FAQ's
Where is the placenta prepared?
Your placenta will be encapsulated in my home, using all of my own supplies. All supplies are sanitized and sterilized after each encapsulation.
When is the placenta prepared?
Ideally, the placenta preparation takes place as soon as possible after delivery, within the first 72 hours, allowing you and baby to benefit from the most potency the placenta has to offer. The first two weeks are the most important and effective time to be taking the placenta, so, the sooner the better.
Directly after the birth, the placenta should be placed in an enclosed container (the hospital will put it in a plastic container or a bag) in the refrigerator or in a lunch size cooler with ice if you are in the hospital, until it can be taken home and placed in the refrigerator. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 72 hours. If you know ahead of time that it will not be prepared within that time frame, it is best to place straight into the freezer. More times than not I am available to start the process within the first 24 hours.
How long does the process take?
This is a two-day process. On the first day, the placenta is prepared for dehydration. This takes about 2-3 hours. The length of dehydration will depend upon which method of encapsulation is chosen. TCM encapsulation typically takes 8 to 12 hours to dehydrate and the raw method takes a little bit longer. The second day is when the grinding and encapsulation takes place and will take about an hour or so
How do I store my capsules?
Placenta capsules should be stored in a cool, dry area while being used. Like a cabinet or closet (definitely not the bathroom!! Too much moisture) Keep capsules dry. Store any remaining capsules in the freezer for long-term use. If stored properly, placenta capsules will last at least 1 year and possibly longer.
Is there any time that I shouldn’t take the capsules?
There are different schools of thought about this in TCM. Some believe that placenta should not be taken if the body is fighting off a common cold, flu, or infection. If mommy should get a breast infection, the placenta should not be taken until infection is cleared. If symptoms such as chills, fever, sneezing, aches, flushed cheeks, hot palms and feet or night sweats should occur, stop taking the capsules until the body has fought this off. The reason for this is because placenta is extremely tonifying in nature and can cause a pathogen to grow stronger and get deeper into the body.
Other schools of thought believe that the placenta can actually help in these times. Each woman is different and should listen to her body. If she feels the capsules are helping during these times, then continue, if she feels that it is indeed making the ailment worse, then definitely stop taking them.
How long can a placenta be stored in the freezer?
Although it is advised to begin taking the placenta capsules as soon as possible after delivery, placentas that have been properly frozen, meaning that they were frozen just after delivery and have been double-bagged and protected from freezer-burn can also be encapsulated up to 6 months after birth. While you may not be getting the postpartum benefits, these capsules can be saved and used for you and your baby throughout the years for any type of transition in life or trauma and can also be used for mommy later in life while transitioning through menopause, using your own natural hormones.
What if I am a vegetarian?
Not a problem. Nothing died in the process; only life has provided you with these amazing nutrients and benefits. As well, the dehydrated and powdered placenta is inserted into vegetarian capsules, not gelatin.
What if I have an epidural or a c-section?
The placenta acts as a filter, filtering out toxins and sending them back to the mother’s liver to be detoxed from the system. Many women have epidurals and c-sections and those women benefit just as well as natural birth clients.
What if they want to take my placenta to pathology?
If the placenta needs to be taken to pathology ask if they can do a visual exam or if they can cut a small piece to examine instead of taking the whole placenta. Insist that they use absolutely no solutions, especially their usual formaldehyde. If this solution is used, the placenta is no longer a candidate for encapsulation.
Will the hospital release my placenta?
You should tell your doctor ahead of time that you plan to take your placenta home and write it in your birth plan. This way if there is an issue, you can deal with it before you are in labor. The hospital may ask you to sign a liability release form. If they say it is not their policy to release your placenta to you, ask to see the hospital’s official written policy on this matter. And know that every single woman who has been denied her placenta and they took the hospital to court has won their case. Of course it was too late for them to encapsulate their placenta, but that has helped pave the way for others.
Your placenta will be encapsulated in my home, using all of my own supplies. All supplies are sanitized and sterilized after each encapsulation.
When is the placenta prepared?
Ideally, the placenta preparation takes place as soon as possible after delivery, within the first 72 hours, allowing you and baby to benefit from the most potency the placenta has to offer. The first two weeks are the most important and effective time to be taking the placenta, so, the sooner the better.
Directly after the birth, the placenta should be placed in an enclosed container (the hospital will put it in a plastic container or a bag) in the refrigerator or in a lunch size cooler with ice if you are in the hospital, until it can be taken home and placed in the refrigerator. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 72 hours. If you know ahead of time that it will not be prepared within that time frame, it is best to place straight into the freezer. More times than not I am available to start the process within the first 24 hours.
How long does the process take?
This is a two-day process. On the first day, the placenta is prepared for dehydration. This takes about 2-3 hours. The length of dehydration will depend upon which method of encapsulation is chosen. TCM encapsulation typically takes 8 to 12 hours to dehydrate and the raw method takes a little bit longer. The second day is when the grinding and encapsulation takes place and will take about an hour or so
How do I store my capsules?
Placenta capsules should be stored in a cool, dry area while being used. Like a cabinet or closet (definitely not the bathroom!! Too much moisture) Keep capsules dry. Store any remaining capsules in the freezer for long-term use. If stored properly, placenta capsules will last at least 1 year and possibly longer.
Is there any time that I shouldn’t take the capsules?
There are different schools of thought about this in TCM. Some believe that placenta should not be taken if the body is fighting off a common cold, flu, or infection. If mommy should get a breast infection, the placenta should not be taken until infection is cleared. If symptoms such as chills, fever, sneezing, aches, flushed cheeks, hot palms and feet or night sweats should occur, stop taking the capsules until the body has fought this off. The reason for this is because placenta is extremely tonifying in nature and can cause a pathogen to grow stronger and get deeper into the body.
Other schools of thought believe that the placenta can actually help in these times. Each woman is different and should listen to her body. If she feels the capsules are helping during these times, then continue, if she feels that it is indeed making the ailment worse, then definitely stop taking them.
How long can a placenta be stored in the freezer?
Although it is advised to begin taking the placenta capsules as soon as possible after delivery, placentas that have been properly frozen, meaning that they were frozen just after delivery and have been double-bagged and protected from freezer-burn can also be encapsulated up to 6 months after birth. While you may not be getting the postpartum benefits, these capsules can be saved and used for you and your baby throughout the years for any type of transition in life or trauma and can also be used for mommy later in life while transitioning through menopause, using your own natural hormones.
What if I am a vegetarian?
Not a problem. Nothing died in the process; only life has provided you with these amazing nutrients and benefits. As well, the dehydrated and powdered placenta is inserted into vegetarian capsules, not gelatin.
What if I have an epidural or a c-section?
The placenta acts as a filter, filtering out toxins and sending them back to the mother’s liver to be detoxed from the system. Many women have epidurals and c-sections and those women benefit just as well as natural birth clients.
What if they want to take my placenta to pathology?
If the placenta needs to be taken to pathology ask if they can do a visual exam or if they can cut a small piece to examine instead of taking the whole placenta. Insist that they use absolutely no solutions, especially their usual formaldehyde. If this solution is used, the placenta is no longer a candidate for encapsulation.
Will the hospital release my placenta?
You should tell your doctor ahead of time that you plan to take your placenta home and write it in your birth plan. This way if there is an issue, you can deal with it before you are in labor. The hospital may ask you to sign a liability release form. If they say it is not their policy to release your placenta to you, ask to see the hospital’s official written policy on this matter. And know that every single woman who has been denied her placenta and they took the hospital to court has won their case. Of course it was too late for them to encapsulate their placenta, but that has helped pave the way for others.