revealed: "I was delighted by it.
"I've put it up in his room surrounded by other mementos from his birth, like his hand and foot prints and ultrasound photos.
"People thought it was very unusual, but I explained to them what it is and why I did it, and now they think it's kind of cool.
"My husband Nathan wasn't freaked out by it. He thinks the prints are great.”
Making placenta wall decorations isn’t the only bizarre post-pregnancy ritual that Michelle has carried out.
She took a plaster cast of her pregnant belly, which she sometimes places Asher inside like a comforting basket.
As well as this, for two months after giving birth to her son, Michelle took capsules that contained dried remnants of her afterbirth.
The unusual capsulation process has also been carried out by celebs including Kim Kardashian and January Jones.
It’s believed that the unconventional method helps to improve women’s mental welfare and energy after they give birth.
The full-time-mum believes that taking the special pills has prevented her from suffering from post-partum depression.
She explained: "I had been looking into the effects of placenta, and while there isn't any concrete research I knew it wouldn't hurt.
"Other mums say the placenta gives you lots of vitamins, decreases risk of post-partum depression and increases your energy.
"I didn't have any complications, but I don't have anything to compare it to as Asher was my first child.
"The only post-partum complication I had was joint pain and soreness that accompanies all new mothers.”