Placenta encapsulation is a modern way to consume one’s placenta in the form of capsules filled with your dehydrated placenta. The practice of consuming one’s placenta has dated back for centuries. 

There are soooo many benefits to placenta encapsulation! These can include improved mood stability, faster postpartum healing, anemia prevention and treatment, improved lactation, improved sleep patterns, helps replenish and regulate hormones, reduces postpartum pain, accelerates postpartum weight loss, facilitates newborn bonding, and can increase libido. There are many minerals, trace elements, hormones, vitamins, stem cells, opioids, and more found within the placenta that can help with a smoother postpartum transition. 

-Placenta Capsules
-Placenta Tinctures
-Placenta Salves
-Placenta Keepsakes (including umbilical cord keepsakes and placenta prints) 

There are two different methods that can be used to prepare your placenta before encapsulation.
-Traditional Chinese Method: The Traditional Chinese Method, or TCM, is the most common method for encapsulation. TCM involves steaming the placenta (usually with lemon, ginger, peppers, and other herbs) and usually involves meeting with a TCM practitioner to figure out the correct blend in which the placenta needs to be steamed with to provide balance between yin and yang. The method I used is inspired by the TCM process (due to not being a TCM practitioner). The placenta is first gently rinsed with water and then steamed with lemon and ginger. Once it has cooled, it is dehydrated at 145 degrees for 8-12 hours, finely ground and then placed into vegan capsules.

-Raw Encapsulation: The Raw encapsulation method differs slightly from the TCM process. It is NOT steamed before dehydrating. Instead, the placenta is just rinsed and then sliced and dehydrated for 18-24 hours at 165 degrees before being finely ground and encapsulated. It is still dried, powdered and encapsulated and the dosage is similar but postpartum parents who utilize this method often report a more immediate and intense energy burst after taking these placenta pills. This method also usually yields more capsules than the TCM inspired method. There are instances that raw encapsulation would not be ideal. This includes exposure to bacteria, maternal history of anxiety or insomnia. 

The number of capsules vary from person to person. Generally speaking, bigger babies produce bigger placentas resulting in more capsules. The number of capsules also depends on the method of preparation. The TCM Inspired method yields 115 to 170 capsules, while the raw method yields 180 to 250 capsules. I use vegan size “0” capsules. 

Packages start at $229. All packages include completed placenta products, pickup/drop-off within 60 miles of Gerald, MO, instructions on usage, and text/call/email support from your encapsulator. See all of the available packages here.

There are discounts available when utilizing Empowered Health Advocacy doula services or are a repeat client.

There is a $25 retainer fee due upfront to secure your due date on my schedule. Spots can book up quickly, so I highly recommend booking in advance to only secure your spot but to also help navigate how to get release rights to your placenta, how to properly store your placenta, and any other questions that may come up. I may be able to accommodate last minute requests, so please just reach out!
There are some additional costs that may come up:
– Additional fee for parents of multiples – $25
-Pickup/delivery outside of the 60 mile radius
-Any add-on services 

I received my certification for placenta encapsulation through Brillant Birth Academy. I also am certified through Biologix for OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens for Placenta Encapsulators and have my food handler card through an ANSI accredited program.

Once I pick up your placenta, it is processed in a placenta processing area in my home that follows OSHA and food safety guidelines. All the items used for placenta processing are placenta encapsulation tools only and are sterilized between clients or are single use. 

I am located in Gerald, MO, and service Franklin, Gasconade, Crawford, Phelps, Jefferson, St. Charles, and St. Louis Counties. Must be located within 60 miles of Gerald, MO. If you are outside my service area, a travel fee will apply. 

Once everything has settled down, be sure to contact me that you have delivered. My pickup times are from 8am to 8pm. Once you have contacted me, I will arrange a time for pickup as soon as possible. Be sure to reach out to me even if it outside my pickup hours to help ensure your placenta is properly stored to help prevent spoilage. It is your responsibility to ensure that the placenta is refrigerated or kept on ice until pickup occurs. Your placenta should be refrigerated or on ice within 4 hours. In the rare case, pickup cannot occur within 4 days, the placenta will need to be put in the freezer.

After I have picked up your placenta, I usually have completed processing and encapsulating within 24-48 hours and drop off occurring within 72 hours of pickup. However, this could be delayed due to a number of scheduling factors (I have other placentas to process first, am at a birth, have other prior scheduled obligations, illness, etc.). If any delay occurs, I will communicate with you to ensure you receive your order in a timely manner.

A placenta tincture is an alcohol based (high proof vodka) tincture within a dropper bottle that is taken orally. Tinctures are used in “times of need” such as needing an energy boost, to reduce stress levels, for hormone stabilization, PMS or even menopause symptoms. It can even be used by biological mothers and daughters to provide hormone support. They do take approximately 6 to 8 weeks to fully infuse before ready for use and will require straining. Tinctures can be made with your powdered or raw placenta and can last for years to come! 

A placenta salve is applied topically to help with healing. The salve recipe I use is shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and beeswax infused with chamomile, lavender, comfrey, yarrow, and calendula. Your powdered or raw placenta is added to the salve. Raw salve only last for 5 days but still has stem cells intact to help accelerate healing; salve from powdered placenta is still beneficial (just not as potent) and last much longer. Placenta salves can be used for perineal tears, hemorrhoids, diaper rash, cracked nipples, scars, bruises, and much more!

In most cases, it is fairly simply to keep your placenta with no issues arising. If difficulties do happen, know that you DO NOT need your doctor’s permission to keep your placenta. You have legal rights to keep your placenta and if this right isn’t being considered it can be a form of bodily battery. Know that you do not have to share with the provider the reasons behind keeping your placenta. You can simply say it is your choice and right to do so, if asked. Make sure to keep your placenta in your hospital room at all times to prevent mis-care of the placenta. It is sometimes helpful to assign someone to keep an eye out on the placenta to prevent loss or contamination. At times your doctor may want to send your placenta to pathology, if this is done your placenta cannot be encapsulated. It is your right to refuse any testing. If your doctor is insistent on sending it to pathology, ask if they can take a small section of the placenta rather than the whole thing. Some facilities may require you to sign a release form or liability form in order to keep your placenta.

Another way to prevent any issues is to have an open conversation with your doctor about your birth plans and try to prepare as best as possible. Upon being admitted to the hospital, make sure to communicate with the nurses your desires to keep your placenta. Your partner, family member, and/or doula can help communicate at the time of delivery as well to ensure your desires are fulfilled. 

Unfortunately, if your placenta has been sent to pathology encapsulation wouldn’t be recommended due to risk of cross contamination and exposure to chemicals. If your provider is wanting to send your placenta to pathology, ask their reasoning behind wanting to send it and then check to see if they are able to send just a small piece of the placenta down for testing. In the end, you have the right to refuse any testing on the placenta.

Yes! Group Beta Strep, or GBS, is a bacteria that is found in the of many healthy adults. They usually test for it around your 36 week mark and if you test positive, your provider will suggest antibiotic treatment through labor. In rare cases, baby can develop an infection when exposed to GBS causing baby to need antibiotics. If this were to happen, encapsulation would not be recommended. 

Yes! Diabetes will not affect the ability to encapsulate your placenta. It is recommended to continue to monitor blood sugars closely after ingesting them for the first few days to ensure you are tolerating them well. 

Yes! Developing high blood pressure within pregnancy doesn’t affect the ability to encapsulate your placenta. Be sure to talk with your provider on wanting to keep your placenta because they may want to send it to pathology with high blood pressure being present. 

Yes! When cholestasis was present in pregnancy, encapsulation can still occur. Liver support supplements will need to be taken. Some people have experienced symptoms re-emerging such as itchy feet or hands.

Not at all! As long as the placenta is refrigerated or placed on ice within 4 hours, encapsulation can still take place. If you are desiring a lotus birth (where baby stays connected to the placenta until naturally detaches within 10 days), encapsulation would not be recommended. 

100% yes! Your midwife will place your placenta in a basin shortly after delivery to prevent any contamination from occurring with coming in contact with the water. Depending on exposure to the water, TCM preparation may be recommended.

In most cases, yes encapsulation can still happen. If meconium was/is present, TCM preparation would be recommended. The placenta will be rinsed well and placed within a vinegar bath before the steaming process to ensure no bacteria growth is present. If heavy meconium staining is present, encapsulation would not be recommended.

YES!! The type of birth whether c-section or vaginal, does not determine ability to encapsulate. Just make sure to communicate with your delivery team to ensure the placenta is handled properly. 

Yes! In the case of Di-Di Twins (in this case they both have their own placentas) or triplets, there is an additional fee of $25 to process the additional placentas due to extra time and supplies used to process it. 

There are a few instances in which encapsulation would not be recommended. This includes:
-Maternal fever (100.4 degrees or higher) for an extended period indicating an infection (such as chorioamniotis)
-Any Infant fever indicating an infection
-Heavy drug, alcohol, or cigarette use in pregnancy
-Placentas sent to pathology
-Heavy meconium staining 
-Placenta percreta
-Cancer of the placenta
-Placenta that was at room temperature longer than 4 hours
-Placenta that was refrigerated longer than 5 days without being frozen
-Placenta that has been frozen longer than 6 months

There are many ways to honor the placenta when encapsulation isn’t possible. Umbilical cord keepsakes and placenta prints is something I offer to honor it. Many people also choose to bury the placenta underneath a plant or tree in their yard or turn it into jewelry. If the placenta is in my possession and encapsulation is no longer recommended, I will communicate that to you to help determine the next steps you would like to take. 

When encapsulation is no longer recommended before birth or you are unable to obtain your placenta, a refund will be given if you have already paid (minus $25 retainer fee). Once pickup occurs and preparation has started, a partial refund may be given at my discretion per your request. No refund will be given once services have been completed.