Frequently Asked Questions

When do you encapsulate my placenta?

Ideally, I should come start the process within the first 24-48 hours after birth, which allows you and baby to potentially benefit from the the most potency your placenta has to offer. Immediately after birth, the placenta should be placed in a container (our hospitals and birth centre generally provides a white container for placenta use), in the fridge or in a cooler packed with ice. It can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days if needed. If I cannot come in to process it within 4 days, please double bag the placenta and place in a container, in the freezer. 

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What do I do with my placenta after I give birth?
Please bring a small cooler with you to your birthing place, and have the placenta put inside with lots of ice. Please replenish the ice often! The placenta can stay out at room temperature for up to 3 hours before it has to be refrigerated. Alternatively, the Womens Hospital and St Boniface Hospital both have a fridge that it can be kept in, but it's imperative that you confirm it was put in the fridge, and not taken to be disposed of. 

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What is the difference between Raw method and Steamed method? Do you do TCM?
The raw method of preparation does NOT steam your placenta prior to dehydrating it. Your raw placenta is rinsed, sliced & placed in the dehydrator. Raw method gives you more potent capsules and a higher yield. With the raw method, you'll retain the most nutrients in your placenta. 

The heated/steamed method gently warms the placenta by steaming it prior to dehydrating it. Your raw placenta is rinsed, lightly steamed, sliced & placed in the dehydrator. I do not perform TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) method, because simply put: I am not trained in Chinese Medicine. Without knowing your medical history, or the way your body works, it would be unwise for me to be adding herbs and foods to your placenta capsules. It would be better for you to make some healing tea to take alongside your capsules, than it would be for me to add things to your capsules that I cannot remove.

I prepare your capsules raw by default, unless otherwise requested. 

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Can I keep my placenta for now and decide to encapsulate it later?

I do recommend keeping your placenta, EVEN IF you think you don't need it.. It's better to be safe than sorry, and if you decide 3 months postpartum that you do indeed want it encapsulated, or turned into a tincture, then it's still available to you! Please double bag your placenta in freezer-safe ziplock bags, and place in a container. Your placenta can be kept in a fridge freezer for up to 6 months, but be careful about keeping the temperature stable. Do not keep by the door. Ideally you would freeze it in a deep freezer, where it has much less risk of freezer burn, and as long as it is stored properly, can be kept indefinitely.

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Where do you do this?

I process all placentas in my own workspace in my home. In my experience, this gives me complete control over the environment, and a watchful eye over your placenta as it dehydrates. I cannot work in a clients home due to liability, or if there are pets or smoke present. I cannot be there for 24 hours to make sure the dehydrator is working properly. I generally work at night, and set frequent alarms to check on the process. If my dehydrator were to malfunction in your home, your placenta would likely be lost. 

I adhere to the strictest standards of safety as set forth by OSHA and conforming to local health department guidelines for food preparation and safety protocols. The preparation process is always done in a sterile environment, using sterile equipment, with love and patience, giving you the greatest quality and care you can ask for.

 

 

Will the hospital release my placenta?

From my experience, the Winnipeg Women's Hospital, and the Winnipeg St Boniface hospital are both pretty good about releasing the placenta after birth, but you should tell your doctor or midwife 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 labour.  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.  Sadly it was too late for them to encapsulate their placenta, but that has helped pave the way for others. I will provide you with a form to give your care provider that they can sign regarding consent, you can have them sign this letting them know you refuse for the placenta to go to pathology and receive testing.

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What if they want to take my placenta to pathology?

If the placenta needs to be taken to pathology (generally because of infection during labour, or if something was wrong with the placenta), I cannot encapsulate. Once it has been taken I cannot guarantee it was handled in a sterile manner, or not contaminated with chemicals like formaldehyde. If the placenta does go to pathology, you will receive a full refund. For a small fee ($25), I can still take the umbilical cord and turn it into a keepsake for you! 

 

What if I have an epidural or a c-section? or Pitocin, or antibiotics during labour?

There is no contraindication for epidural and encapsulation. Epidural anaesthesia and pitocin break down very quickly after entering the placenta. The antibiotics typically used during labour for Group B Strep are also not contraindicated. Ceserean clients benefit from placenta therapy just as much as vaginal birth clients! If you're on any other medication during pregnant or labour, please consult with your care provider, but a general rule of thumb is that if the medication is safe for pregnancy or safe for breastfeeding, its safe for encapsulation. 

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Can I still have my placenta encapsulated if I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia?

Placenta encapsulation is not contraindicated for moms with Pre-eclampsia. Many women who’ve had pre-eclampsia have very successfully used Placenta Pills. No one fully understands pre-e or exactly how to prevent it, and although the placenta does seem to play a part, it is not usually unfit for consumption. After the birth, they will want to examine your placenta for irregularities and problems. Most of the time, the placenta is completely fine and you should have no problem having it released for encapsulation. If your care provider diagnoses a problem or infection in the placenta, it will be sent to pathology and you won’t be able to have it encapsulated. 

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Is Placenta Encapsulation considered Cannibalism? 

Cannibalism is the eating of human flesh. Flesh is defined as being muscle and fat; placenta is neither. Cannibalism, by definition, is consumption of the flesh of someone or something that has been recently killed. Placentas, again, do not qualify.

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How many pills will I get, and how long will they last?

The amount of pills you get is correlated to the size of your placenta, and whether you choose raw or steamed method. Because placenta size usually corresponds with baby size, you get as may pills as your body needs because your body made the perfect size placenta for your baby. Playing with dosage can also help to extend the lifetime of your placenta capsules. Some women need more, some need less. 

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How do I store my capsules/Tincture/Chocolates, etc.

Please keep your capsules in a dark cupboard for up to 6 weeks, and then move them to a freezer-safe Ziplock bag in your freezer. As long as they're kept in a stable temperature, they can be taken straight from the freezer, and kept in there indefinitely. Please do not put capsules in the fridge, as there is a high risk of spoilage. Tincture should be kept in a dark cupboard. Chocolates should be kept in the freezer for best quality and lifespan. You can remove a few and thaw in fridge for a bit before eating. Do not keep at room temperature.

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Can I choose to purchase one of your add-ons and opt-out of the encapsulation service?

No, my placenta encapsulation package is my main service, and everything else is available as additional add-ons. 

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Can I encapsulate my placenta if my baby passed meconium before birth?

Yes. Although meconium is NOT sterile as once believed, it is generally believed to be not a contraindication for encapsulation. For a placenta that has been in contact with meconium, I first soak in apple cider vinegar, and do a steamed preparation only.

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Why is it important to use someone that is trained in placenta encapsulation?

Choosing the right specialist to encapsulate your placenta is an important decision. A trained specialist must follow all OSHA and EPA guidelines for safe handling and disinfection. A properly trained specialist will also be able to advise you on correct dosage guidelines, instructions for proper capsule storage, and when to not take your capsules. 

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Safety and sanitation is my top priority. For my families safety, and yours. For this reason, I only work on one placenta at a time. There is no chance of any accidental switch or cross-contamination. All of my supplies and materials are either thrown away or thoroughly cleaned and sanitised between clients.
No matter who you choose to encapsulate your placenta, please be sure that you are using a trained professional. 

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