How to Make Placenta Prints

A great way to remember your birth is to create placenta prints. The shape of a placenta is very interesting, mimicking a tree or, according to some people, mimicking the Tree of Life. You can create this shape and some wall art by making placenta prints.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Placenta
• Good quality art paper
• Ink pad (optional)

1. Defrost your placenta if it's been frozen by placing it in a refrigerator or a cool oven. Make sure you've put it into a large container or bowl since the placenta will be messy as it defrosts.
2. Take a large sheet of good quality art paper or even a good poster board.
3. Place it vein side (the side against mom) down onto the construction paper with the placenta part up and the cord going down.
4. Press gently.
5. Remove it gently from the paper. The blood from the placenta will make the mark on the paper and you should see a shape of a tree. If it doesn't work, or the blood is too thick, try again on another sheet of paper; you may be able to get a few placenta prints out of your placenta.
6. Consider rinsing all the blood away and using a large inkpad to create the same effect. You will be using the placenta like a stamp. You can still have a placenta print with the beautiful tree shape but it won't be made out of blood.
7. Think about framing your placenta print so it lasts forever. If you don't want to frame it, think about laminating it or preserving it so the blood doesn't rot and the print doesn't attract flies.