Placenta Encapsulation Basics
If you are thinking “wait, whaaaat?” or “that's pretty gross”, you are not alone. What's the deal with new mamas using their placentas? Well, to start, it's more about the benefits the placenta bestows than anything else. Why waste a good thing – we did create this amazing organ to nourish our babies after all!
Here are the basics of placental encapsulation:
WHO – Any mom with a healthy placenta - but if mom is on any medications she should check with her Dr. about using her placenta.
WHAT – Baby's placenta - an amazing organ chock full of vitamins, minerals, and hormones.
WHEN – The newborn placenta is ready to be encapsulated once the umbilical cord is cut and it's checked out your midwife or Dr. Until the process of encapsulation begins the placenta can be stored at room temperature for 4-6 hours, then it needs to be stored in a cooler or fridge (or freezer if it will be more than a few days). Usually in the first 24 hours after birth the placenta is picked up, and about 24-48 hours after that the capsules are delivered to you.
WHERE – The placenta is picked up at your home or the hospital, and the capsules are brought to you at home after they are done.
WHY – Oh the benefits!
Those are the basics, but there are many other uses for the placenta. Have you heard of placenta prints or burying the placenta under a tree? Raw food enthusiasts use frozen raw pellets, and some women choose to make a stir fry or a stew! Tinctures and smoothies can also be made. Capsules can be frozen for use with PMS, menopause, or for baby mixed in with food or milk to help with separation anxiety.
Interesting fact: Most placental mammals do eat their placenta and marsupials actually resorb the placenta rather than deliver it!
Please contact Megan if you have questions, would like to encapsulate, or use your placenta in any way!
Here are the basics of placental encapsulation:
WHO – Any mom with a healthy placenta - but if mom is on any medications she should check with her Dr. about using her placenta.
WHAT – Baby's placenta - an amazing organ chock full of vitamins, minerals, and hormones.
WHEN – The newborn placenta is ready to be encapsulated once the umbilical cord is cut and it's checked out your midwife or Dr. Until the process of encapsulation begins the placenta can be stored at room temperature for 4-6 hours, then it needs to be stored in a cooler or fridge (or freezer if it will be more than a few days). Usually in the first 24 hours after birth the placenta is picked up, and about 24-48 hours after that the capsules are delivered to you.
WHERE – The placenta is picked up at your home or the hospital, and the capsules are brought to you at home after they are done.
WHY – Oh the benefits!
- Prostoglandins in placenta help to shrink uterus.
- Oxytocin present in placenta helps body deal with the stress of birth as well as help eject milk in mammary cells.
- Helps replenish vitamins and minerals – including Iron – to the post-birth body.
- Reported to increase milk production.
- Reported to decrease incidence of postpartum mood disorders.
- Reported to improve recovery period.
- Moderates natural mood swings (like baby blues).
- Adds warming energy back into the body after birth.
- Many women find the ritual of taking the placenta helps keep self-care a priority, which benefits both mom and baby.
Those are the basics, but there are many other uses for the placenta. Have you heard of placenta prints or burying the placenta under a tree? Raw food enthusiasts use frozen raw pellets, and some women choose to make a stir fry or a stew! Tinctures and smoothies can also be made. Capsules can be frozen for use with PMS, menopause, or for baby mixed in with food or milk to help with separation anxiety.
Interesting fact: Most placental mammals do eat their placenta and marsupials actually resorb the placenta rather than deliver it!
Please contact Megan if you have questions, would like to encapsulate, or use your placenta in any way!
"I decided to do placenta encapsulation because I'd read about and heard of the physical and mental benefits for new moms. I figured there was no harm in trying it! It was a very simple process- we informed our care team at the hospital we would be taking the placenta with us (we had to bring a cooler to the hospital for this purpose), then brought it home, and Megan picked it up right away and took care of the rest. I started taking the capsules a few days after delivery and I noticed a definite energy increase for several hours after taking each dose. I also noticed a major improvement in my mood after each dose for several hours. In my experience, the placenta pills alleviated some of the fears/depression and fatigue that most women experience in those first few postpartum weeks. I was taking the capsules on the maximum dosing schedule so if my memory serves, I took them for approximately 3 weeks. I also liked that you can use them or freeze them for a later time when you may need those benefits (I used all of mine). I plan on doing placenta encapsulation again with any future children because I felt it made a difference in my postpartum recovery." - Hillary A. West Seattle
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