Hilary Duff Opens Up about a VERY Personal Mom Moment After She Gave Birth

Actress and mama Hilary Duff recently gave birth to her second child, a daughter, named Banks Violet. As the world cooed and ahh-ed over her new arrival, Duff recently revealed that she drank a placenta smoothie after giving birth to her daughter. Um, what?

Duff certainly isn’t the first mama to ingest her own placenta—she’s not even the first celeb to discuss it openly. So, why did she do it, anyway?

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A post shared by Hilary Duff (@hilaryduff)

Whether you encapsulate it, blend it into a smoothie (like Duff did) or eat in in any other way, a fresh placenta is said to have plenty of health benefits for the new mother. The reported benefits include increasing oxytocin (which can help the uterus shrink back to its pre-preggo size), releasing the stress-reducing hormone CRH, lowering the risk of post-partum depression and even increasing milk production.

What does science say about these benefits? Um, the jury’s still out. In other words, the research really doesn’t fully back it up. But that hasn’t stopped celebs such as Katherine Heigl, Alicia Silverstone, Blac Chyna, Kourtney Kardashian and Kim Kardashian from popping placenta pills or otherwise eating their placenta following birth. Or, speaking of the Kardashians…actually serving it to their families.

As for Duff, she revealed on Dr. Berlin’s Informed Pregnancy podcast that her placenta smoothie included “lots of berries and lots of fruit juice.” She also revealed that she was “wigged out” at the idea, but still went ahead and tried it. Even though she wasn’t sure at first, the actress admitted, “It was calorie-filled with juice and fruit and everything delicious.”

Along with the smoothie, Duff even had the remaining part of the placenta frozen to use later! Considering the new mama also called the smoothie “delightful,” it looks like she’ll have plenty more to enjoy.

Keep in mind, the placenta can support bacterial growth. If you decide to follow in Duff’s footsteps, hire a pro to help you with the process. Seriously.

—Erica Loop

Featured Photo: Hilary Duff via Instagram

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