Father’s son’s placenta becomes medical waste after early birth
A Māori father's plans to bury his newborn son's placenta according to tikanga were disrupted when the baby arrived early and the placenta was retained for medical testing, then treated with…
A father describes how his carefully planned birth experience, grounded in Māori customs, changed dramatically when his son arrived five weeks early. The baby required neonatal care, and staff recommended the placenta be tested to identify causes of the premature birth. After over three months, the placenta was returned treated with formaldehyde, making it unsuitable for the family's intended burial practices and leaving them uncertain how to proceed.
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How my son’s placenta became ‘toxic waste’
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