Placenta Encapsulation (and more!)
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Why encapsulate my placenta?
Women have reported many benefits of consuming their placenta, including: * Less "baby blues" and postpartum depression * Increased production of breast milk * Increased energy * A speedier recovery, physically and emotionally What does the process look like? I encapsulate your placenta in my own home. Your placenta is washed, steamed, thinly sliced, dehydrated, powdered, and encapsulated into easy-to-take capsules. (Raw preparation is also available.) Placentas vary in size, and will produce anywhere from 75-150 capsules. How many capsules should I take? The standard suggested dosage is 2 capsules 3 times per day for the first 2 weeks, then 1-2 capsules per day as desired. Some women opt to take fewer capsules over the first 2 weeks so that they have more capsules in later weeks to combat postpartum depression and fatigue. |
How long do they keep?
Your capsules should be stored in the freezer, and will keep indefinitely. Some people save capsules in a deep freezer to take later down the road during periods of transition: the return of menses, baby growth spurts, menopause, etc.
Are there any reasons I should NOT take my placenta capsules?
You should stop taking your capsules during a fever, cold, flu, mastitis, or other sickness. You can resume taking your capsules once your illness has passed. In addition, ask your care provider (and your nurse if you are having your baby in the hospital) to help you ensure that your placenta is refrigerated promptly, and not contaminated by any substances. It is advisable to put your wishes in your birth plan.
What about safety?
When proper sanitation and food handling techniques are used, placenta capsules are safe to ingest.
In 2016, a baby in Oregon developed a GBS infection that is thought to be linked to the mom's consumption of placenta capsules. You can read the CDC report here. Here's what I said about it on my Facebook page:
"Many of you have likely heard about the Oregon baby that got a GBS infection from the placenta capsules its mother was taking (according to the CDC). This is a big deal, and nobody in the placenta encapsulation community is taking it lightly. However, please remember: 1) this is one isolated case out of many many thousands of encapsulated placentas; 2) babies get infections in the hospital all the time (like the 10 NICU babies that caught MRSA at UC Irvine earlier this year) and the CDC isn't recommending that you avoid hospital birth to prevent infection; 3) the mother in question didn't have GBS present in her breastmilk as incorrectly reported by some sources (including the Washington Post), and it is possible that the capsules had nothing to do with the baby's infection or reinfection.
"But of course, GBS is a big deal and we are all taking this very seriously. Know that steaming your placenta before dehydrating will kill the pathogens present, and that is the method I use the vast majority of the time (and the only method I am currently offering)."
If you develop a uterine infection in labor, your placenta should not be consumed.
"Here is more information: https://placentaassociation.com/group-b-strep-placenta-encapsulation-safety-gbs/ "
Your capsules should be stored in the freezer, and will keep indefinitely. Some people save capsules in a deep freezer to take later down the road during periods of transition: the return of menses, baby growth spurts, menopause, etc.
Are there any reasons I should NOT take my placenta capsules?
You should stop taking your capsules during a fever, cold, flu, mastitis, or other sickness. You can resume taking your capsules once your illness has passed. In addition, ask your care provider (and your nurse if you are having your baby in the hospital) to help you ensure that your placenta is refrigerated promptly, and not contaminated by any substances. It is advisable to put your wishes in your birth plan.
What about safety?
When proper sanitation and food handling techniques are used, placenta capsules are safe to ingest.
In 2016, a baby in Oregon developed a GBS infection that is thought to be linked to the mom's consumption of placenta capsules. You can read the CDC report here. Here's what I said about it on my Facebook page:
"Many of you have likely heard about the Oregon baby that got a GBS infection from the placenta capsules its mother was taking (according to the CDC). This is a big deal, and nobody in the placenta encapsulation community is taking it lightly. However, please remember: 1) this is one isolated case out of many many thousands of encapsulated placentas; 2) babies get infections in the hospital all the time (like the 10 NICU babies that caught MRSA at UC Irvine earlier this year) and the CDC isn't recommending that you avoid hospital birth to prevent infection; 3) the mother in question didn't have GBS present in her breastmilk as incorrectly reported by some sources (including the Washington Post), and it is possible that the capsules had nothing to do with the baby's infection or reinfection.
"But of course, GBS is a big deal and we are all taking this very seriously. Know that steaming your placenta before dehydrating will kill the pathogens present, and that is the method I use the vast majority of the time (and the only method I am currently offering)."
If you develop a uterine infection in labor, your placenta should not be consumed.
"Here is more information: https://placentaassociation.com/group-b-strep-placenta-encapsulation-safety-gbs/ "
How much does it cost?
I charge $250 to encapsulate a placenta. This includes picking up your placenta and dropping off your capsules, and being "on-call" around your due date so that I can begin the process promptly after your birth for maximum benefits.
My radius is 30 miles from my home in Salem, Oregon. I am happy to travel outside of that range for a travel fee of $25, or I can recommend a placenta encapsulator closer to you.
Other placenta services I offer:
What's the next step?
Contact me to book my encapsulation services. In labor, let your provider and/or labor nurse know that you would like to keep your placenta (this is a great job for a partner or doula), and ask to sign any release paperwork necessary.
I charge $250 to encapsulate a placenta. This includes picking up your placenta and dropping off your capsules, and being "on-call" around your due date so that I can begin the process promptly after your birth for maximum benefits.
My radius is 30 miles from my home in Salem, Oregon. I am happy to travel outside of that range for a travel fee of $25, or I can recommend a placenta encapsulator closer to you.
Other placenta services I offer:
- Placenta tincture - $25
- Placenta print - $10
- Cord keepsake - free on request
What's the next step?
Contact me to book my encapsulation services. In labor, let your provider and/or labor nurse know that you would like to keep your placenta (this is a great job for a partner or doula), and ask to sign any release paperwork necessary.