You’re pregnant! Congratulations! There are so many things to consider during this time. Where will you have your baby? Will you find out the sex of the baby or wait until he or she is born? Who will you have in the room with you when you deliver your baby? Will you need to redecorate a room to create a nursery?

 

So much focus is put on pregnancy and birth. Sometimes we forget about planning for our postpartum. During this time your body will be healing from giving birth. You will also have a new little person to care for, which, let’s face it, can be stressful. These beautiful babies don’t come with instructions and sometimes they can be quite demanding! And with the hormonal shift women experience after delivery it is no wonder so many women suffer from postpartum depression and other mood disorders.

 

What if I told you there is something you could do to minimize the chance of postpartum depression as well as aid your postpartum recovery? It could also help with breastmilk production. Would you be interested?

 

That something is Placenta Encapsulation!

 

Before you decide that there is absolutely no way you would consume this organ can we talk about it?

 

First, I would like to start off by saying I never thought I would be a Placenta Encapsulation Specialist. It didn’t really interest me. But once I realized many people were wanting this service and having a hard time finding an encapsulator, I decided to take a training when it came to my area, so I could provide the service safely.

 

Let me tell you, I learned so much! I have a new found respect for this life sustaining organ! Just like the fetus, the placenta begins to form just a few days after conception. It carries oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the fetus and waste from the fetus to the mother. Aren’t our bodies amazing?!

 

Though there isn’t much research available, anecdotal evidence shows great results. Many women report improved postpartum moods, decreased rates of postpartum depression, improved lactation and an overall better recovery from birth. While there is no guarantee your placenta pills will help with those things, I can guarantee it won’t if you send your placenta to be discarded as medical waste.

 

So… Here is the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of the Placenta Encapsulation Process provided by Central Nebraska Doula.

 

Who?: You the birthing woman will deliver the placenta. Your placenta will be processed by a Postpartum Placenta Specialist, and is only intended for consumption by the person who birthed it. For safety reasons, under no circumstances will we knowingly process a placenta birthed by another person or mammal for your consumption.

 

What?: At Central Nebraska Doula, we provide our clients with more than just a jar of placenta pills. Our encapsulation specialist has been trained through ProDoula as a Postpartum Placenta Specialist. Not only is she able to safely process your placenta, she is able to spend time with you and your partner answering questions and providing referrals when necessary and help with any other postpartum need that may arise.

 

When?: The process can be started any time after the placenta has been delivered. The placenta can safely be kept in a refrigerator up to four days or frozen for a year. Your Postpartum Placenta Specialist will provide instructions for storing your placenta at the appropriate temperature prior to processing.

 

Where?: For safety reasons and requirements set forth by our certifying organization, Central Nebraska Doula will only process placentas in the home of the woman who birthed it, or the home of a friend or relative. Under no circumstances will your Postpartum Placenta Specialist transport your organ to her home to complete the process. We want our clients to reap the full benefits of receiving this entire service and that is only possible when we are able to spend this important, transitional time with you.

 

Clients are free to watch, ask questions, or take photos if they would like. If you do not care to witness the process you are free to go about your day however you choose.

 

There are also safety factors to consider. You can be absolutely sure that the placenta pills you receive contain 100% pure placenta. Nothing, such as herbs, will be added to your placenta pills and no pills will be retained by the encapsulator. Also, by having the process completed in your home, your placenta will not have been exposed to any unfamiliar bacteria, that could potentially make you sick.

 

At Central Nebraska Doula we feel these standards are the highest in the industry and will not make any exceptions as your health and our professionalism are of utmost importance.

 

Why?: Why you are choosing to encapsulate your placenta is entirely individual, though most often it is done to achieve results based on anecdotal evidence, such as minimizing the chances of postpartum depression, increasing breastmilk production and aiding in postpartum recovery.

 

How?: Once you decide you would like your placenta encapsulated, you will sign our contract and pay for the service. Next, our Postpartum Placenta Specialist will contact you to set up a brief in-person meeting. During this time you will be provided with a transport kit and instructions on how to care for your placenta from the time it is delivered until the process is started. Your specialist will also answer any questions you may have.

 

Once you deliver your baby and placenta, you will notify your Postpartum Placenta Specialist to arrange a time for the process to begin. You, your partner, or another friend or relative will be responsible for transportation of the placenta.

 

When your specialist arrives she will begin by preparing a space in your kitchen for the process. She will clear counter space and wash any dirty dishes that may be in your sink. Central Nebraska Doula prepares placentas using the traditional method, which is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine. This involves rinsing and steaming the placenta prior to dehydrating. After steaming, the placenta will be cut and the dehydrating process will begin. The dehydrator will be placed in a secure location of your choosing where it will not be bothered by other family members or pets. Your specialist will then sanitize her equipment and the workspace used and dispose of any trash, before leaving. This process takes approximately two hours.

 

Approximately 24 hours later your Postpartum Placenta Specialist will return to your home to complete the process, which includes grinding your placenta into powder and filling vegetable capsules with the placenta powder. The pills will be placed in a labeled jar and instructions for storage will be provided. If you choose to have a placenta tincture made this will also be done during this time. This second day process will also take approximately two hours. Once again, your specialist will leave your kitchen cleaner than she found it and be able to answer any questions you have.

 

The placenta encapsulation industry is highly unregulated, but Central Nebraska Doula strives to provide their clients with a professional service, remove any “ick factor” and follow high standards by creating complete transparency in our methods. We want to make the process simple for our clients while ensuring safety. We want you to be comfortable with this process and are available to answer any questions you may have.

 

If you are in the Kearney, Grand Island, or Hastings area and would like to know more about the placenta encapsulation services offered by Central Nebraska Doula, click here.