Placenta Questions?

Questions about encapsulation, tinctures, prints, or anything else placenta related??? Check the placenta FAQ below and, if you don't find your answer, send Delissa a note using the Contact form.

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PLACENTA FAQ

HOW DO I STORE MY PLACENTA AFTER BIRTH?

Your placenta should be refrigerated or put on ice as soon as possible after your birth. You will double bag it with two ziplock gallon bags. It is easiest to take these with you to your birth and give to a support person to handle after the birth as you will be preoccupied bonding with your baby. Your placenta should not be left out for longer than two hours at any given time. If storing for longer than a 24-48 hours, your placenta may be frozen with little to no impact on the quality of your capsules.

WILL I HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE HOSPITAL?

The hospital is required to give you your placenta if you would like to keep it. Make sure to communicate to the hospital staff that you would like to keep it.

IS IT EVER UNSAFE TO CONSUME MY PLACENTA?

There are some situations in which it would be unsafe to consume the placenta. These would be:

-Placenta is improperly stored

-Placenta is sent to pathology

-There is a uterine infection

-If you smoked during pregnancy

If you are unsure if your placenta is safe to consume, seek advice from your care provider or consult with Delissa.

CAN I ENCAPSULATE IF I'VE HAD A MEDICATED OR SURGICAL BIRTH?

Yes! The placenta does act as a filter to remove toxins, but sends them back to the mother's liver to be detoxed. If you are taking medications prenatally and have questions about the safety of these and encapsulation, consult with Delissa.

HOW DOES DELAYED CORD CLAMPING AFFECT MY PLACENTA?
Delayed cord clamping allows all the baby's blood to move from the placenta to your baby, giving them extra stem cells and a boost in iron. During the encapsulation process, the blood is drained and washed from the placenta anyways. Delayed clamping does not affect it the quality of your capsules.

CAN I ENCAPSULATE IF I AM GROUP B STREP POSITIVE?

The presence of GBS does not typically pose a health risk for the mother. If you are positive for GBS, your placenta will be steamed, killing off any GBS bacteria. Having GBS is not the same as developing an infection. If you have a uterine infection or fever during or just after the birth, your placenta would not be considered safe for consumption.

HOW MANY PILLS DOES ONE PLACENTA MAKE?

The size of each placenta varies. A typical placenta will make anywhere from 80-180 capsules, sometimes even more.

WHAT IS THE PROPER DOSAGE FOR TAKING MY PLACENTA CAPSULES?

Most postpartum people start with taking 1-2 capsules 3x/day for the first couple weeks. It is important to pay attention to how your body responds to your capsules as each placenta and body is different and varies in benefits and physiological response. You are free to take more or less as your body needs. Some people will take an extra one or two when they need a boost of energy or milk supply.

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS IN TAKING PLACENTA CAPSULES?

In one large survey, taking placenta capsules had little to no side effects, with the most common (4%) side effect being a headache. If you are noticing negative effects to taking your capsules, stop taking them immediately and consult with Delissa and your care provider.

WHEN SHOULD I NOT TAKE MY CAPSULES?

If it recommended to pause taking your capsules if you have an infection, the flu, a cold or fever. Resume your capsules when you are recovered. If you experience any negative side effects and think it may be your capsules, pause taking your capsules and see if the effects go away.

DO MY PILLS GO BAD?

Capsules undergoing the Traditional Chines Medicine method of encapsulation have a shelf life of 6 months. After that, they are not considered food safe according to common food safety standards.

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO WITH MY PLACENTA?

If you are not wanting to consume your placenta, there are other options to honor this life-giving organ. Some people bury their placenta under a tree, using it to fertilize. Some people will take pictures or make prints with their placenta.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A PLACENTA TINCTURE?

A placenta tincture does not have a "Best By" date. It can be kept for years and used for different purposes from hormone balancing during menopause to boosting milk supply in future postpartum.