Considering Taking Placenta Pills and You've Got ADHD? Read This
ADHDers, the ones I work with anyway, tend to fall into two camps. On one hand, I get the ADHD pregnant moms who reach out at 12 weeks on the dot. They've done their digging, they've already Googled "how to prepare for baby," "how to plan for postpartum," "how to make sure your baby doesn't end up needing 10,000 hours of mental health therapy to recover from me being their mother." You know, the productive stuff. These humans are super planners. They like to be in control.
And on the opposite end of the spectrum, I get: "I'm on my way to the hospital and I've been meaning to reach out to you. Is it too late?"
Whether you're neurodivergent and/or you're a perfectionist people-pleaser type-A control freak, or both, you've probably wondered what the postpartum period is going to feel like. I mean, without that village everyone's always talking about, it's hard to really know what you're getting into.
Until you're in it.
You might be worried about how the heck you're going to manage your own needs, while caring for a baby, while healing from pregnancy and birth, while maintaining some sense of sanity and, of course, joy.
From the get go, this motherhood thing is serious work.
So if you're worried about any of the aforementioned things, I want to suggest that you consider having your placenta encapsulated. Because, yes, I believe that placenta pills are one of the most ADHD-friendly postpartum supports you could consider.
Wait, what, Tiff?
Please. Hear me out. Don't hit the back button yet. Let me plead my case.
First, just in case you have no idea what TF I'm talking about, let's clear that up first.
Families hire me to turn their placentas into "ick-free vitamins" that are reported to help boost postpartum mood, energy, milk production, and healing.
Here's how it works: I pick up the placenta from the birth place. I rinse, steam and then dehydrate it overnight. The next day, I grind it into a fine powder, and place that powder into capsules. I return those pills to the birthing parent before their body even knows the placenta/pregnancy hormones have left. The birthing parent takes these pills until they're gone.
The premise is that in our non-pregnant life, our hypothalamus does the work of hormone production and regulation. But during pregnancy, your placenta is in charge of that.
Now the kicker is that after your placenta detaches from the uterine wall, it takes a good 3 to 4 weeks for your hypothalamus to get back to work. Which explains those Baby Blues that about 80% of new parents struggle with in the first weeks postpartum.
When you take placenta pills, you gently wean yourself off of your pregnancy hormones instead of quitting cold-turkey and experiencing that massive hormone crash.
Anecdotal evidence is pretty convincing that it helps the owner of the placenta feel more energy, have a more balanced mood, and recover more quickly. Of course, science is lacking because who's going to fund that study? But anyway, let's talk today about what this means for someone with ADHD.
Why Placenta Pills Are Perfect for ADHD Brains
First of all, one of the most wild rides you will ever take is the postpartum hormonal roller coaster. And for women with ADHD, the hormonal fluctuations can be extra challenging because we're intense - we feel everything more intensely than our neurotypical counterparts do.
But placenta pills can help minimize mood swings, which can feel more intense when you're an ADHD-er.
They could support emotional regulation because when you're already dealing with executive function challenges, you need all the help you can get.
And they can also help with focus and energy, which we obviously need in our regular lives but especially while parenting a newborn through a sleep-deprived fog.
Placenta pills can actually help increase your energy, too. (In addition to coffee, of course!)
That cup of coffee is going to wear off, though, and eventually there's a crash. But your placenta pills are going to give you sustained energy release because we follow a tapered dosage suggestion.
The Iron Connection for ADHD Women
In the first week you're taking two pills three times a day. And since your pills are packed with nutrients and hormones, including iron, they can offer you natural iron support, which can help with the fatigue that may be amplified by your ADHD.
Not to mention the fact that many of us are already low or borderline in our iron levels, so putting our own body-created iron back into our bodies - it's like the most amazing way to restore your iron supply.
And low iron mimics depressive symptoms, so when you get all this together right - these postpartum hormone crash and the lack of sleep and the lack of energy and the low iron - like of course it's going to look like we've all got postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, and all this stuff.
I'm not saying the statistics are wrong, but I am saying that maybe instead of PPA, we're all suffering from living life in an NT world as neurodivergents in a society that's basically causing postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression so that they can then prescribe us medication that Big Pharma profits endlessly off of.
Stress Adaptation and Sleep Support
Another thing your placenta can help you do is help your body adapt to stress because it's got these adaptogenic properties. And specifically for those of us with ADHD, we need all the help we can get in that area.
Now let's talk about sleep. Right? This is probably the number one thing you're going to worry about, the number one thing that's going to mess you up postpartum, the number one thing you’ll hear people complaining about postpartum is the lack of sleep.
But ADHD already comes hand in hand with sleep challenges, and postpartum sleep deprivation can make that exponentially worse.
So placenta pills can help because they might support our melatonin production, which is going to give us better sleep quality, help us fall asleep faster, reduce our cortisol levels so our brain can actually wind down and shut the fuck up, provide consistent support instead of just quick fixes that you know don't last. We got to go to the CVS every other day, why?
Executive Function Support
Postpartum brain fog ("mom brain") hits everyone, but for ADHD women, it can feel like your executive functions are completely offline. Placenta pills may help:
Improve working memory so you can actually remember where you put the baby things
Support decision-making when you're already exhausted
Help with organization and planning abilities that get overwhelmed by new demands
Sensory Processing Considerations
Many women with ADHD are also sensory-sensitive, and postpartum can bring a whole new level of sensory input. The good news? Placenta encapsulation is:
Non-invasive - no added sensory input like teas or tinctures
Discreet - just capsules that fit into your existing routine
Predictable - same dose every time, no surprises
Anxiety and Mood Regulation
For many women with ADHD, anxiety is a constant companion. Postpartum hormones can amplify this. Placenta pills may help:
Modulate stress response so you're not constantly in fight-or-flight mode
Support emotional resilience when everything feels overwhelming
Provide gentle mood support without harsh interventions
What to Consider Before Taking Placenta Pills
Timing Matters
Most encapsulation specialists recommend starting placenta pills within 3-5 days postpartum to get the maximum hormonal benefits. This is especially important for ADHD women who may experience more intense hormonal fluctuations.
Quality Matters
When choosing a placenta encapsulation specialist, look for someone who:
Uses proper food safety protocols
Can tailor the process to your specific needs
Provides clear instructions for storage and dosage
Communication is Key
As someone with ADHD, I understand that clear communication is super important. Make sure your encapsulation specialist:
Explains the process thoroughly
Answers all your questions
Provides written instructions
Checks in about how you're doing
My Experience Supporting ND Moms with Placenta Encapsulation
As a placenta encapsulation specialist here in New Jersey, I've worked with many neurodivergent moms who've found placenta pills to be incredibly supportive. One mom told me, "It's like my brain finally had the resources it needed to handle everything at once."
But here's what I've also learned: placenta encapsulation is just one piece of the puzzle. For many neurodivergent moms, the real challenge isn't just physical recovery… it's navigating all the systems, communication, and sensory aspects of birth and postpartum that aren't designed for our brains.
That's why I've also developed the ADHD Birth Class - to provide the tools, scripts, and support that help ND moms prepare for birth in a way that actually works for our neurotype.
The Bigger Picture: Holistic ND Support
Placenta encapsulation can be an amazing tool for postpartum support, but for many neurodivergent moms, we need more. We need:
Sensory-friendly birth environments
Clear communication tools for medical staff
Boundary scripts that actually work for our communication style
ADHD-optimized planning that accounts for our executive function challenges
That's why I'm committed to supporting ND moms through both placenta encapsulation and comprehensive birth preparation. Because when you have ADHD, postpartum success isn't just about physical recovery - it's about having the right systems, tools, and support in place.
Ready to Learn More?
If you're considering placenta encapsulation and want to know more about how it can support your specific ADHD needs, I'd love to chat. I offer free consultations to help you understand the process and whether it might be right for you.
And if you're looking for more comprehensive ND birth support, ask me about the ND Birth Kit I'm developing - it's designed specifically to help neurodivergent moms prepare for birth in a way that actually works for our brains.
Because when you have ADHD, you deserve postpartum support that understands and accommodates your neurotype, not adds to your challenges.
About the Author
I'm a placenta encapsulation specialist and neurodivergent birth support professional here in New Jersey. I specialize in supporting ND moms through both placenta encapsulation and comprehensive birth preparation. Learn more about my services at tiffdee.com or follow me on Instagram @newjerseyplacentapills for more ND maternal health tips.
