Placenta Encapsulation & Prints

FAQ's

Placenta Encapsulation, Prints, and Cord Keepsakes

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Shelly Varelli has been offering encapsulation services in the Toledo are for the past 15 years. You must live within 30 miles of Toledo, or be willing to arrange transportation. "I offer local pick up and drop off of your placenta and capsules in the Toledo Ohio area. This includes hospital or home pick up during normal business hours of 8am-8pm, safe transportation & chilling of your placenta, preparation of your capsules, and delivery back to you." 

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For more information, please read the FAQ's below, and Fill out an inquiry form. You will get additional instructions after the inquiry form is received. 

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Insurance:

Will Insurance pay for Encapsulation: Encapsulation is not a billable service through your insurance. However, you can submit your paid receipt for reimbursement to your HSA (If you have one). Not everyone has success with reimbursement, but it is worth a try. Upon request, I can provide an itemized receipt for your encapsulation that includes my NPI number, dates of services, including pick up/processing/encapsulation/drop-off, and dates of all payments made. 

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What are the benefits of placenta encapsulation?

Placenta pills give a new mother the chance to benefit from her placenta for months after birth and have shown to have incredible benefits to energy levels, normalize breast milk supply, and decrease the hormonal imbalance 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 personal experiences, anecdotal evidence, and testimonials from new mothers who reveal placenta encapsulation was the key to their speedy recovery and well being.

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Methods Used to Prepare the Placenta

My process for encapsulation involves a few steps, depending on where you are planning to give birth (at home or in a hospital). Once I pick up your placenta: I wash it, remove the amnion, chorion, and umbilical cord. Then, based on your preference, prepare the placenta for either the Raw Method, or Traditional Chinese Method (TCM), or both.

-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.

-TCM. Most all placentas being prepared for encapsulation use the TCM method. The placenta will be steamed with ginger and lemon for 20-30 minutes. The placenta is then sliced into thin strips, the placenta and amnion are dehydrated on low until completely dry, approx. 8-10 hours. I also dehydrate the umbilical cord as a keepsake. Then the dried placenta is powdered and encapsulated, depending on the size of the placenta there are approximately 100-160 capsules. I then return the capsules and a cord keepsake to you. 

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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 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?
Your placenta should be put into a clean, leak-proof container or Ziploc bags 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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Can I do delayed cord clamping if using my placenta for encapsulation? 

YES! I highly recommend all people to choose delayed cord clamping for the benefit of their newborn.  Delayed cord clamping involves leaving the umbilical cord intact for at least 3-10 minutes after birth, or better yet until it stops pulsing. During this time the cord is still pumping up to 150ml of stem cell-rich blood to your baby (which has been scientifically proven to have lifelong benefits to your baby). 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’m not so sure my placenta capsules are working, how will I know?  
This question gets asked a lot by first-time mom's and I always say you will just know! If you skip a day or forget to take them you will notice a difference. 

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 have COVID-19?

Unfortunately, I cannot/will not encapsulate your placenta if you test positive during labor or test positive within 14 days from the onset of your labor/birth. There is a lack of evidence around the placental transmission of Covid, however, we do know that the Coronavirus is inactivated when it is exposed to 133 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes (NHC 2020). 

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What if I am Streptococcus B positive (GBS+) or have an infection and need antibiotics, will I still be able to use my placenta?
Yes, however ---Strep-B, GBS or any other vaginal infection requires the Traditional Chinese Medicine process only. What does this mean? Your placenta must be steamed for 20-30 minutes before encapsulation to ensure the bacteria from your infection are killed before dehydrating your placenta. This is legitimate medical information backed up by a microbial study. 

What if I give birth prematurely?
Yes, so long as your placenta is released to you and not sent to the pathology lab there is no problem. 

I want to donate my baby’s cord blood. Will I still be able to have my placenta made into capsules?
Yes, you can do both. Depending on your chosen company and their method of cord blood collection, the cord blood can be preserved on-site by your provider allowing for you to then take both the cord and placenta intact for processing, or umbilical cord can be separated from the placenta and stored in a separate container awaiting collection from the company of your choice. The placenta would then be placed in your designated container and stored safely until processing. Of note: you will only have a few inches (3-5 in) of the umbilical cord left for a print or cord keepsake, compared to the typical full length. 

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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. 

How is the placenta prepared for placenta encapsulation; ie, put into pills?

1. Placenta specialists like myself, prepare placenta capsules from your placenta with NO added ingredients, herbs or supplements. This process is completed in my home in the highest standard possible, within sterile conditions. I work with the intention of preserving the energy and nutrients of the placenta which nourished your baby and will now nourish you.  All tools and equipment used are sterilized and used only for this purpose.

2. The placenta is steamed with lemon and ginger (added to the water only) according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recipes (raw encapsulation skips this process).

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?
Unlike the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) preparation of the placenta, when processing a placenta raw we do not steam the placenta during the process. For the RAW method, you simply skip the steaming process. This method follows the general “Raw Foods” rule that nothing should be heated beyond 40 degrees C (118 degrees F) where enzymes may be destroyed.  
 

Within the 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.

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. 

What other ingredients are in the placenta capsules and are they suitable for me as I’m a vegetarian?
I do not include any other ingredients when preparing placenta capsules. When preparing Traditional Chinese Medicine style capsules, I steam the placenta with lemon (for grounding), ginger (for circulation), and if chosen I will add chili peppers (for heat) which are added to the water when steaming.  I only use vegetarian capsules for encapsulation.

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 big are the capsules?
I use size ’0′ capsules. These measure roughly 2cm in length and 0.7cm in width.

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.

Will I experience any side effects when taking my placenta capsules?
It is important to discuss your individual temperament with me. For example, if you normally run hot you might choose the raw method, alternatively, if you tend to run cold you may want the TCM method. I cannot guarantee any specific results with placenta capsules or any other placenta remedy, the reported beneficial effects are plentiful but not guaranteed. Store your placenta capsules properly, avoiding taking the capsules when ill, and avoid taking more than the recommended dose will reduce your chances of experiencing negative side effects.  If you are worried that they are causing negative side effects, stop taking them or adjust to maximize your individual needs. 

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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Religious Controversy

There is some controversy among Christian circles claiming that consuming your own placenta amounts to cannibalism and is therefore forbidden by scripture, however research into both sides of this issue has found that to be a completely uncompelling argument.

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For one thing, cannibalism is defined as consuming human flesh from a dead person. The placenta is not medically considered to be flesh (which is usually defined as muscle and fat, of which the placenta is neither). For an excellent discussion of the theological and philosophical considerations of this practice, see this post from another blogger that I found during my research.

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Medical Uses of the Placenta

Scientists have discovered that the placenta contains hormones that inhibit stress and trigger the release of endorphins. It is also believed that placenta remedies after birth cause the birthing person to heal faster, have more energy, and stabilize mood swings. It may also be helpful for people that experience a decrease or block in their natural oxytocin production because of medical induction of labor, toxemia, gallbladder disease, or a stressful birth. 

​To note: There are regulations surrounding the medical use of the placenta in countries around the world such as China, the EU, Japan, Cuba, Russia, and Mexico. There are numerous uses that scientists and medical professionals employ – from the more common hormone regulation to the treatment of cancer, AIDS, and MS, and many things in between. The United States (and Canada), however, have no recognition whatsoever of placenta medicine, either in pop culture or in law.

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