Placenta Encapsulation
BENEFITS
For thousands of years the placenta has served a place in human culture as a symbol of transition and spiritual integration, as a tool for nutritional and hormonal balance, and to honor the amazing work our bodies do to support new life.
Ingesting the placenta can have amazing benefits for newly postpartum parents, and ongoing hormonal balance throughout menstruation and menopause.
COMMONLY EXPERIENCED BENEFITS INCLUDE:
Increased energy
Stabilized mood
Enhanced Milk supply
Speedier uterine recovery
Hormonal balance
Nutritional supplementation
Other mammals instinctively consume the placenta after birth and in cultures all around the world the placenta is treated with reverence and as powerful medicine. Its rich hormonal and nutrient content includes:
Oxytocin - promotes bonding, positive feelings of love, uterine stimulation, lactation and milk production
Progesterone - helps balance hormones after major dip in progesterone following placental delivery
Prolactin - promotes lactation
Prostaglandin - speeds uterine recovery by helping the uterus contract down to pre pregnancy size
Iron - supports the body in avoiding anemia
Hemoglobin - the body naturally declines in hemoglobin after birth which can lead to anemia, supplementing brings the levels up quicker
HPL (Human Placenta Lactogens) - promotes lactation
CRH (Corticotropin releasing hormone) - relieves generalized anxiety and depression
ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone) - helps regulate cortisol levels and relieve stress
Growth Factor - supports healthy immune function and cellular repair
Immunoglobulin G (IgG) - supports healthy immune function
The placenta acts as a supplement. Restoring the body with these hormones in the first few weeks postpartum can help many people heal faster, have better results with nursing/milk production, experience increased energy, and can give parents an overall feeling of enhanced holistic support, allowing more time and energy to focus on their baby.
PRICING
BASIC PLACENTA PACKAGE $350
Placenta Pills and dosage instructions
Photograph of your placenta emailed/texted to you
Pick up/Drop off of placenta and package
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
TCM Method (Steamed): $50
Umbilical cord keepsake : Cord is shaped into a spiral, heart or knot - depending on length - and dehydrated. In some cultures the dried cord is used as a teething tool. $25
Broth (only available with the steamed TCM method) : When the placenta is steamed it creates a rich broth that is frozen and can be used in soups or other hot preparations, this will be delivered with your capsules. $25
Smoothie : Smoothie made to your taste with or without dairy and pieces of frozen placenta, this will be delivered with your capsules. $35
Print of your placenta : Before processing, a contact print of your placenta is made using the umbilical cord blood, on high quality paper. $25
Placenta tincture : A piece of raw placenta is infused in 100% proof alcohol for 6 weeks. I will deliver or mail this to you after 6 weeks. $100
PREPARATION
Placenta encapsulation is the process of dehydrating and grinding the placenta into pill form. There are two primary methods, the raw method and the steamed TCM method. Once the placenta has been processed either raw or steamed it is dehydrated for 24 hours at 160 degrees.
Your placenta is processed in a safe, clean environment. I follow OSHA standards and have both an up to date Food Safety Certificate and Bloodborne Pathogens Certificate. Each placenta is processed separately and nothing ever comes into contact with your placenta except water and sterile materials.
WHICH METHOD?
Steamed
With this method the placenta is cleaned with water then gently steamed to 130 degrees F for 30 minutes, then dehydrated at 160 degrees F for 24 hours. This is the method used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. There is an additional charge for this method.
Raw
The placenta is cleaned with water, then dehydrated at 160 degrees F for 24 hours. This method is considered to be more potent in nutrients and hormones as the cooking of the placenta before drying causes some hormone loss. The dehydration is enough to kill GBS and any bacteria from meconium that might be present on the placenta, however some people diagnosed with GBS choose the steamed method as an extra precaution.
With both methods the placenta usually yields between 90-120 capsules but this really depends on the size of the placenta which varies widely. Capsules can be kept for 6 months and then frozen for an additional year.
Tincture
A piece of raw placenta is infused in 100% proof alcohol for 6 weeks. The tincture is considered more potent than the capsules and can be kept indefinitely and used when needed. Some folks use to ease menstrual or menopause symptoms.
TRANSPORT
Your placenta needs to be stored on ice at the hospital until it can be picked up or transported to Maya. If Maya, Brooke, or Cherie is your doula, we will transport the placenta after you give birth. Under other circumstances you will be given detailed instructions on how to store the placenta until Maya can receive it.
Processed placenta pills will be delivered to you within 2-7 days (at home or the hospital) so you can start reaping the benefits as soon as possible!
If there is any concern with infection in the placenta please request that your medical provider remove a piece of the placenta to send to pathology. Once your entire placenta has been sent to a lab it cannot be guaranteed that it has not come into contact with other materials or non sterile objects.
