Hey everyone! I bet you’ve never imagined what a humpback whale’s placenta looks like. Honestly, I never thought about it until today. Some fortunate visitors of Blue Bay Whale Watching in Australia had the rare opportunity to see one up close during a whale-watching tour. Can you picture it? You’re scanning the ocean for dorsal fins when suddenly—boom! A giant placenta appears.
The captain and guests snapped numerous photos because, let’s be real, WHALE PLACENTA.
According to a Facebook post from Mark Thompson of Blue Bay Whale Watching about this unbelievable sighting, “this is such a rare occurrence that our captain, known to many as Roundy, has never seen one in 20 years at sea, and I’ve never witnessed it in my 15 years of whale watching.” Some may find this a bit off-putting, and that’s understandable. Birth can be a messy affair, and not everyone wants to think about the aftermath.
But honestly, I find it absolutely fascinating! These humpback whale mothers are out there in the vast ocean giving birth all on their own. There’s no supportive whale partner holding their fin and cheering them on. No dolphin doula helping them breathe through the pain. They’re just out there creating life like it’s no big deal. And when it’s done, they release this THREE-FOOT-WIDE placenta that floats to the surface like a giant, bloody birth announcement. “Hey World, I just gave birth to a thousand-pound baby! What did YOU do today?”
Whale mamas definitely deserve a relaxing day at the spa.
To be honest, I never took a moment to look at any of my three placentas. I had C-sections, and before heading into the operating room, I signed papers to donate my placentas to science. I have no clue what “science” had planned for them, but I knew I wouldn’t be using them.
I’m not one of those people who would encapsulate or make art from my placenta. Kudos if you’re that kind of earthy mama, but it’s just not for me. I was content to let someone else use them for… well, something scientific.
However, this sighting of a whale placenta is making me wish I had taken a peek! It’s intriguing! I never considered that marine mammals also have huge placentas when giving birth. I mean, I knew they existed, but I guess I thought that sharks would devour them or they’d sink. I’m not an expert, but I certainly didn’t think about the possibility of going on a whale-watching cruise and encountering one just floating there on the surface.
Now I can add “see a whale placenta in person” to my bucket list of unique animal experiences, right alongside “witness a moose crossing the road like my cousin did in 2010” and “spend a morning cuddling with adorable baby ducks.” (Though, judging by how excited marine biologists get when one of these things surfaces, I might have better luck with the moose than the placenta.)
This whale placenta fascinates me, particularly because I have a soft spot for whale mothers. It all began a few years back. Do you remember when Tahlequah, the orca known as J35, carried her deceased calf around British Columbia for over two weeks while grieving? I had just experienced a heartbreaking missed miscarriage. I carried that baby for three weeks, waiting for my body to let go, but it never happened. I ended up needing a procedure to let her go. When I saw that whale mother carrying her baby through the water for a little more time together, I felt such a connection. I understood that urge to hold on, even when all hope is lost. Maybe mothers, no matter the species, share common threads.
Tahlequah and I both welcomed living babies in 2020. I won’t lie; I shed some happy tears when I found out her baby had survived. If you’re not familiar with her story, you should definitely look it up. J35 has experienced loss, grief, and even cared for her sister’s calves after her sibling passed away. Tahlequah’s journey is just so compelling to me.
Now, in addition to my affinity for orcas, I’ve developed a profound appreciation for resilient humpback mothers. Seeing the size of a whale placenta really emphasizes the size of their young, although, to be honest, considering that a humpback calf can measure 10-15 feet and weigh over 1,000 pounds, maybe the truly incredible fact is that the placenta doesn’t need to be even larger. That’s one enormous baby!
You go, whale mamas! If I could, I’d give you a giant high five right on your incredible fin.
For more information about pregnancy and home insemination, check out this excellent resource Women’s Health. If you’re interested in learning more about home insemination kits, visit Make a Mom for trustworthy information. And for more on COVID-19 recommendations related to home insemination, you can read this post here.
Summary
This article highlights the awe-inspiring sight of a humpback whale’s placenta, seen by lucky whale watchers in Australia. It reflects on the complexities of motherhood across species, drawing parallels between human experiences and those of whale mothers. The author expresses newfound respect for these marine mammals and shares personal reflections on her own experiences with childbirth and loss.
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