Honoring the Tree of Life: The Beauty and Purpose of Placenta Prints

This post contains images of placenta that some readers may find uncomfortable. Please view and share respectfully.

The placenta (and umbilical cord) is often a forgotten part of pregnancy and birth—something most mothers, let alone fathers, never even see. In modern Western culture, the thought of looking at this organ often elicits cringing or squeamish responses. Yet in many other parts of the world, the placenta is revered—seen as sacred, symbolic, or even mystical depending on religious or cultural beliefs. 

For me, I find it fascinating. 

The placenta is an incredible part of the birth process—an organ formed not by the mother, but by the baby. It develops from the same fertilized egg and connects the baby to the mother in a profoundly life-giving way, often long before she even realizes she is pregnant. Through the placenta, the baby receives oxygen, nutrients, and everything needed for survival and growth. But the connection isn’t one-sided. In return, the baby gives life back to the mother in a lesser-known phenomenon called fetal cell microchimerism. 

These fetal cells—pluripotent like stem cells—can migrate into the mother’s bloodstream and settle in areas of injury or inflammation, helping her heal. They’ve even been linked to protective effects against conditions like peripartum cardiomyopathy. Researchers have found these cells in maternal brains decades after birth, suggesting a mysterious, enduring link between mother and child. 

It’s no wonder that the placenta is often called The Tree of Life. 

As a birth and bereavement doula, I’ve had the privilege of examining many of my clients’ placentas and witnessing just how miraculous this life-sustaining organ truly is. Some mothers choose to honor this miracle through Placenta Prints—a keepsake that commemorates the life-giving connection between mother and baby. 

The fetal side of the placenta, where the umbilical cord connects, displays a branching network of vessels resembling the limbs of a tree. When painted and pressed onto paper, it creates a stunning, organic image—an imprint of the Tree of Life itself. 

For this recent placenta print, I began with a few natural prints using only the blood and fluids of the placenta. This captures the raw, unaltered beauty of the organ. Afterward, I gently cleaned the surface and used food-safe dyes to create a more colorful version. Using food dye ensures the safety of the placenta in case the mother wishes to encapsulate it, bury it, or use it in any other meaningful way. 

As I examined this particular placenta more closely, I noticed something unexpected—one of the blood vessels was protruding slightly from the umbilical cord, creating a visible bulge. This appearance is known as a false knot, a benign variation where a blood vessel loops or folds in a way that makes it appear as though it's tied or knotted. Unlike a true knot, which can occasionally constrict blood flow, a false knot is simply caused by extra length in the vessel coiling within or just beneath the Wharton’s jelly. It’s completely harmless and doesn’t affect the baby’s well-being.

False Knot

Finding small variations like this is always fascinating and reminds me of the individuality of each birth experience. Every placenta is unique, and each one carries the imprint of the baby it sustained.

This particular placenta will be buried with a planting—a symbolic act that returns life to the earth, honoring the cyclical nature of birth, growth, and renewal. 

Placenta prints are more than artwork. They’re a celebration of the unseen work of pregnancy and a tangible reminder of the sacred relationship between mother and baby. Whether framed on a nursery wall or folded into a private memory box, they hold a story worth remembering.