Peace of Mommy Encapsulation
Here are some frequently asked questions about placenta encapsulation to help ease your mind
How do I know my placenta pills are from my placenta and not someone else’s? At the very basic level we only ever process one placenta at a time, each placenta is labeled throughout the whole encapsulation process. Peace of Mommy Encapsulation is a family owned and operated business. We work to the highest safety and quality standards. We have complete confidence in the integrity of our technique and processes in our controlled practice environment.
How many pills will my placenta make? Depending on the size and density of the placenta, our service typically yields 100-200 capsules, ensuring that new mothers have a substantial supply of placenta pills to support their postpartum recovery.
How long will my capsules last? Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) capsules can be stored in a cool dry place, but not the fridge, for up to 6 months if stored properly. Avoid leaving the jar open. After the initial postnatal period, any leftover capsules can be transferred to a ziplock bag, and stored in the freezer to use as needed. Most women will receive enough capsules to last between 4 – 12 weeks postpartum.
When should I not take placenta capsules? According to the TCM principles of using placenta, it is recommended that the capsules are not taken if the mother is experiencing symptoms of an infection, fever, cold/flu, including mastitis. This is due to the energetics of the placenta being ‘warming and ascending’. It is viewed that adding this energy onto an already ‘warm’ condition is thought to worsen the symptoms and delay the rebalancing of homeostasis. Only once your symptoms have subsided should you start taking your placenta capsules again. Do not take placenta capsules while you are pregnant because of their hormone levels.
How do I keep my placenta after giving birth? Ensure that your midwife, birthing team and/or family are aware that you wish to keep your placenta and note this in your birth plan. Some women like discuss their plan to keep their placenta during prenatal appointments, but it’s not completely necessary. The day you deliver your baby, before you go into labor simply let your nurses know that you'll be keeping your placenta and that you've made arrangements for someone to come pick it up after delivery. You do not have to ask for permission to keep your placenta. IT IS YOUR ORGAN!
How do I store my placenta? Your placenta may be kept at room temperature for 3-4 hours following your birth. After 4 hours it needs to be in a sealed container or ziplock bag, and it needs to be chilled at 30-40 degrees (hospitals will provide their own containers and ice for your placenta). Some hospitals will keep your placenta in a fridge until we pick it up, if that is the case make sure the hospital labels the container with a note that says "DO NOT TAKE-PATIENT IS TAKING HOME." We recommend bringing your own cooler with you so your placenta does not leave your room to reduce chances of your placenta being misplaced or being taken away.The placenta can remain the fridge for up to 3 days. After that, the placenta must be stored in a freezer. It will stay preserved in the freezer for up to two years.
Are there any reasons the hospital may not allow me to keep my placenta? This is very rare. If there are significant abnormalities of the placenta your healthcare team may send your placenta for further examination. Other conditions, such as signs of infection during labor, may mean that consuming your placenta is not advisable. The most usual reason is that your hospital, doctor or midwife are not aware that you want it to keep your placenta. Clear communication is therefore essential! If they decided to do anything with your placenta, please consult with us as we can advise you on what to do. For example: •You tested positive for GBS and they want to send your placenta for testing to make sure it’s negative of gbs bacteria. The method we use involves steaming the placenta up to 180 degrees F for 30 minutes, followed by dehydrating the placenta to 160 degrees for 12 hours. Any potential bacteria (including GBS) is killed during the steaming process as bacteria and viruses cannot survive at temperatures higher than 140 degrees F. So even if your placenta was to be positive for gbs there would be no problem encapsulating it. •You had birth complications: because you had birth complications hospitals will want to send your placenta to pathology for testing. In that instance, only allow them to take a small sample piece of your placenta for testing. They do not need to take the entire placenta. Because there’s a chance you won’t get your placenta back. •Your placenta is meconium stained. Some babies pass meconium while still in the womb during late pregnancy. Meconium is sterile, does not contain the fecal bacteria that normal stool does and therefore is perfectly fine to encapsulate. Meconium is only dangerous for the baby to inhale, but is otherwise harmless. If your placenta is heavily stained we will wash it thoroughly before encapsulation preparation. We will advise you once we have checked it.
How do I get my placenta to you after I have given birth? (Local only) We can collect your placenta from your home or the hospital. When you book we will ask for your due date to have an estimated date for your placenta pick up. We understand that due dates are not 100% accurate. Our placenta pick up hours are Monday-Sunday 9 am to 9 pm. UNLESS your hospital has a specific time frame in which the placenta needs to be picked up. If they schedule you for induction or C-Section please let us know the date and time. If possible, let us know when you’re about to go into labor and once again when your placenta is ready for pick up. Text/Dm or Call us when your placenta is ready for pick up (4053977810) We will give you an estimated time in which your placenta will be picked up. If you happen to deliver out of pick up hours follow storage instructions.
How do I get my placenta to you after I have given birth? (Nationwide only) Bring the ice chest, the 2 biohazard ziplock bags and the leakproof container. You will give the 2 biohazard bags and the leak proof container to your nurse and tell her, “I am taking my placenta home, can you please double bag the placenta with the two biohazard ziplock bags and place it into the leak proof container.” PLEASE, make sure they double bag the placenta with biohazard ziplock bags before placing placenta inside the leak proof container. The placenta has to be double bagged so there aren’t any leakages during transit. If they have their own biohazard bags it’s okay for them to bag the placenta with those and then place it in the container, just make sure they are sealed. Once you delivered your baby, they will have you sign a release form and will then give you your placenta in the leakproof container. You will then place your placenta inside the ice chest and keep it in there with ice, make sure the ice is not melted at least every 4 hours (the hospital will provide ice). Once your placenta makes it home, place it in the freezer (we want to make sure your placenta is rock hard frozen before shipping).
When is unsafe for me to consume my placenta? There are a few situations where we would not be able to process your placenta. These are: -If the placenta is sent to pathology -If there is a uterine infection or chorioamnionitis ( an inflammation of the fetal membranes due to bacterial infection) -If the placenta is improperly stored (sat out longer than 4-5 hours at room temperature post birth with no preservation methods.) -Placentas that have sat in the refrigerator for more than 4-5 days without being frozen. If the mother smoked during pregnancy or if there was heavy drug usage. Cancer of the placenta, which is called choriocarcinoma. -HEPATITIS -AIDS -HIV
Can I have my placenta encapsulated if my baby is premature? Yes, moms of premature babies need all the help they can get bringing in their milk, healing quickly, and balancing post-natal mood. As long as your placenta is examined and cleared for any type of abnormality after birth we are happy to encapsulate it.
What if I am Group B Strep positive (GBS) or have an infection and need antibiotics, will I still be able to use my placenta? The method we use involves steaming the placenta up to 180 degrees F for 30 minutes, followed by dehydrating the placenta to 160 degrees for 12-24 hours. Any potential bacteria (including GBS) is killed during the steaming process as bacteria and viruses cannot survive at temperatures higher than 140 degrees F. So even if your placenta was to be positive for gbs there would be no problem encapsulating it.
Can I have my placenta encapsulated if it was sent to pathology for testing? the placenta is sent to pathology there are always risks associated. There is a chance that the placenta has been contaminated with chemicals, that the equipment used for examination has not been properly sterilized and even the placenta that was returned does not belong to you. If your placenta needs to be taken to pathology for any reason, you can ask your care provider to take a little piece of it to examine while the rest is properly stored for encapsulation. If the results come back negative then you can still go ahead with your choices.
Can I have my placenta encapsulated and also do cord blood banking? Yes, you can do both. You will need to voice your wishes to keep the placenta for encapsulation to the company you are using, and therefore to have it handled as a food product at the time of cord blood collection.
Can I have my placenta encapsulated with you if it has been in my freezer? Yes, as long as your placenta was handled and stored properly soon after birth and also properly frozen. After birth, your placenta is good in the fridge for 4 days, after 4 days the placenta needs to be transferred into the freezer for long preservation, then it is good for up to 2 years in the freezer. The process of encapsulation will be longer, as the placenta will need to be completely thaw in the refrigerator first. If the placenta has been frozen more than once then it will not be possible to encapsulate.
How soon will I receive my Capsules? The finished product will be delivered within 48-72 hours of receiving the placenta. If you're located outside our mile radius this will take up to 5 business days with shipping.