I have to agree with you channy a bit to ewwww for me and i also have never heard of it

 Lexi xxx

I doubt you would see a woman carrying the baby and placenta around!
The idea is (apart from heath reasons) is its a time of transition. It usually lasts 3 -8 days so not very long at all. It takes longer for the stump to fall off when clamped.
Transition is the time it takes for baby to settle in a new place. It allows mother to rest and bond at home with few vistors (as you could imagine ppl would be less keen to see the placenta though it would be wrapped firmly in a cloth nappy)
Also I have read babies who remain attached are very docile and calm. They don't usually cry. This idea  has me sucked in!  Sometime they cry when finally the cord comes off (in most cases baby will decide its time to go and pull it off themself!)
Either way I will be waiting to clamp next time at least until the blood stops pulsating (usually 20-30 minutes after birth of the placenta)

I am still getting my head around it.
It seems that some anumals chew it and eat it as to avoid predators smelling the blood.
But some primates do this - keep the cord and placenta intact.
I am reading more on it as I am just intrigued.
I think at least with my next baby I will wait to clamp the cord. there are such wonderful oxygenated nutrients still pumping away in there that babycan thrive on.

I have never heard it before but i have heard that animals eat it. I have also heard of poeple taking the placenta home and putting it on their gardens.