A Sydney doctor is warning new mothers against consuming their placentas, saying it's unsafe, after NRL star Benji Marshall's wife Zoe revealed she had done this in an effort to beat postnatal depression.
Zoe Marshall gave birth to her first baby, Fox, last month and disclosed her struggles with depression.
"This is me with my placenta in a shake.. yes I drank it!" She wrote in an Instagram post.
Dr Nick Fuller from the University of Sydney told The Daily Telegraph there's no evidence to back claims that the drink is a rich source of nutrition or can aid in boosting milk supply.
He said there was more proof of the practice being unsafe for mothers.
"We need to stop listening to influencers for health advice - just because Kim Kardashian does something doesn't mean we should!" Dr Fuller said.
"Zoe Marshall is the latest to post and write about her experience at birth. But should we really be consuming our placenta after giving birth? Quite simply, no!."
In her post last month, Marshall thanked placenta expert Georgie Jhet "for bringing it so promptly. Gotta have that fresh placenta".
"I also got Georgie to make me placenta capsules, a tincture and an essence to take post natal."
Ms Jhet later explained the drink had more in it than just placenta.
"Don't freak out everyone! There is a small piece of Placenta in this large drink...the rest is organic banana, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries!" she said.
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