Maybe you’ve heard of it. Maybe you haven’t. Maybe anything involving the word “placenta” causes you to be a little squeamish. If you can hold off on the gag reflex, consider all the wonderful benefits your AMAZING placenta may have to offer....
Please visit Apple Podcasts 'Birth with Kari' to hear the episode "Placenta Encapsulation After Birth With Casey"
to hear an interview with more information.
WHY would a mother want to consume her placenta?
- Increased general energy
- Allow a quicker return to health after birth
- Increase production of breast milk
- Decrease likelihood of baby blues and post natal depression
- Decrease likelihood of iron deficiency
- Decrease likelihood of insomnia or sleep disorders
The body is so individual and because of the powerful nature of your body's own medicine other benefits are also very likely. This practice maybe particularly beneficial to vegetarian mothers and those prone to post natal depression.
As placenta professional I have special training and equipment to process the placenta. A Placenta Preparation Agreement & Contract will need to be gone over and signed ahead of time. A Hospital Release of Placenta & Waiver Liability Form will be provided by me if needed.
What are the methods to preparation?
There are two main methods or recipes for encapsulation, so you can choose the one you prefer. Each recipe has pros and cons.
RAW Method: This method delivers the highest potency of the nutrients because it is not cooked before it’s dried, but these expire after approximately one year of freezer storage. Very small pieces of your placenta may be cut and frozen to be blended with the juice of your choice. I have a submergible blender used to mix for immediate consumption. Those that have tried this, say they do not even taste it. So little is used, yet packed full of great benefits!
Traditional Chinese Medicine Method: This recipe creates a pill that can be stored indefinitely with proper refrigeration, but is less potent than the raw form. This is a 2 day process once started. The TCM process consists of cleaning, steaming (with organic lemon & ginger), cutting and dehydrating on day one. Day two, after dehydration the placenta is ground into a fine powder and put in an encapsulation machine to create a pill form.
How does placenta preparation transpire?
If I am your doula, I will take your placenta with me on ice after the birth. Otherwise, I will retrieve your placenta from your birth place, or meet someone at an agreed upon place to get it refrigerated. I then take it to your home with you or your partner there. (After you are home, if it’s a hospital birth.) Or if needed sooner for example- after cesarean delivery, to quicken milk production, or in the event of a long difficult delivery, or any other reason that may cause you to want the process started immediately) in a sterilized space with a sterilized supply kit in my home after a signed agreement giving me permission to prepare it in my own space. The placenta is processed on special equipment reserved for placentas only. Fresh preparation and/or encapsulation are offered. You may choose the method that you prefer. The placenta pills are then usually returned to the mother within 48 hours and should be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Some mom’s like to have a placenta print made up as a piece of artwork for the nursery or keepsake.
It is best to check with your midwife of health care professional to be sure that your placenta is healthy and able to be taken.
Contraindications: Not to be used in heat conditions or for people with presence of pathogenic factors, including common cold and mastitis. Traditional Chinese Medicine use of lemon and ginger to steam your placenta causes the medicinal properties to go very deeply into your tissues. This is to enhance its healing properties, but it also has potential of driving infection deeper into the body, as well. Just stop ingesting your placenta until you feel better.
For more information on the benefits of Placenta Encapsulation, check out www.placentabenefits.info
and watch the above YouTube video for a better idea on how it all does down.
If you are considering placenta preparation please call or email me with any questions!
