"The placenta is the least understood human organ and arguably one of the more important, not only for the health of a woman and her fetus during pregnancy but also for the lifelong health of both."
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Before swallowing
liters and liters of white
from my breasts
all you saw was red.
The walls of my placenta, stretched
growing with and for you
state of the (he)art tissue to
enwrap you in prenatal embrace.
In the beginning, it led me
to new depths of exhaustion
as I created this original organ
a humble home for you.
But like you, it grew stronger
protecting you from the outside world
your eyes not yet ready to see
your ears only hearing echoes.
It watched over the production of
of protective proteins, allowed your cells
to seep into my system, leaving your mark
in me for years after you left.
We were bound by its cord
translucent with veins pulsing
the purple-red of life into you
until your first breath of air.
And now my arms hold you close
and my breasts deliver what you need
into your rooting, hungry mouth
as I raise you in this, our outside world.
Eloísa Pérez-Lozano (she/her) writes poems and essays about Mexican-American identity, women’s issues, and motherhood. She graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in psychology and an M.S. in journalism and mass communications. A Best of the Net-nominated writer, her work has been featured in "The Texas Observer," "Houston Chronicle," "Houston Public Media," and "MUTHA Magazine," among others. She lives with her family in Houston, Texas.
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