Placenta Encapsulation

Important Information

PROCESS Your placenta will be inspected, cleaned and prepared for encapsulation in a sterile and safe environment in my home. If your placenta requires steaming, that will be done on the stove with a mix of herbs. The placenta will be cut and dehydrated, then I will grind dry placenta into a powder. The powder is then encapsulated and bottled in a dark glass jar. For the tincture, I will place a piece of raw (or dehydrated, depending) placenta in 100 proof alcohol which allows the tincture to extract and preserve the benefits of placenta consumption. You should plan to receive between 100-200 capsules and one 4 oz tincture. All items are sterilized before and after the process. I only process the placenta one at a time so there is no risk of cross contamination. And, I am trained in safe handling practices and placenta encapsulation.

BENEFITS AND RISKS The placenta is an amazing organ that nourished your baby while in utero. The placenta is loaded with vitamins and minerals like B6, vitamin B12 and iron, as well as hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Benefits to placenta consumption could include:

• Increase breast milk production

• Replenishing depleted nutrients

• Reducing post-birth bleeding

• Balancing hormones

• Helping with mood stabilization

• Reducing the risks of postpartum depression

• Shortening healing time

• Aiding in uterine healing and health

• Increasing your maternal energy and wellness

There are no official medical studies related to placenta consumption. However, it is important to note, that placenta consumption is common in many cultures around the world (and has been for thousands of years). As with anything, there are potential risks and downsides that include:

• If the woman has intrauterine infection, she might be re-exposed by consuming placenta pills and, if breastfeeding, the infection could be passed on to her baby. Infection can also present itself if the placenta was contaminated (i.e. in-proper refrigeration). To address both of these, I can always steam the placenta to kill off potential bacteria and I take all safety precautions. Of course there is always room for error, so I can’t eliminate all risk.

• Exposure to heavy metals that accumulate in the placenta during pregnancy.

• Higher chance of blood clots because the placenta pills contain hormone estrogen, which increases levels of clotting factors in blood.

• Some women report dizziness and nausea after taking the pills. Discontinue use if this happens to you.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY Lots of love and positive energy goes into every placenta I work with! I abide by strict sanitary and food handling practices to ensure the safety of myself and my clients. As a client, you also play a very important role in helping me ensure your safety. Here is how:

• Notify your doctor, midwife, nurse and hospital staff that you are planning to take the placenta home. Ask for their help in making sure the placenta is properly handled and stored. Your birth partner should be able to remind staff and help to make sure the placenta is cared for until I am able to pick it up. It is legal to take your placenta home. You do not need to tell them why you want it, just that you do. If you want, you can tell them it is for cultural or religious reasons.

• You should plan to bring a cooler with you to the hospital for storage of the placenta.

• Every hospital has different procedures regarding placenta release. Most hospitals have simple procedures, such as signing a release form. Some hospitals require the placenta to be removed from the hospital within an hour so you will need to make arrangements to store the placenta if that is the case. I will alert you to known policies (but they are constantly changing) if I’m aware of any specifics at the hospital you are having your baby.

• You will notify me once you are heading to the hospital and then shortly after the birth of your baby. I will try to arrive within 8 hours to pick-up your placenta but I do have a full-time job and familial commitments.

• The placenta should be stored in the fridge (most hospitals are not allowing this right now) or on ice until I arrive. I recommend you bring a cooler with you to the hospital for storage of the placenta on ice. The placenta can be on ice for up to 10 hours and you should plan to replace/replenish the ice a few times.

• I ask that your partner please bring the placenta/cooler down to meet me at the main entrance of the hospital. Hospital protocols change often, so it’s unlikely that I will be allowed to enter and come to your room.

• If you are not encapsulating within 3 days of the birth, your placenta will need to be frozen. Please use two, one-gallon ziplock bags or the container provided by the hospital to freeze your placenta.

• If your Doctor or Midwife recommends sending your placenta to pathology for testing, request that they take a sample of the placenta in the room instead of taking the entire placenta. Once a placenta is taken to pathology, there is a risk of contamination by chemicals, improper storage, or even a mix-up of placentas. If your placenta is taken to pathology, you understand that I cannot guarantee your safety. If you wish to continue your encapsulation at that point, you will be fully responsible for any negative outcome.

• If you are opting for a drop off at my residence, please make sure that the placenta is safely stored in a refrigerator within 8 hours of giving birth. Keep it in the container the hospital provides and do not handle your placenta. I will advise whether or not you should put it in the freezer, depending on the timeline for you dropping it off.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES I understand special circumstances come up and I’m more than happy to work with you. Some common issues that are common with placentas are explained below.

• Meconium – If your baby passes meconium in the womb or during birth, it’s fine to process the placenta. Meconium is sterile and is simply washed off prior to preparation.

• Group B Strep or Genital Herpes – Please notify me so that I can steam your placenta to kill any possible bacteria. It will still be safe to consume. Very rarely, your baby might show signs of GBS infection after birth and then encapsulation is not recommended.

• C-Section – Yes; encapsulation can be done.

Again, you’ll need to inform the medical staff that they need to save and store your placenta. Of course other circumstances might come up so please reach out to discuss! If something comes up during labor or birth, I’m available to talk through the issue and we can figure out the best approach to your placenta encapsulation.