PLACENTA ENCAPSULATION FAQ
What is Placenta encapsulation?
Placenta Encapsulation is the process by which your placenta is processed into capsules you can consume like a daily multi-vitamin. Jessica, from Rooted In Birth, is a Postpartum Placenta Specialist who follows the Traditional Chinese Medicine method of cleaning, steaming, and then dehydrating your placenta prior to grinding it into a powder and placing in capsules.
The process takes about two hours, two days in a row to process your placenta. The most time consuming part of the process is thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing the work space. On the first day, the placenta is cleaned, drained, steamed, and placed in thin strips into the professional grade food dehydrator. Your placenta remains in the dehydrator overnight. The next day each piece of your placenta is tested to ensure it is dehydrated completely before grinding it into a powder and placing it in capsules. Once your capsules are made they will be placed into a bottle with instructions and dropped off at your door. Your Placenta Specialist will remain available to you for any questions you have during your postpartum period.
The process takes about two hours, two days in a row to process your placenta. The most time consuming part of the process is thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing the work space. On the first day, the placenta is cleaned, drained, steamed, and placed in thin strips into the professional grade food dehydrator. Your placenta remains in the dehydrator overnight. The next day each piece of your placenta is tested to ensure it is dehydrated completely before grinding it into a powder and placing it in capsules. Once your capsules are made they will be placed into a bottle with instructions and dropped off at your door. Your Placenta Specialist will remain available to you for any questions you have during your postpartum period.
WHY WOULD I WANT MY PLACENTA ENCAPSULATED?
Many people believe that they can improve their postpartum recovery by consuming their placenta. Capsules make for an easy way to do this. The benefits parents seek from consuming their placenta include increased energy and milk supply, nutrient and hormone replenishment, and reduced risk of postpartum depression.
Some of the things your placenta capsules may help with:
Some of the things your placenta capsules may help with:
- Preventing and lessening the risk of postpartum depression or ‘baby blues’
- Replenishing your iron from blood loss during birth and to prevent postpartum anemia
- Lending you a consistent flow of oxytocin long after your birth euphoria ends
- Providing the HPL hormone to help establish early and healthy milk supply
- To stabilize your ever changing hormones post birth
- To replenish your B vitamins and energy that were used during the labor and birthing process
- Protection from infection and bleeding due to retained placenta tissue or membranes
- Offer natural pain relief from the labor and birth of the baby
IS PLACENTA ENCAPSULATION SAFE?
There are many potential benefits of placenta encapsulation, but it is not without risk. The main risks are your potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens (from your encapsulator or other clients) and exposure to bacteria from an improperly handled placenta. Rooted In Birth follows the industry's highest standards for safety to mitigate every possible risk. Our placenta encapsulator holds a bloodborne pathogen certification, a Safe Food Handlers Certification, and have completed extensive hands-on training from leaders in the field.
CAN ANYONE HAVE THEIR PLACENTA ENCAPSULATED?
Many people can have their placenta encapsulated but some can't. If you developed an infection (chorioamnionitis) during your birth, you will not be able to consume your placenta. There may be other rare complications that might prompt your medical care provider to want to keep your placenta for examination. If your placenta is sent to pathology or has chemicals applied to it, it cannot be encapsulated for your consumption. Additionally, if your placenta wasn't stored properly it will not be able to be encapsulated for you. You placenta must be placed on ice or in a refrigerator within four hours of its birth and must remain refrigerated. If the encapsulation doesn't begin within 72 hours, the placenta must be frozen. We can encapsulate placentas that have been properly refrigerated and/or frozen within 6 months. Beyond that, the placenta is not considered safe for consumption according to our training standards. All of these details are explained to all clients and you'll have clear, written instructions. If you hire Rooted In Birth for your placenta encapsulation and you aren't able to keep your placenta, any fees paid less $50 will be refunded to you.
HOW MANY capsules WILL mY PLACENTA make? WHEN DO I TAKE THEM?
How long do they last?
How long do they last?
The number of pills you can expect depends on a few things, how large your individual placenta is and how long the placenta is steamed for prior to dehydrating. Also, how fine or course the dehydrated placenta is ground. Most clients can expect anywhere from 100-175 capsules from their placenta. Your Postpartum Placenta Specialists will go over consumption guidelines with you as we complete your placenta encapsulation.
Store your capsules in a cool, dry place, but not the refridge, for up to 6 months. After 6 weeks, if you notice that there are still capsules left, you can transfer them to the freezer for long term preservation. The capsules will need to come out of the bottle and go into a ziploc bag.
On average, placenta capsules have a 2 year shelf life. If stored properly, you need not worried about them becoming rancid. After 2 years their nutritional and hormonal quality greatly decreases. If you capsules left left at 1-2 years postpartum, your best option is to turn the powder into a tincture to stop any further degrading in quality.
Store your capsules in a cool, dry place, but not the refridge, for up to 6 months. After 6 weeks, if you notice that there are still capsules left, you can transfer them to the freezer for long term preservation. The capsules will need to come out of the bottle and go into a ziploc bag.
On average, placenta capsules have a 2 year shelf life. If stored properly, you need not worried about them becoming rancid. After 2 years their nutritional and hormonal quality greatly decreases. If you capsules left left at 1-2 years postpartum, your best option is to turn the powder into a tincture to stop any further degrading in quality.
What are the risks to Ingesting Placenta capsules?
Taking placenta capsules has about the same risk as eating food prepared at a restaurant. Every precaution is made to ensure you are safe. Rooted In Birth's placenta specialist has been trained not only to encapsulate safely but is also certified in food safety and bloodborne pathogens.
There are other risks to consider too, which is why I give you specific instructions so that it minimizes things like the possibility of your placenta being switched at the hospital, dropped, or exposed to chemicals. If anything seems out of the ordinary, please let me know right away so it can be addressed.
It's worth noting that for some people (albeit rare), ingesting their placenta can negatively impact milk production or mood. This is usually because the placenta processed using the raw preparation method. Rooted In Birth doesn't offer this method and steams all placentas before dehydrating.
There are other risks to consider too, which is why I give you specific instructions so that it minimizes things like the possibility of your placenta being switched at the hospital, dropped, or exposed to chemicals. If anything seems out of the ordinary, please let me know right away so it can be addressed.
It's worth noting that for some people (albeit rare), ingesting their placenta can negatively impact milk production or mood. This is usually because the placenta processed using the raw preparation method. Rooted In Birth doesn't offer this method and steams all placentas before dehydrating.
When Is Placenta Encapsulation Not Safe?
Your health and safety is of the utmost importance during the postpartum period. If you or your baby have an infection such as, PUPPS, or Chorioamnionitis at birth it may not be safe to encapsulate your placenta. If you experience anything unexpected or develop a fever, it is important to contact your doctor or midwife immediately. If you currently have or have had HIV, Hep B, Hep C, GBS infection, or other infections or fevers during your labor we will not process your placenta nor encourage you to consume your placenta. Additionally, if there is any concern about the contamination of your placenta, it is best to err on the side of caution and not consume it. If you become ill during your postpartum period, it is important to stop taking your placenta pills and contact your encapsulation specialist to develop a plan for safely weaning off of them. Abruptly stopping consumption can have negative effects, so it is important to seek guidance.
Can I Encapsulate if I'm Induced, have a cesarean, or a medicated birth?
Encapsulation is possible if you give birth by Cesarean, are induced, or birth with an epidural. The placenta acts as a filter for toxins, sending them back to the birthing person's liver to be detoxed from the system. The placenta is able to filter out medication quickly that is passed through the placenta. There will be some epidural medication passed to the baby and a small residual amount left in the placental blood. Rooted In Birth employs the steamed method of preparation, the steaming will make any narcotic unstable or completely render the drug useless. If you are on any medications during your pregnancy please let your encapsulator know and seek thier advice before encapsulating your placenta.
What happens if my placenta is meconium stained?
Meconium, or baby's first "poo" is sterile and does not contain fecal bacteria that normal stool does and is perfectly fine to encapsulate. Meconium is only dangerous for baby to inhale, but is otherwise harmless. Your placenta is washed thoroughly during the processing of your placenta.
What if I am GBS positive or have an infection and need antibiotics, will I still be able to encapsulate my placenta?
GBS or Group B Strep is a common bacterium that does not normally pose a health risk to the birthing person. All bacteria in the placenta is killed during the steaming process.
Rarely, GBS can lead to a uterine infection. If you develop a uterine infection or fever during your labor, your placenta would not be beneficial to you postpartum and will likely be taken to pathology. Otherwise, GBS is not contraindicated for placenta encapsulation.
Rarely, GBS can lead to a uterine infection. If you develop a uterine infection or fever during your labor, your placenta would not be beneficial to you postpartum and will likely be taken to pathology. Otherwise, GBS is not contraindicated for placenta encapsulation.
What if I Am having multiples?
You can still encapsulate your placenta(s)! For twin births, there are three different types of twin placentas:
- Dichorionic Diamniotic (DiDi twins): This is where there are two placentas, two amniotic sacs, and two babies. These placentas will be processed and packaged separately as the birthing person can react differently to the two sets of hormones.
- Monochorionic Diamniotic (MoDi twins): Single placenta, two amniotic sacs, and two babies.
- Monochorionic Monoamniotic (MoMo Twins): Single placenta, one amniotic sac and two babies.
What process to you use to encapsulate a placenta?
The placenta is first properly washed, drained, and steamed, which is done over a stove top, and is then placed in a dedicated food dehydrator for a specified time. Once the organ is fully dehydrated, it is ground into a fine powder and placed into capsules for you to take.
Can I still encapsulate if I am also banking the cord blood?
Yes, you can! The blood is collected from the chorionic veins and a tissue sample is taken in some cases. Sometimes they may also take the entire umbilical cord, if this were the case a cord keepsake would not be possible.
What else can I do with my placenta?
Some birthing people like to have a placenta smoothie right after birth. All you need to do is blend a chunk of placenta (aprox. 1"x1") in a blender with all your favorite fruits or veggies. Reported benefits of consuming raw placenta:
- Reduction in blood loss
- Reduction in time for breast milk to “come-in”
- Increase in energy and strength
- Provides you with an immediate, bio-available, hit of healing hormones
- An immediate supply of bio-available vitamins and minerals
- Helps to halt post partum haemorrhage due to blood clotting properties
Where does Rooted In Birth provide Placenta Services?
Rooted In Birth povides placenta services within a 40 mile radius. If you are outside of that radius there will be an additional charge based on mileage. Please reach out or see Rooted In Birth's radius map for more information.
Placenta Research
Everybody's Got One, Radiolab Podcast (Aug 2021)
Placenta – Worth Trying? Human Maternal Placentophagy: Possible Benefit and Potential Risks Jena University: Johnson SK, Groten T, Pastuschek J, Rödel J, Markert UR (Sep 2018)
Maternal Placenta Consumption causes no harm to newborns: ScienceDaily May 2018
Human placentophagy: Effects of dehydration and steaming on hormones, metals and bacteria in placental tissue. Jena University: Johnson SK, Groten T, Pastuschek J, Rödel J, Sammer U, Markert UR (May 2018). Elsevier Sciencedirect.
Does eating placenta offer postpartum benefits? The British Journal of Midwives July 2012; Written by Michelle Beacock – Student Midwife, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire and NCT Antenatal Teacher.
Placenta – Worth Trying? Human Maternal Placentophagy: Possible Benefit and Potential Risks Jena University: Johnson SK, Groten T, Pastuschek J, Rödel J, Markert UR (Sep 2018)
Maternal Placenta Consumption causes no harm to newborns: ScienceDaily May 2018
Human placentophagy: Effects of dehydration and steaming on hormones, metals and bacteria in placental tissue. Jena University: Johnson SK, Groten T, Pastuschek J, Rödel J, Sammer U, Markert UR (May 2018). Elsevier Sciencedirect.
Does eating placenta offer postpartum benefits? The British Journal of Midwives July 2012; Written by Michelle Beacock – Student Midwife, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire and NCT Antenatal Teacher.