Placenta Services 101
|
Please take a few minutes to read through these questions and answers. They were compiled in a way that should walk you through the process of deciding if placenta encapsulation is right for you and then how to choose a method and what other services might benefit you. Please call or email with any other questions you may have. What are the benefits of consuming placenta? Placenta consumption is believed to enhance and regulate milk supply, increase energy, balance hormones, and combat fatigue. It may also shorten your postpartum recovery time, shorten postpartum bleeding, bring the body back into hormonal balance, assist the uterus in returning to normal size, prevent baby blues and postpartum depression, and increase the body’s iron levels. The placenta is nutrient rich, high in iron, protein, vitamins and minerals as well as your unique levels of hormones, making it perfectly suited to your body’s needs during the postpartum period. Please keep in mind that each woman's body responds differently so benefits are not guaranteed. What is placenta encapsulation?
What is a placenta tincture? Placenta tincture is a constitutional remedy that can be used for the baby and mother throughout their life. The placenta contains vitamins, minerals, hormones and stem cells so it’s a very good immune remedy. A few uses include cough, stuffy nose, indigestion, teething, & high stress events. What is a placenta print? A print of your placenta is created when a piece of heavy weight artist's paper is pressed to your placenta resulting in a one of a kind sepia toned "Tree of Life" keepsake. A colored print is created using food dye for watercolor look in up to three colors of your choice. What is a cord keepsake? The umbilical cord is detached from the placenta and shaped, usually into a heart if the cord is long enough, dehydrated, and placed in an organza bag for you to cherish through the years. What does "Preparation for Smoothies" mean? When I come to pick up the placenta, or if requesting only this service, I will come to you, rinse your placenta and portion it into individual servings to be included in a healthy smoothie giving you immediate energy and vital nutrients during those first few postpartum hours and days. Unless additional arrangements are made in advance of your birth, you are responsible for the other smoothie ingredients & blending. So what exactly is in a placenta that is beneficial?
Will placenta pills help prevent the ‘baby blues’ or postpartum depression? The ‘baby blues’ is now a named symptom of birth and mothers are told to expect to feel sad, anxious and very emotional around the third day after the birth, usually when the milk engorges the breasts, but can occur anytime in the first year postpartum. These symptoms can sometimes develop into postpartum depression. Studies have proven that the symptoms of postpartum depression can be linked with a severe lack of essential nutrients such as iron, vitamin B6 and hormones including CRH (stress reducing homone), all of which are plentiful in the placenta. Consuming the placenta after birth replenishes the mother's lost nutrients and hormones and may lessen the severity or entirely prevent the ‘baby blues’ and/or postpartum depression. How can taking placenta capsules boost my milk supply? It is recommended to take 1-3 capsules a day for as long as needed after birth. It cannot be guaranteed that placenta capsules have any effect on breastfeeding, however, many clients notice their milk ‘comes in’ much quicker than expected and remains consistent without problems for many weeks, months or even years post-birth. Are there contraindications to ingesting my placenta? Risks of ingesting placenta are if the expectant mother has smoked cigarettes or used a recreational drug during pregnancy or the 3 months prior to conceiving. Both get held in placental tissue -esp. heavy metals like cadmium – making it questionable whether a placenta should be ingested. I’ve heard the placenta is full of waste and may contain toxins, is this true? Your placenta acts as a life supply for your baby during pregnancy and if it were full of toxins this would make a very dangerous organ for your baby to be fed from, therefore it is not possible for the placenta to be ‘full of waste’. The placenta acted as a gateway for nutrient supply to your baby and waste from your baby to be passed back to your body to be filtered through your organs. Unless there is a history of smoking or recreational drug use, there are only small amounts of heavy metals in the placenta, however, it is scientifically proven that these levels are no greater than normal levels of heavy metals found in the body and in mothers colostrum and breast milk. Will I experience any side effects when taking my placenta capsules? Results cannot be guaranteed with placenta capsules or any other placenta remedy. Because your placenta is made by you, the quality and potency of your placenta capsules are unique to yourself and your own placenta. Storing your placenta capsules properly and not taking over the recommended dose will reduce your chances of experiencing any side effect. Listed below are some side effects that other encapsulation specialists have reported, these have occurred in less than 2% of their clientele.
Are there any circumstances when it would not be possible to use the placenta for encapsulation or other placenta remedies? Yes, if your placenta has been sent to pathology in hospital for any reason we cannot make your placenta into capsules because it may have been contaminated while in the pathology department. You can request the hospital to take just a small piece of your placenta for examination in this instance. Also, in the case of an infection of the placenta I would not be able to ensure the safety of the capsules and therefore, would not encapsulate. I want to donate my baby’s cord blood. Will I still be able to have my placenta made into capsules? Yes, you can do both. I advise parents to have two separate containers and ensure their midwife or doctor knows that they wish to have both services. The placenta should be put into the placenta container after birth and stored safely in a cooler or refrigerator. The umbilical cord should be stored in a separate container awaiting collection from the company of choice. What if I am GBS positive and need antibiotics, will I still be able to use my placenta? Group Beta Strep requires you request only traditionally processed capsules. This means I will steam your placenta before encapsulation to ensure that any possible bacteria is killed before dehydration. What if I give birth prematurely? Premature births are often associated with problems in pregnancy. However, as long as your placenta is examined and cleared from any type of abnormality after birth I am happy to help you with placenta services. If I have a medicated birth or cesarean section can I still use my placenta for encapsulation and/or other placenta remedies? Yes, you can still use your placenta if you have a cesarean birth as long as your placenta has not been sent to pathology. Can my family members take my placenta capsules too? I do not recommend that anyone consume placenta capsules other than the mother who made the placenta. When is the best time for the cord to be cut if using my placenta for placenta encapsulation? I highly recommend all mothers to choose delayed cord clamping for the benefit of their newborn. Delayed cord clamping involves leaving the umbilical cord intact for at least 3-10 minutes after birth, longer if possible. During this time the cord is still pumping up to 150ml of iron and stem cell rich blood to your baby which has been scientifically proven to have lifelong benefits. Delayed cord clamping does not affect placenta encapsulation in any way. How should I store my placenta capsules? Placenta capsules can be stored in the jar provided in a cool, dark place or refrigerator for up to a year, then transferred to a freezer safe container and frozen for later use. What is the difference between raw dried and traditionally prepared placenta capsules? Unlike the traditional preparation of the placenta, when processing a placenta raw we do not steam the placenta during the process. Some mothers report a great “boost” initially with raw preparation, while the traditional method has more of a “time-release” effect. This is not to say one method is better than the other, just that you have options for encapsulation and should choose the method that best suits your needs and preferences. Aren’t the hormones contained in the placenta actually destroyed during the cooking process used when preparing traditional capsules? To some extent the heat process when preparing traditional capsules may affect the stem cells, hormones and B vitamins but to what degree is unknown. Minerals such as iron are not damaged by heat and there may be minimal damage to other nutrients found in the placenta. Placenta pills give a new mother the chance to benefit from her placenta for months after birth and have shown to have incredible benefits to energy levels and breastmilk supply. There is currently little scientific evidence to suggest whether the placenta pills are or are not beneficial. Placenta encapsulation information relies primarily on personal experiences, anecdotal evidence, and testimonials from new mothers who reveal placenta encapsulation was the key to their speedy recovery following birth. Do the capsules smell or taste like anything? Placenta capsules may have a slight taste of blood rich meat however if swallowed quickly most clients will not notice any taste or smell. If you find your capsules begin to smell or taste unusually bad I recommend you stop taking your capsules and contact me so we can discuss storage and how to proceed. How big are the capsules and how long will they last? I use size '0' capsules when preparing placenta pills. These measure roughly 2cm in length and 0.7cm in width. Traditional placenta capsules will last indefinitely if stored properly. Raw dried placenta capsules may not last longer than 1 year if store in the home freezer, however, as of yet, we do not have exact shelf life guidelines. How many capsules will my placenta make? Placentas make between 75-300 capsules depending on the type of method you choose and the size of your placenta. How long should I take my placenta capsules? You can take your placenta capsules for as long as you feel you need them. Some women take them for a short time after birth, take them as needed to decrease the symptoms of PMS, and/or save traditionally processed capsules to use during menopause. What is the proper care and handling for encapsulation? Please let your support person and your care provider know that you are choosing to keep your placenta. After your birth the placenta needs to be refrigerated within 4 hours. If it is not possible to refrigerate, a nurse or your chosen support person should bag the placenta in 2 ziplock bags and place it in a Tupperware container filled with ice or in a small cooler. DO NOT allow the placenta to be taken to pathology (if in the hospital) after your birth as this will render it unfit for encapsulation. If your care provider insists that it needs to be sent, ask if they can cut off a small piece and allow you to keep the rest. If you desire a print of your placenta, please ask your care provider NOT to wrap your placenta in paper towels or a chux pad. GBS colonization is NOT a contraindication for encapsulation provided both mother & baby are free of active infection after birth and immediately postpartum. How should I notify you to come pick up the placenta? Please have your support person call or text me at (321) 684-1111 when labor starts so I will have a general idea that I will be called to pick up soon and then again after your birth when you are ready for me to pick up the placenta. I will come as soon as possible, but usually within 8 hours. If your birth occurs in the middle of the night (or after 8pm), please text and I will come pick it up in the morning; alternatively you may call me in the morning after 7am if you would prefer. What if my birth happens on a date other than my due date? I am on call to encapsulate your placenta whenever the birth occurs. Your due date gives me a general idea of when to expect to hear from you, and allows me to plan my schedule and reserve your spot on my calendar, but it is just a guide. How long does it take to encapsulate a placenta? When will my pills be ready? It typically takes 24-48 hours, and in most cases pills are delivered within 48 hours. What type of supplies are used and how are they sterilized? The supplies used during the placenta encapsulation process are all stainless steel, food grade, or disposable. Everything is thoroughly washed with soap and hot water, and sanitized in commercial grade sanitizing solution for food equipment and surfaces. I follow the same guidelines for cleanliness and sanitation that are used in food service establishments and small laboratories. Can I keep my placenta for now and decide to encapsulate it later? A placenta that has been frozen can be encapsulated for up to 6 months. I recommend that every woman at least keep their placenta in the freezer just in case you find yourself needing it. If you decide that you don’t need it, then nothing is lost, but once you get rid of it, it’s gone for good – so better safe than sorry. How can you be sure the placenta capsules are from YOUR placenta? Finding a placenta specialist you can trust is the most important part of the process and I recommend you spend some time emailing with your local placenta specialists and asking questions about how they operate their services. If you are in doubt, you can always ask your placenta specialist to encapsulate your placenta in your own home ensuring your placenta never leaves your kitchen. At Roots of Love we know how precious each placenta is and ensure quality care and attention is given to each client and their placenta. On some occasions I may have more than one placenta to encapsulate, however I will only work with one placenta at a time (storing the other in a safe fridge) ensuring there are no confusions during the process. What if my placenta can’t be encapsulated within 72 hrs. of birth? It is best to prepare a placenta fresh, within 3 days postpartum, because the hormones retained have a shelf life and begin to lose potency after this time. If not possible to encapsulate in the suggested time-frame, the placenta can be double-bagged in gallon-sized Ziploc freezer bags and frozen ASAP after birth. I’m not so sure my placenta capsules are working, how do I know? Many mothers say they simply feel ‘good’ while taking their capsules but are unsure if that’s just the way it would have been had they not consumed their placenta. Try skipping a day or dose and see if you feel any different, then you’ll know if there really is a change or not. I have some capsules left over and I’m pregnant again, can I take my left-over capsules while pregnant? The placenta is designed to help the body recover after childbirth and composes of hormones which may contract the uterus. To prevent any risk of miscarriage or pre-term labor, I highly advise mothers not to take placenta capsules while pregnant. References: www.placentawise.com www.placentanetwork.com www.happybellies.net www.desertbirthandwellness.com Selenium, cadmium, lead, and mercury concentrations in human breast milk, in placenta, maternal blood, and the blood of the newborn. P. Schramel, S. Hasse, J. Ovcar-Pavlu.Biological Trace Element Research. Jan–Apr, 1988, Volume 15, Issue 1, pp 111-124 Human placenta as a ‘dual’ biomarker for monitoring fetal and maternal environment with special reference to potentially toxic trace elements. Part 3: Toxic trace elements in placenta and placenta as a biomarker for these elements. G.V. Iyengar, A. Rapp. Science of The Total Environment. Volume 280, Issues 1–3, 3 December 2001, Pages 221–238 Disclaimer: Roots of Love Birth Services is not a medical doctor, midwife, pharmacist, pharmaceutical representative, holistic practitioner, or herbalist. Any statements made have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure or prevent any disease. Placenta consumption has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration, nor is it clinical/pharmaceutical, or intended to diagnose/treat a condition. Women who utilize this service take full responsibility for consuming placenta at their own risk. Please check with your midwife or other healthcare provider to be sure your placenta is healthy and able to be safely consumed. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. |
Placenta Services Pricing
For combination Birth Doula & Encapsulation Packages click HERE.
***Travel Fee*** Due to the current economic climate a travel fee of $25 may be added for birth locations north of Viera Blvd and south of Malabar Rd. Placenta Encapsulation $225 ~ Traditional(steamed) or Raw 4oz Tincture $50 Placenta Prints included with encapsulation without encapsulation $25 natural or colored print(food grade dyes used) Cord Keepsake included with encapsulation Preparation for Smoothies please email for pricing as this is a highly individualized service A non-refundable retainer of 50% is requested by 36 weeks but not required. This retainer ensures that I will be on call 2 weeks before and after your estimated due date and that you will have your encapsulation completed & delivered within 48 hours of pick up. Should you choose to forego the retainer, encapsulation will occur on a first come, first served basis. |
Have questions or need more information?
RootsofLoveFlorida@gmail.com (321) 684-1111 facebook.com/RootsofLoveFL
RootsofLoveFlorida@gmail.com (321) 684-1111 facebook.com/RootsofLoveFL