Placenta Encapsulation Services
~ Frequently Asked Questions ~
Why consider having my Placenta Encapsulated?
Taking your own placenta capsules in the postpartum may lead to many benefits which can include increased milk supply, increased energy levels and reduced likelihood of developing the baby blues or lessened symptoms of the baby blues
The Placenta Encapsulation process is carried out in alignment with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where placenta has been used to treat fatigue and increase milk production for thousands of years.
Where will you encapsulate my placenta?
There are two options offered. I can take your placenta away and encapsulate it or, I can encapsulate your placenta in your own home. Most clients choose for me to encapsulate for them in my home.
How do I know that I'll get my own placenta back?
Please keep in mind that I am answering this question based on how I work. Other Placenta Encapsulation Specialists may work differently to me.
Recently a mother told me that this was the concern that her husband held. It hadn't really crossed her mind but it was his main concern about the encapsulation process. I always aim for my encapsulation services to be of the highest standard on all levels including, professionalism, quality and safety. There is absolutely no possibility of cross contamination from one placenta to another and definately no chance of you receiving the wrong pills. Your pills are 100% yours! Most encapsulations are carried out in my home. When this is the case, I only bring one placenta into my home at a time. This ensures that there is absolutely no confusion. By only accepting one placenta at a time this also eliminates the possibility of cross contamination. If a mum and/or dad are particularly nervous about the encapsulation process, to give peace of mind, I can encapsulate their placenta in their own home.
Is Placenta Encapsulation Safe?
I am registered as a food business and I have completed a CIEH approved Food and Safety Level II course. Guidelines from the HPA are strictly adhered to for all encapsulations. Placentas are encapsulated according to the methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and strict procedures are followed to ensure that each encapsulation is of the highest standard of cleanliness and quality.
What is a Placenta Smoothie?
In the first hours after birthing your baby, a fruit smoothie containing a small amount of placenta tissue can be prepared for you. This can give you a boost until you have received your placenta capsules. It might sound a little strange, but you can’t ever tell that there is anything in the smoothie aside from fruit. This type of placenta smoothie is not in alignment with Traditional Chinese Medicine practices.
Can I still have my placenta encapsulated if I have a managed third stage?
Your placenta can be encapsulated whether or not you have a natural or managed third stage. The drugs given in a managed third stage will not affect your placenta or the integrity of its nutritional value or quality of hormones present in its tissue.
How do I book an encapulation?
Contact me to enquire about availability around your baby’s estimated due date. It is important that we have a chat over the telephone during your pregnancy, ideally before you book the service. To maximise the quality of your capsules, I strive to start your encapsulation as soon as possible after your baby has arrived. if it is not possible to start the encapsulation immediately I ensure that you have correct storage guidelines for until I can start your encapsulation.
What are the fees for your service?
The fee for service depends on your location. if you contact us with your postcode we can calculate the fee based on your location.
Can you return my placenta capsules by post?
If you live quite a distance away and finances are a concern, returning your capsules by next day delivery post may be a more economical option.
Do you offer DIY Placenta Encapsulation kits?
In theory they sound like a great idea because they can make encapsulation an option for mothers who do not have access to a placenta encapsulation specialist. PBi do not offer DIY kits that include equipment (e.g. dehydrators). The reasons for this are as follows:
1. It is very difficult to maintain hygiene levels for a kit unless the kit is washed and sanitised thoroughly after every use. It is difficult to guarantee this when equipment is being used by many different people. All placenta encapsulation equipment used must be thoroughly cleaned and sanitised between clients. Each hire of a kit would require new packaging materials to avoid cross contamination risks and this would make the fee for hire prohibitively expensive.
2. After you have given birth you are unlikely to feel like encapsulating your placenta. Labour is tiring and it is important to rest afterwards and spend time bonding with your new baby. It is not a time to be worrying about making your own placenta pills.
If you have your own appliances for placenta encapsulation PBi do offer a DIY kit that includes capsules and associated disposable items required to complete the encapsulation.
What Training/Qualifications do you have?
I completed my placenta encapsulation training with Placenta Benefits™ (PBi). All PBi specialists are registered as a food business and have completed a CIEH approved Food and Safety Level II course. Guidelines from the Health Protection Authority are also strictly adhered to for all encapsulations. My background is working as a specialist paediatric therapist in the NHS.
Placentas are encapsulated according to the methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and strict procedures are followed to ensure that each encapsulation is of the highest standard of cleanliness and quality.
Why did you become a Placenta Encapsulation Specialist?
I first became interested in Placenta Encapsulation after seeing the benefits experienced by one of my birth doula clients. The client started taking the placenta capsules at the beginning of postpartum and she experienced increased energy, elevated mood and, an abundant supply of breastmilk.
Shortly afterwards, I was supporting another mother who planned to have her placenta encapsulated. After the birth, I became involved in making the placenta smoothie. The remainder of the placenta was then to be taken to be encapsulated. Making the placenta smoothie was a real privilege, an amazing experience. It was very special to be handling the placenta which had just a short time ago still been connecting mother and baby. It felt like a sacred process.
After some research I set off on the path of learning about placenta encapsulation. I found the best Placenta Encapsulation Course available (in my opinion!) and whilst completing my training, I also made another placenta smoothie for another mother and assisted a friend in encapsulating her placenta.
Consuming placenta seemed like such a natural way of supporting recovery and developing milk supply during the postpartum. There were considerable benefits and I felt that women should have access to them. Providing a Placenta Encapsulation service also felt like a natural fit with my role as a birth doula.
With a reputation for always having something cooking in the kitchen and having always loved cooking and preparing food, some have been completely unsurprised about my learning to offer placenta encapsulation services. I guess it bridges the gaps between my interests in birth, nurturing the new mother, nutrition and food preparation.
I chose to train with Jodi Selander from Placenta Benefits™ because she had developed an in-depth course that ensured a thorough understanding of Placentophagy. The course included the study of relevant research papers and exploring the benefits of and reasoning behind Placentophagy as well as learning how to encapsulate according to Traditional Chinese Medicine methods. I love that Jodi is so passionate about placenta encapsulation and is dedicated to making this an option for every new mother. She has been very active in protecting women’s rights (in the United States) to be able to keep their placenta after giving birth. Unlike in the UK, in the USA the placenta in not considered to be the mothers legal property.