Placenta Encapsulation

What is the Placenta?

The Placenta is an actual organ that your body grows during pregnancy! Is that not one of the coolest things you’ve ever heard? Your body is literally growing an organ (think your heart, liver, etc.). It is the meeting point and barrier between two circulatory systems, the fetal circulatory system and the pregnant persons circulatory system. The placenta provides oxygenated blood and nutrients to the baby, and removes waste product and carbon dioxide, filtering it out through the pregnant persons system.

There are two surfaces; the fetal surface and the pregnant persons surface. For the pregnant person, the placenta is attached to the wall of the uterus. This is the side that releases; it detaches from uterine wall to be birthed. The fetal side is covered by the amniotic membrane, this secretes amniotic fluid (which is what releases when your “water breaks”)! The fetal side is also where the umbilical cord inserts. This provides a connection between the baby and the placenta. The umbilical cord contains 1 vein, which carries nutrients and oxygenated blood from the placenta to the baby, and two arteries that transport the waste back to the placenta to be absorbed and filtered by the pregnant person.

The placenta is powerful. It protects the baby from infections, supports fetal development, secretes hormones. A healthy placenta is vital to a healthy pregnancy.

Source: https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/placenta-en

Why encapsulate?

There are many reasons to consider encapsulating your placenta. The most important reason being – YOU WANT TO!

Most of the evidence that supports encapsulation is anecdotal. Meaning it is based on personal accounts rather than scientific research. But that doesn’t mean that the reports are not valued and respected, at least from my perspective.

Many believe that ingesting the placenta decreases your chances of suffering from a postpartum mood disorder, and lessens the severity if you are struggling. It increases oxytocin production and decreases stress hormones. Research has confirmed that hormones do remain present in the encapsulated placenta! Consumption boosts iron levels, helping to heal and energize the postpartum person. And even supports milk production.

Most of our society, and western medicine, view the placenta as medical waste. It is typically whisked away to be incinerated or used for medical research. But many cultures around the world hold very different traditions. Some wrap and bury, some burn and bury, some bury and plant a specific type of tree, some consume raw. There is no right or wrong way to honor your placenta! I, admittedly, find it a little sad when this life giving organ goes to waste!

Sources: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-placenta-encapsulation/ , https://hearthandhomemidwifery.com/blog/placenta-encapsulation-pros-and-cons

Encapsulation Process

Thorough sanitization of work space and all equipment.

Careful rinsing and cleaning the placenta.

The umbilical cord is trimmed–this is dehydrated and turned into a keepsake.

The cleaned placenta is steamed to an internal temp of at least 160 degrees along with lemon, fennel, peppercorns, and ginger (unless allergies are present). This helps to kill bacteria.

The placenta is prepared for dehydration

The placenta dehydrates for 12-18 hours in a dehydrator that is reserved specifically for placentas.

The dehydrated placenta is then ground into a fine powder.

Capsules are filled with the placenta powder, then placed in a glass amber jar. Left over powder or remaining placenta pieces can be placed in alcohol for a tincture if desired.

Finally, a very thorough sanitization process of all equipment and work space is performed.

FAQ

Are there any circumstances that would warrant refusal to encapsulate? -Yes. If you smoked cigarettes during your pregnancy, if you have STIs, Hepatitis, or HIV/AIDS, if you experienced a confirmed infection in labor/birth.

If I am Group B Strep (GBS) positive, will you still encapsulate? -Yes! As long as you desire. GBS status is not a reason to discard your placenta.

How should I store my placenta? – If I am not already at your birth, I need to be notified when you are in labor and when the baby is born. You will need to have a hard cooler with you at your birth location, along with at least 2 one gallon sized freezer bags for ice. The provider will give you the placenta in either a bag or container. You will put this in the cooler to keep on ice within 1-2 hours of birth. I will then arrange to come to your location to pick up your placenta.

When can I expect to receive my encapsulated Placenta? -Barring unforeseen circumstances, I will bring your encapsulation to you within 72 hours.

How many capsules can I expect? -This is dependent on the size of your placenta, which can vary greatly. The average encapsulation contains 80-200, “00” capsules.