Why do hospitals keep your placenta?
Michael Green
Published May 07, 2026
Do Hospitals Keep Placentas? Hospitals treat placentas as medical waste or biohazard material. The newborn placenta is placed in a biohazard bag for storage. Some hospitals keep the placenta for a period of time in case the need arises to send it to pathology for further analysis.
Will the hospital let you keep the placenta?
"The hospital requires new moms to get a court order to take the placenta from the hospital because it's considered transporting a organ." Even if your hospital is agreeable, you may need to make arrangements to take the placenta home long before you and baby head out the door.Why do doctors take away the placenta?
Delivery of the placenta is also known as the third stage of labor. Delivery of the entire placenta is vital to your health after giving birth. Retained placenta can cause bleeding and other unwanted side effects. For this reason, a doctor will examine the placenta after delivery to ensure that it is intact.Why would you keep your placenta?
Encapsulate itThe placenta contains many nutrients (including iron and vitamin B6) and hormones that are beneficial to bub while in the womb. Many health professionals believe these nutrients remain in the placenta and consuming the placenta can be good for your health.