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And Now -- The Placenta Teddy Bear

Categories: Pregnancy & Birth, Weird But True, Shopping

Placenta Teddy Bear

Designer Alex Green thinks a placenta teddy bear is a good idea. Credit: jupiterimages / Photodisc

Yes, you read the headline correctly. You may retreat to your nearest powder room.

All done? OK, let's discuss.

Toy designer Alex Green has created something called the Twin Teddy Kit. The blog Inhabitots, which focuses on sustainable "green" design for parents and babies, described the bizarre creation as "A crafty alternative for those who don't necessarily want to eat their baby's placenta, but want to pay their respects to the life sustaining organ by turning it into a one-of-a-kind teddy bear."

Ooookay. We're with you so far. But can we ask why?

"Green's 'Twin Teddy Kit' 'celebrates the unity of the infant, the mother and the placenta.'"

Right. Celebrate the unity. Got it. So, um, we may regret this, but ... how does it work?

The kit "enables preparation of the placenta so it may be transformed into a teddy bear. The placenta must be cut in half and rubbed with sea salt to cure it. After it is dried out, it is treated with an emulsifying mixture of tannin and egg yolk to make it soft and pliable."

Yep. Sorry we asked. (All of the above quotes from Inhabitots.)

There are several questions one could ask. An obvious one, though, is this: What exactly is green about reusing the placenta? Isn't it naturally biodegradable? If this kit succeeds, will the designer create a version for body parts that sometimes get removed via surgery? An Andy Appendix doll, perhaps? Gary Gall Bladder?

It should be pointed out that despite the name "Twin Teddy Kit," this item is not meant to be played with or snuggled. Which is a good thing. But that raises another question. Why is the kit in the shape of a teddy bear? Why not, say, a baby? Here's a thought -- do a licensing deal with LucasFilm and make one in the shape of Yoda. Could be a big hit with the green-parenting contingent.

But seriously folks -- what do you think? Is this a great way to honor your afterbirth? Or is it just plain gross?

Related: Outsourcing Pregnancy to India

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