A new mother had her placenta turned into a batch of chocolates - and documented the entire process on Snapchat.

Beautician Kiley Whitworth, 23, from Georgia, who gave birth to son Samuel on Tuesday with partner Nick, hired placenta preparer Marissa Peterson to whip up a batch of the chocolates - which she claims will improve her postnatal health - after spotting a business card for placenta encapsulation on the maternity ward.

She then filmed the organ being dehydrated, blended and turned into truffles and heart-shaped chocolates on her Snapchat - complete with footage of her sampling them the treats for the first time.

The footage has been circulated widely and divided viewers, with some branding it 'cannibalism', while others applaud Kiley's choice.

Beautician Kiley Witworth, 23, from Georgia, who gave birth to son Samuel on Tuesday with partner Nick (all seen above this week), has taken the internet by storm after Snapchatting a video of herself eating chocolates made from her own placenta

Speaking about her decision, Kiley said: 'After I gave birth to my newborn, Samuel, at an all-natural midwife centre, I saw a card for a placenta encapsulation and decided why not?

'I was hesitant because I know it's gross, but after researching all the health benefits I decided it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

'Your baby lives off that. That's how they get all their nutrients from you, so when you give birth and get rid of it, you're losing all those nutrients.'

The graphic video begins with Kiley sharing a snap of her raw placenta being laid out on the table by a specialist.

She paid a professional placenta-preparer to whip up a batch of the chocolates, which she claims will improve her postnatal health

Footage showing the organ being dehydrated, blended and turned into truffles and heart-shaped chocolates Kiley then ate has clocked up millions of social media views

'Getting ready to set up my placenta', the snap reads. Next, the expert is seen separating the amniotic sac steaming it, while placing the umbilical cord in a dehydrator.

Once the placenta is steamed, the expert is pictured chopping it up, before placing the pieces- which at this point resemble steak, onto a fan along with the umbilical cord.

Both are left on the contraption overnight, and once they are dried out, are made into powder in a blender.

Next up a pack of Oreo cookies are blended, before the placenta powder is added to the mix and made into truffles.

The graphic video begins with Kiley sharing a snap of her raw placenta being laid out on the table by a specialist

The chopped up pieces of placenta weigh an impressive amount

Additionally the powder is blended with chocolate cookies, and melted before being shaped into hearts and placed in the fridge to harden.

The Oreo truffles are then covered with white chocolate and boxed up, ready to eat.

The clip then finishes as Kiley eats the chocolates, giving the camera a thumbs up and writing: 'Trying it for the first time, yummy!'.

The clip has amassed thousands of views since being shared on Snapchat and Facebook this week, and has garnered a mixed reaction.

While many, who believe that eating the placenta prevents postpartum depression and other post-pregnancy complications, praised the mother, others criticised the video.

The pieces- which at this point resemble steak, onto a fan along with the umbilical cord

The placenta and cord takes 16 hours to dehydrate on a fan

The fringe movement of mothers eating their placentas began in the 1970s, but in recent years has taken the world stage with celebrity endorsements from January Jones and Kim Kardashian.

Subscribers believe that the nutrients passed from mother to foetus during pregnancy are still held within the placenta and should not be disposed of.

The women who eat it say it can improve mood, alleviate post-partum depression, heighten energy levels, and encourage breast milk supply.

But placentophagia, as it's known, has not yet escaped the societal stigma that hangs over it - something Kiley said she had learned first hand.

Next up a pack of Oreo cookies are blended, before the placenta powder is added to the mix and made into truffles

'Mix the (placenta) powder and melt the coco together' the caption reads

The mix is then moulded into heart shapes before being left to harden for consumption

Kiley said: 'There has definitely been some backlash, people saying 'that's gross, that's cannibalism, you're eating yourself'. But I think they're just ignorant.

'But I've also had so much love and support, my inbox has been blowing up with people saying I inspired them to do the same.

'Almost all animals eat their placenta, so there's obviously a reason for that. Why not give it a shot?

But Kiley warns against trying to make the mix yourself, adding: 'Word of warning though: don't do it yourself.

'Make sure you have a specialist who has been trained to do this, because if it's not done properly you can make yourself very sick.'

While many, who believe that eating the placenta prevents postpartum depression and other post-pregnancy complications, praised the mother, others criticised the video