Placenta Encapsulation FAQs

What is your training?

I have been encapsulating since 2003 and I am self-taught. As professional trainings and associations have emerged over the last decade, I have read much and refined my methods. Because I am a midwife I have a thorough understanding of blood-borne pathogens, OSHA guidelines and universal precautions to protect both myself and my clients. 

Though it is my opinion that specific certification in the art and science of placenta preparation is not necessary, it IS necessary to have knowledge of relevant placental anatomy and physiology, infection control, blood-borne pathogens, universal precautions, proper dehydration technique, and postpartum physiology. Many encapsulators in our area have a healthcare background or have received specific training. Always ask your encapsulator about her training and experience! 

I have encapsulated over 200 placentas. 

Do you have dedicated space or dedicated equipment?

I do not have a dedicated space solely for placenta prep; however I follow all relevant SC "cottage" food preparation laws so that placenta preparation occurs completely separate from other kitchen activities, & away from pets and children, to avoid cross-contamination. 

I DO have dedicated equipment including: knife and cutting board, separate vitamix dry container, dehydrator, encapsulation device and preparation tray. 

All equipment and surfaces are thoroughly disinfected and sanitized before and after usage. 

How will I know my placenta is mine and not someone else's?

Your placenta is labeled from the moment I receive it, labeled on the dehydrator, labeled in its jar as bulk powder and again after encapsulation. In addition, keepsake cords are labeled immediately once they go into their containers.

How should I store my placenta once it is born?

Your placenta will be fine at room temperature for a few hours. It should be placed on ice in a cooler or refrigerated as soon as possible.  If it will be more than 48 hours until pickup, please lay as flat as possible and freeze it.

Can I have my placenta processed after it has been frozen?
As a general rule, a placenta that is less than 6 months old in a standard freezer should be fine if it has been properly stored and does not have signs of freezer-burn. 

Do you add herbs?  What is your method of preparation?

Though I am an herbalist, I do not add any herbs during the process. Some encapsulators steam the placenta with lemon and spicy peppers prior to dehydration, and they call this the "Traditional Chinese Method" though it was actually invented by a California midwife and acupuncturist named Raven Lang. 

Adding powdered herbs to the capsules is also not wise. If you have an adverse reaction, it would be hard to know if you were reacting to the placenta or the herbs. If you are taking herbs postpartum, it's best to have these as separate teas/tinctures/syrups etc.

I employ the "raw" preparation method because it better preserves the nutrients and hormones. Raw is somewhat of a misnomer, however.  Dehydrating with proper heat in a controlled setting must be performed to ensure pathogens are destroyed, and this does heat the placenta above standard raw food guidelines.

How long until my capsules are ready?

I guarantee a week turnaround from pick-up to delivery, because I am a busy midwife and mother. If there is a great need, I can usually prepare in about 2-3 days.

Can I have my placenta encapsulated if I am GBS positive; received pitocin, antibiotics, or epidural anesthesia; there is meconium staining; or if I had a cesarean birth?   
Yes!  None of these are contraindications for encapsulation. 

Are there any reasons why I should not encapsulate my placenta?

Yes; if you had chorioamnionitis, HIV, Hepatitis or another infection at the time of birth, encapsulation is not recommended.  If your placenta was sent to pathology or not refrigerated properly following birth, it is also not guaranteed to be free of contaminants or pathogens and must not be consumed. 

What potential adverse effects could I notice?
Side effects are rare, but some women have reported that their "happy pills" made them feel anxious or sad.  In addition, you may notice headaches or gastrointestinal upset.

About how many capsules should I expect to receive?

I typically use size "O" vegetable capsules. On average you can expect around 130-160 capsules, though a larger placenta can yield up to 180-200.  Placentas grow in proportion to the baby, so big babies have big placentas and little babies have little placentas. 

How should I store my capsules?

Your capsules should be stored somewhere cool, dry and out of direct light. Room temperature is just fine for the first 6 months.  Capsules should not be stored in the refrigerator, as the moist environment could cause cause your capsules to absorb moisture and become moldy.  For longer-term storage, please double-bag and place in a deep freezer. 

Any other questions?
Please post in the comments! Thanks! 

blame the midwives

Placentas are appearing in the Urbana, Illinois sewer system. From the article:

"The unprecedented finds have officials wondering if a midwife or veterinarian, stressed by economic woes, has been avoiding the expense of paying for a medical waste disposal service."

Right, because they couldn't possibly be from a doctor's practice or hospital. Or from--gasp--unassisted births.

One of the investigators implies it would be difficult to flush a placenta down a toilet. Really? Think about the aperture of a woman's pelvis and yoni.

Most of the homebirthers I know have such respect and reverence for the Arbol de Vida, they would never just discard it. Usually people bury it and plant a tree or shrub, or process into placenta medicine.

Are the sewer placentas just another symptom of our profound cultural disconnect from nature and the cycles of life and death?

homage

Right on, dude.

McConaughey to plant son's placenta in orchard

The fact that this is considered newsworthy makes me chuckle. Maybe it will normalize placentas for more people. Ya think?

the original organic health & beauty aid

We are among a select few species of mammals that don't practice placentophagy. Some cultures revere it as a potent and powerful medicine. The Japanese company making these products removes "all traces of blood, hormones, toxins and disease agents." If you remove the hormones, then what is the point of ingesting placenta? And if the placentas are in need of such extensive screening, that suggests they are not from healthy creatures who ate a pristine diet and had an unmedicated pregnancy and birth. Oho! They are from pigs. (Pig placentas are quite structurally different from human/primate placentas. Fascinating stuff, if you go for that sort of thing: Placental Structure and Classification)

The linked article claims placentas are "vegan". Not anywhere close. Yes, there is the "meat which comes from life and not death" argument. However, a placenta is an organ. It would be like saying that liver is a vegan food. Even if those pigs ate a completely organic diet, roamed free in sun and mud every day, sniffed lilacs, conversed with the moon and stars and spiders named Charlotte, eating their placentas is not something any self-respecting vegan would do.

Some cultures consider the placenta to be the baby's twin. Now how vegan is that?

I do wish placentas were revered for the amazing, life-sustaining, miraculous organs they are. We were all attached to one in utero and likely stroked its tree of life surface before we could form conscious memory. I try to make sure my clients have an opportunity to see their placentas and I praise them for growing a healthy one.

Here are two websites that celebrate the wondrous placenta: http://placentabenefits.info/index.asp
http://www.geocities.com/virtualbirth/placenta.html


Placenta remedies are old as time. German Midwife and waterbirth guru Cornelia Enning has written a small book detailing placenta lore with recipes for food, medicine, and topical treatments.

You can still order powdered human placenta from some Chinese herbal companies. Called Ziheche, its medicinal actions include: to warm the kidney, to replenish vital essence, qi and blood. Reinforcing the kidney and nourishing the sperm, reinforcing the vital energy and enriching the blood.
It is used to treat poor health, night sweats, impotence and premature ejaculation, sterility, emaciation, a hectic fever, and poor milk production. Also indicated for cough, shortness of breath, and poor appetite accompanying a long-term illness.

To staunch an immediate postpartum hemorrhage, a small piece of placenta may be placed inside the mother's cheek. TCM considers it a galactogogue. It is nature's best medicine for women suffering from Postpartum Mood Disorders. And it's FREE!

Mothers and mothers-to-be: if eating placenta or making medicine from it freaks you out, consider taking this precious "cake" that was once a part of you and returning it to the earth. It is not medical waste any more than your baby or your moonblood is medical waste. I implore you to honor it and complete the cycle.