This picture shows the maternal side of the placenta. We thoroughly rinse it and then remove the amniotic sac and the umbilical cord.
“Baby blues” is a common occurrence – 80% of mothers experience it in the first days and weeks after giving birth. Because it is so common, nothing is typically done about it until it worsens into a diagnosis of postpartum depression, at which time anti-depressants may be prescribed. Anti-depressants are passed to the baby through breastmilk, and mothers who do not want to expose their babies to these medications are often faced with the decision to either stop breastfeeding or struggle with depression. Women suffer through the baby blues almost as a rite of passage to motherhood – but it doesn’t have to be this way.
Placentophagy, or consumption of the placenta, is believed to gradually replace the hormones lost so rapidly after childbirth and therefore eases drastic mood swings that can occur postpartum. Some women have cooked the placenta in a stew, mixed it into a smoothie, or even taken it raw to tap into its powerful effects. For many who feel squeamish about this or want to reap the benefits of placenta for more than just a day or two, there is another option: encapsulation. Powdered placenta has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries. In the postpartum period, placenta capsules can be used to
- *balance your hormones
- *enhance your milk supply
- *increase your energy
Although current research on human placentophagy does not exist, what we do know is that women who take placenta capsules report fewer emotional issues, have more energy and tend to enjoy a faster, more pleasant postpartum recovery. The first few days and weeks with your new baby are precious. Give yourself the best chance to fully enjoy your “babymoon” with placenta capsules.
The placenta is rinsed, dried, ground and encapsulated, and when properly stored, the capsules can be used for weeks. When you have recovered from childbirth, you can even freeze the capsules and save them for menopause.
Check out PlacentaBenefits.info
for more information on placenta encapsulation.
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Ideally, the placenta is encapsulated within 48 hours after the birth. For clients giving birth at the birth center, we will begin the process before you and your baby head home. The capsules will be ready for pick up, or will be brought to your home visit within two days of your baby's birth.
For others wishing to use this service please call before your due date to get details on the process for drop off and pick up.
Encapsulation fee: $150
The encapsulation process in pictures
This is a close up picture of the baby's side. The vessels you see are often referred to as "the tree of life", they are responsible for supplying the baby with oxygenated and nourishing blood.
After the placenta is rinsed and lightly steamed we slice it into thin strips and put it into the oven on a low temperature for about 5 hours to dehydrate it. The umbilical cord is not needed for the encapsulation process but rather than throw it away we dry it in a heart shape and give it to the family along with the finished pills.
Once dried we put the placenta into a coffee grinder and process it until it is a fine powder. And yes, I do have a coffee grinder whose sole purpose is placenta encapsulation! I have a second one for my precious coffee beans.
Next we fill the capsules with the aid of this little capsule filling contraption called a "cap-m-quik". We typically get 125-200 pills per placenta.
And here is the end product.