Placenta Encapsulation & Placenta Prints

Placenta Encap

 

What are the benefits of placenta encapsulation?

Placenta pills give your body the chance to benefit from your placenta for months after birth. Many people report benefits that include: improved energy levels, normalize breast milk supply, and balanced hormonal levels associated with post-partum depression. There is currently no scientific evidence at this time to suggest the placenta pills "are" or "are not" beneficial. Placenta encapsulation specialists rely on repeat customers, anecdotal evidence, and testimonials from mothers who claim placenta encapsulation was the key to their speedy recovery and well being.

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Process of placenta prepared for placenta encapsulation:

1. This process is completed in my home. Preparations are made with the highest sanitary preparation, conditions, and standards possible. All tools and equipment used are sterilized and used only for this sole purpose.

2. The placenta is washed and steamed with pungent, "warming" herbs like ginger and pepper -intended to restore balance, promote circulation, and offer a warming energy (yang) back into the new mother (the postpartum period is considered a "cold" or yin state). Lemon is often included for its astringent and antiseptic qualities. Alternative warming or blood-tonifying herbs like cinnamon, cloves, turmeric, can be added if deemed appropriate for the client's specific postpartum recovery goals. 

3. The placenta is then dehydrated using a high-quality food dehydrator, on low for 8-12 hours until completely dry.

4. The dried placenta is ground into a powder and put into size ‘O’ vegetarian capsules.

What is the difference between the RAW method and Traditional Chinese Medicine method for encapsulation?
The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) preparation of the placenta includes steaming and dehydrating over an extended period of time. Most all placentas being prepared for encapsulation use the TCM method. 

 

Raw processing looks like taking pieces of the raw placenta and freezing them separately for use in smoothies, or other uses. Another raw method involves placing a piece of the placenta in alcohol to be used later as a tincture, this process takes 6-weeks. This method follows the general “Raw Foods” principle rule that 'nothing should be heated beyond 40 degrees C (118 degrees F) where enzymes may be destroyed'.  
 

Within an ayurvedic approach to placenta consumption, the fist 24 hours after birth is considered a "cooling' phase. The RAW method would be in alignment with this time period whereas the steaming and use of lemon, ginger and chili peppers add "warmth" which is needed 48 hours after giving birth.

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What do I need to store the placenta properly until pick up?
1. Three large Ziploc freezer bags.

2. If you are planning a hospital birth, pack a small to medium size collapsible, soft-sided insulated lunch box 

3. After birth: place your placenta in one of the ziploc bags. Place ice in the other two Ziploc bags and make a placenta sandwich. Place all bags inside the insulated bag, then call me to arrange a time for pick up during business hours. 

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How do I store my placenta safely after birth?

Keep your placenta on ice and in a cooler bag for 24 hours. If longer than 24 hrs, transfer the placenta to the back portion of a refrigerator for up to three days; after this time please place in the freezer. Placentas can be stored in a regular freezer 6months, or a deep freezer for 5 years. The placenta will be thawed before encapsulating.

 

I am undecided if I want to encapsulate. Can I keep it and decide later?
Yes. I recommend everyone keep their placenta, just in case... See the above information about freezing.

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A note about Umbilical Cord length 

Please be aware that in most hospital settings approximately 6 inches of the cord will be cut and sent to the lab for further testing. This will affect the mount of cord available for a keepsake or placenta print - the placenta print will often need artfully created length to fully represent the missing length of cord.

 

Can I do delayed cord clamping if using my placenta for encapsulation? 

YES! Delayed cord clamping does not affect placenta encapsulation in any way. 

P.S. I can always tell when the cord was cut before it stopped pulsing due to the amount of blood that is retained in the placenta, this is blood that should have gone to your baby. 

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How many capsules do I take and how long should I take my placenta capsules for?
You can take your placenta capsules for as long as you feel you need them. it is important to note that there are no research-based standards for dosage. What I have found that works best is to start with 1 capsule on day one, 2 capsules on day two, 3 on day three, and then 2 in the morning and 2 at night (4/day) moving forward. You can adjust as needed, based on how you feel. To taper off, reduce the number of capsules in the opposite order (down to 3, then 2, 1, none). 

 

I have heard the placenta is full of waste and may contain toxins, is this true? 

Your placenta acted as the life supply for your baby during pregnancy and if it were full of toxins this would make a very dangerous organ for your baby to be nourished by; in fact, it is not possible for the placenta to be ‘full of waste’. The placenta acted as a passage for nutrient supply to your baby (not a filter), waste from your baby was passed back to your body to be filtered through your internal organs. There are small amounts of heavy metals in the placenta however scientifically proven these levels are no greater than normal levels of heavy metals found in the body, in nutrient-rich colostrum, and breast milk.

If I have a medicated birth or cesarean section birth can I still have my placenta encapsulated?
Yes! This is actually one very good reason to consider the support encapsulation can offer you. However, if your placenta is sent to Pathology it will not longer be considered safe for encapsulation. You could still bring it home and have it made into a keepsake if you wish.  

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Are there any circumstances when it would not be possible to use the placenta for encapsulation or other placenta remedies?
Yes, as mentioned above, if your placenta has been sent to pathology in the hospital for any reason, I cannot make your placenta into capsules because it may have been contaminated while in the pathology lab. ​

I am unable to process your placenta for encapsulation if you have an existing bloodborne infection or disease (HIV, Hepatitis, Covid within 12-24 days of birth). ​

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What if I tested positive for GBS+, or have an infection and needed antibiotics, will I still be able to use my placenta?
Yes, however, while standard preparation protocols of steaming and dehydrating are shown to decrease overall microbial diversity and load, they do not guarantee a completely sterile product. If you have a Strep-B, GBS or any other vaginal infection, processing will require steaming for 20-30 minutes, and dehydrating for 8-12 hours.
 

What if meconium were present in the amniotic fluid?

Meconium itself is mostly sterile and will be rinsed away from the placenta during the normal preparation process, encapsulation is completely safe for you. 

Aren’t the hormones contained in the placenta actually destroyed during the cooking process used when preparing TCM capsules?
To some extent, the heat process when preparing TCM capsules may affect the stem cells, enzymes, hormones, and B vitamins but to what degree is unknown. Processing low and slow will minimize the detoriation. Minerals such as iron are not damaged by heat and there may be minimal damage to other nutrients found in the placenta. Alternatively, if concerned about processing, you could place small chunks of placenta in ice trays filled with fruit or tomato juice, and use on term for blending into daily smoothies. 

Do the capsules smell or taste of anything?
The capsules themselves are unflavored -though flavored ones do exist. Please ask if  you want flavored capsules. Capsules filled with dehydrated placenta may have a slight taste of organ meat; however, if swallowed quickly, and combined with vegetable or fruit juice will not notice any taste or smell.  If you find your capsules begin to smell or taste unusually bad I recommend you stop taking them.

How should I store my placenta capsules?
TCM placenta capsules can be stored in a glass jar in a cold, dark place for 6 months OR transferred to a freezer for later use. *It is very important that raw dried placenta capsules are consumed within 6 months or frozen for later use. 

How many capsules will my placenta make?
Placentas make between 90-200 capsules depending on the type of method you choose and the size of your placenta. Steaming causes the placenta to shrink and the yield is them smaller than the raw method. Typically you will consume 3-4 capsules daily.

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Can my family members take my placenta capsules?
No. No one else should consume your placenta capsules; however, there will be no harm to immediate family members if someone were to take them.

Very rarely, less than 2% of consumers have reported some side effects when taking their placenta capsules listed below:

• Mild headaches -possibly taking too many capsules a day, reduce the amount to just 1 or 2 capsules.

• Stomach cramping or abdominal pain -improper storage of capsules.

• Stomach cramping for those also taking iron supplements. You should not take iron supplements and placenta capsules at the same time.

• Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) sufferers feel less relief (possibly due to the high level of relaxin hormone in the placenta, which is the cause of PGP)

• Unexplained lack of milk production -most likely not related but every woman is different.

• Emotional symptoms similar to PMS

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​Medical Uses of the Placenta. Were you given an option to donate your placenta?

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved multiple placenta-based tissue grafts and biomaterials. Third-party encapsulation services, making placenta pills or various healing remedies, are unregulated.

• Regulated products derived from stem cells, amniotic and placental membranes are widely used in American clinics to speed up the healing of diabetic foot ulcers, severe burns, and ophthalmic (eye) injuries.

• T-cells from placentas offer important properties for Immunomodulation for HIV/AIDS patients. 

• In vitro studies show lab-processed placental extracts can induce apoptosis (cell death) in lung cancer and melanoma cells.

• In active care, placental medications are clinically used to significantly reduce painful radiation-induced mucositis in head and neck cancer patients.

• Clinical trials, including those published in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, show that these intravenous stem cells are safe and may help reduce inflammation and promote nerve myelin repair.

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