• What is the difference between the two methods of encapsulation?

  • The choice between Simple Dried and Traditional Chinese Method (TCM) preparations is personal preference really. With TCM the placenta is also steamed with lemon, chilli and ginger whereas this process is skipped with the Simple Dried preparation. Neither preparation produces more effective capsules so just choose the preparation you are most drawn to. The Simple Dried preparation tends to yield an additional 10-15% capsules. 

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• Can I still have my placenta encapsulated if I have a caesarean section?​

  • Yes, of course, as long as your placenta has not been sent to pathology. Just make sure you let your midwife/theatre staff know your wishes and make sure to have your clean lidded storage container to put the placenta in with you. You must make sure that your placenta is refrigerated to 8 degrees or below within 30 minutes of delivery either in a fridge or a cool bag on ice. 

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• Do all hospitals allow you to keep your placenta?

  • Yes, it is yours to keep. The only reason you may not be able to is if your placenta needs to be sent to pathology or if you show any signs of an infection during the birth and it is felt it wouldn't be beneficial for you to consume it. Make sure you let your midwife know your wishes beforehand so that it doesn't mistakenly get disposed of. 

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• How do I keep my placenta after giving birth?

  • Ensure that your midwife, delivery team and birth partner are aware that you want to keep your placenta and make sure it is noted in your birth plan. 

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• How do I store my placenta?​

  • Your placenta should be put into a clean, leak proof container immediately after cord cutting and transferred straight to a fridge or cool bag on ice within 30 minutes and kept at below 8 degrees Celsius for no longer than 12 hours. Ideally arrange for your placenta to be put in a refrigerator as soon as possible after birth. If you are giving birth in a hospital you should take with you a cool bag with 6 frozen ice packs to store your placenta in after delivery. The bag should remain in the room with you when you give birth and should not be left unattended so as to avoid it getting lost or picked up. It is unlikely that you will be able to use a fridge to store your placenta in whilst in hospital but many midwives will allow you to store your ice packs in the hospital freezer during labour. If your ice packs melt you will need to send your birth partner out to buy 2 large bags of ice so that the placenta can be chilled within 30 minutes of birth. If you are giving birth at home you can store your placenta in a sealed container on the bottom shelf of your fridge. 

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• How do I get my placenta to you after giving birth?

  • Once you are in labour have your birth partner text me to let me know and I will be awaiting the confirmation of the birth. As soon as you have delivered, have your birth partner phone or text me and will arrange to collect the placenta from either your home or the hospital as soon as possible.

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• Can I freeze my placenta?

  • Yes you can freeze your placenta as long as it has been refrigerated within 30 minutes of birth. The placenta can be stored in a fridge for up to 3 days and if it has not been used by then you can freeze it. All preparations can be made from a frozen placenta providing it has been stored correctly.  

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• Can I use my placenta if I have a water birth?

  • Yes you can but you must make sure you deliver the placenta onto a clean dry surface like an inco pad. If it is birthed into the water then unfortunately it cannot be used for encapsulation due to the risk of contamination.

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• What happens if my placenta is stained with meconium?

  • If your placenta gets stained with meconium, the sticky tar-like poo your baby produces in the first few days, then you can still have your placenta encapsulated but would only be able to have the TCM method due to the addition of steaming the placenta during the process. The placenta would also be cleaned thoroughly before use. You will not be able to have a placenta smoothie if there is meconium staining due to the bacteria that may be present.   

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• Are there any people who cannot have their placenta encapsulated?

  • You cannot have any preparations made from your placenta if you have a blood borne virus such as HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C. You can have your placenta encapsulated if you received medicine or anaesthetics during the birth of your baby including Syntometrine. If you are on any other medication it is best to check with your doctor that it is ok to use your placenta.  

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• How many capsules will my placenta make?

  • Placentas can make anywhere between 90 and 300 capsules depending on the type of method you choose and the size of your placenta. A full term placenta will yield an average of 140 capsules for the Simple Dried method. 

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• How should I store my placenta capsules?

  • Your capsules should be stored in the jar provided in a cool, dark place for up to a year, then transferred to a freezer for later use. Do not store your capsules in the fridge as condensation will cause them to deteriorate.  

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• What else is is the placenta capsules?

  • Placenta capsules contain 100% placenta and nothing else. The capsules are vegetable cellulose so are suitable for vegetarians and vegans. When preparing Traditional Chinese Medicine capsules, the placenta is steamed with lemon (for grounding), ginger (for circulation) and chilli (for heat) which are added to the water below when steaming. 

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• When should I not take my placenta capsules?

  • TCM capsules should not be taken when you have an infection or any sign of a fever, cold or flu due to the 'yang' warming properties. You should also not take placenta capsules while you are pregnant.

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• Will I still be able to use my placenta if I test positive for an infection?

  • Strep-B, GBS infection requires you only have TCM capsules. It is recommended that the placenta is steamed before encapsulation to ensure that any bacteria from your infection is killed before dehydrating your placenta. If you have tested positive or are suspected of having a uterine or placental infection, it is advised you do not consume your placenta. 

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• I've heard the placenta is full of waste and may contain toxins, is this true?

  • Your placenta acts as a life supply for your baby during pregnancy and if it were full of toxins this would make a very dangerous organ for your baby to be fed from, therefore it is not possible for the placenta to be 'full of waste'. The placenta acted as a gateway for nutrient supply to your baby and waste from your baby to be passed back to your body to be filtered through your organs. There are small amounts of heavy metals in the placenta however it is scientifically proven that these levels are no greater than normal levels of heavy metals found in the body and in mothers colostrum and breast milk. 

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• How long can I store my placenta in the fridge or freezer before using it?

  • It is advised that mothers make use of their placenta sooner rather than later however, if circumstances arise where this preparation can not take place immediately then the placenta can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days and must then be transferred to the home freezer. The placenta should be thawed thoroughly in the fridge for 24-36 hours before encapsulating or making any other remedies. Frozen placentas should be turned into remedies within 6 months. 

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• If I have a raw placenta smoothie, will I taste the placenta?

  • No, raw placenta smoothies taste of nothing but fruit and berries.

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• How big are the placenta capsules?

  • The capsules used are size '0' and measure roughly 2cm in length and 0.7cm in width.  

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• How long will the placenta capsules last?

  • Placenta capsules will last indefinitely if stored correctly. They should be stored in a cool, dark place for up to a year and then transferred to a freezer for later use. 

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• Can my family members take my placenta capsules too?

  • It is not recommended that anyone consumes placenta capsules other than the mother who made the placenta.

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• I'm a smoker, can I still encapsulate my placenta?

  • No unfortunately you will not be able to encapsulate your placenta if you are a smoker due to the cadmium levels that may be present in the placenta.  

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For more information visit 

https://placentaremediesnetwork.org