Frequently Asked Questions about Placenta Encapsulation
How do you get my placenta?
I will work with you to get the placenta from you after the birth. Sometimes I am able to coordinate with your birth doula, if you have one. Other times I can come to the hospital and pick it up. Most hospitals throughout MN will release placentas. Some will allow you to keep it in a fridge in your room until I can come pick it up. In other cases you can bring a cooler and keep it on ice until it is picked up. Some hospitals want the placenta removed immediately so you will have to have a doula or friend or family member willing to take it home if I am not available (like in the middle of the night). You will discuss this plan with your medical provider before the birth and it is also helpful to notate that you want to keep your placenta in your birth plan. If you are birthing at home or at a birth center, you can ask your midwife to put the placenta in a fridge until I can come and pick it up.
How do I know this process is safe?
I follow all standard universal precautions, including wearing gloves, and sanitizing all the equipment with a 10% bleach solution. I take great care to ensure the safety of my clients, and in fact the cleaning and sanitizing of the equipment is the most time consuming part of the process. Additionally, I ask my clients to sign a contract stating they do not have any known blood-borne illnesses.
Can my placenta be encapsulated if I had an epidural or a cesarean? What about if meconium (the baby’s first poop) is present during the birth? Or if I am Group B strep positive?
The answer to all of those questions is yes! The benefits of consuming the placenta should outweigh any risks of the medication that may be in the placenta. If meconium is present, it will be washed off, the membranes will be discarded if meconium stained, and the steaming process (with the TCM method) should kill any possible bacteria. If meconium is present, I may want to briefly soak the placenta in some sort of alcohol like vodka to provide an extra layer of protection. The alcohol can then be washed off and the the rest of the process can take place.
How many capsules will I get?
This all depends on the size of your placenta and the method you choose. Placentas tend to match the size of the baby, so if you have a small baby, the placenta is likely to be on the smaller side, and bigger babies tend to have bigger placentas. Following a healthy diet during pregnancy (learn more about the Brewer diet for more information) will help your placenta be big and healthy!
With the TCM method, I usually get 80-120 capsules. With the raw method it’s approximately 125-150.
How do I store my capsules?
Placenta capsules can be stored in the fridge to maximize their shelf life. Since they are fully dehydrated, if they are accidentally left out for a while they should be just fine. If, after the first couple of months, a mom still has capsules left she wants to save for a later date (like perhaps going back to work or weaning from breastfeeding) she can store the capsules in the freezer.
What dosage is recommended?
I suggest taking 2 capsules, one to three times per day for the first 10-14 days. Taking them with a small amount of white wine is said to disperse the energy of the placenta throughout the body. After the first two weeks, I suggest cutting back to 1-3 capsules per day total, depending on how you feel, to stretch out how long the capsules will last. Sometimes Mom’s need them 6-12 weeks (or longer) after baby was born and it would be a shame not to have any left! Each mother is encouraged to listen to her own body and adjust based on her own needs.
Can you encapsulate a placenta that has been frozen for a while?
Yes! Placentas have been encapsulated that are quite a few months old. If the placenta has been in a deep freezer it will probably be just fine. I will defrost it by putting it in a fridge for 24-48 hours and then seeing if it still looks and smells healthy. However, it is preferable to work with a fresh placenta that has not been frozen at all. The placenta can be left in a fridge for up to 4 days before it is processed. If you know your placenta will not be processed within a couple days, it may be better to freeze it right away, though some believe freezing it will destroy some of the beneficial properties.
I will work with you to get the placenta from you after the birth. Sometimes I am able to coordinate with your birth doula, if you have one. Other times I can come to the hospital and pick it up. Most hospitals throughout MN will release placentas. Some will allow you to keep it in a fridge in your room until I can come pick it up. In other cases you can bring a cooler and keep it on ice until it is picked up. Some hospitals want the placenta removed immediately so you will have to have a doula or friend or family member willing to take it home if I am not available (like in the middle of the night). You will discuss this plan with your medical provider before the birth and it is also helpful to notate that you want to keep your placenta in your birth plan. If you are birthing at home or at a birth center, you can ask your midwife to put the placenta in a fridge until I can come and pick it up.
How do I know this process is safe?
I follow all standard universal precautions, including wearing gloves, and sanitizing all the equipment with a 10% bleach solution. I take great care to ensure the safety of my clients, and in fact the cleaning and sanitizing of the equipment is the most time consuming part of the process. Additionally, I ask my clients to sign a contract stating they do not have any known blood-borne illnesses.
Can my placenta be encapsulated if I had an epidural or a cesarean? What about if meconium (the baby’s first poop) is present during the birth? Or if I am Group B strep positive?
The answer to all of those questions is yes! The benefits of consuming the placenta should outweigh any risks of the medication that may be in the placenta. If meconium is present, it will be washed off, the membranes will be discarded if meconium stained, and the steaming process (with the TCM method) should kill any possible bacteria. If meconium is present, I may want to briefly soak the placenta in some sort of alcohol like vodka to provide an extra layer of protection. The alcohol can then be washed off and the the rest of the process can take place.
How many capsules will I get?
This all depends on the size of your placenta and the method you choose. Placentas tend to match the size of the baby, so if you have a small baby, the placenta is likely to be on the smaller side, and bigger babies tend to have bigger placentas. Following a healthy diet during pregnancy (learn more about the Brewer diet for more information) will help your placenta be big and healthy!
With the TCM method, I usually get 80-120 capsules. With the raw method it’s approximately 125-150.
How do I store my capsules?
Placenta capsules can be stored in the fridge to maximize their shelf life. Since they are fully dehydrated, if they are accidentally left out for a while they should be just fine. If, after the first couple of months, a mom still has capsules left she wants to save for a later date (like perhaps going back to work or weaning from breastfeeding) she can store the capsules in the freezer.
What dosage is recommended?
I suggest taking 2 capsules, one to three times per day for the first 10-14 days. Taking them with a small amount of white wine is said to disperse the energy of the placenta throughout the body. After the first two weeks, I suggest cutting back to 1-3 capsules per day total, depending on how you feel, to stretch out how long the capsules will last. Sometimes Mom’s need them 6-12 weeks (or longer) after baby was born and it would be a shame not to have any left! Each mother is encouraged to listen to her own body and adjust based on her own needs.
Can you encapsulate a placenta that has been frozen for a while?
Yes! Placentas have been encapsulated that are quite a few months old. If the placenta has been in a deep freezer it will probably be just fine. I will defrost it by putting it in a fridge for 24-48 hours and then seeing if it still looks and smells healthy. However, it is preferable to work with a fresh placenta that has not been frozen at all. The placenta can be left in a fridge for up to 4 days before it is processed. If you know your placenta will not be processed within a couple days, it may be better to freeze it right away, though some believe freezing it will destroy some of the beneficial properties.