Placenta for sale.. oh wait, I have to buy my own.

[UberMama]

After I have my surro baby I wanted to get the placenta back as I want to use it in my smoothies. I expected the hospital to hold on to it for a few days maybe. And yes, they hold it for a week (argh, a bit longer than I like but anyway).

But here's the thing, if I want it back - I have to pay a fee to the county that I live in (not the county I'm delivering in) for taking a biohazard home. When my OB told me this, I think I laughed. He was unsure of the fee for my county but said it could be up to $150.

I have never heard of a woman having to pay to get her placenta back after having a hospital delivery?

[Aka mommy]

OMH. That ticks me off. Nice, you have to pay to bring home a part of yourself. Idiots.

[JessicaTX]

Wow..here if you ask for it they chuck it in a plastic container and put it in a biohazard bag. You just have to hope someone is willing to take it to your house to put it in the freezer until you are discharged to take care of it.

[UberMama]

Well, after talking with a few people already, I'm calling the pathology dept tomorrow to get clarification. I'm also going to explain the religious reason I have in needing it within 24 hours of birth.

[Aka mommy]

Originally Posted by UberMama

Well, after talking with a few people already, I'm calling the pathology dept tomorrow to get clarification. I'm also going to explain the religious reason I have in needing it within 24 hours of birth.

Awesome! Glad that there is a way around this for you

[Gypsy.Momma]

That is ridiculous that they make you both wait and pay to have a piece of your body make. You made it you should get to take it if you want. Hope you are able to figure away around it. Good luck

[crbyard]

That is outrageous. I hope that you can successfully make your "biohazardous" smoothies!

[Burnindinner]

Wow, that is ridiculous! I have to steal mine, but at least it's free!

[broodymama]

What?! That's crazy!

My DS was born in a hospital and they released my placenta to me. My midwife said if they gave me any hassle then to just tell them it was for religious reasons. In fact, it wasn't even me that took it home, it was a friend of mine who was at my birth! After I delivered it the CNM let me look it over, then they just plopped it right in the tupperware container my friend brought for it.

[mommy2k&k]

That is very ridiculous! I hope you are able to get it back soon.

[neldabean]

This is so silly. It is yours! With dd they put it in the bowl I brought and never said a thing. The nurse even put it in the fridge for me until we left. Tell kitchen staff to make you some smoothies then. I really hope they don't charge you for this it is really silly. Are you in Clackamas county?

[amberdcm]

crikey! yer placenta's being held ransom! that's really something else. hope you get it back, mama!

[sunflower.mama]

Wow. Wow wow - given the magnitude of what you are doing as a SURROGATE I hate that you've had 5 seconds of worry about this. I'd just take it. You'll be bonded with the staff after you give birth anyhow. My hat is off to you!

[UberMama]

Nelda ~ I'm in Multnomah, though the OB doesn't know that right off hand (hospital is in Washington Co). But in talking to someone that would know, she's never heard of this hosp or others in the area doing this. So I am praying my OB is just WRONG. I am waiting for someone else to check on this before I begin calling the hospital administration, pathology, etc.

[2boyzmama]

Seems to me that they should be paying YOU because you're saving them a biohazard disposal fee.

In fact...maybe approach this from an insurance perspective. Many insurance policies wrap up their maternity coverage in one big lump-sum payment that is supposed to include all the "normal" birth-related stuff. That would include the placenta disposal fee. So you can say that your insurance (or your intended parents' insurance) is already paying for it.

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

thats rediculous

[ber]

I gave birth to one of my sons in a birthing center, and I was going to have to fill out paperwork with the funeral home if I wanted my placenta!

I didn't ask for clarification because at the time, it wasn't something I cared about really, but I wonder if the funeral home is responsible for the cremation of placentas and possibly other stuff from the hospital.

But $150! Whoa!

[aslyn]

This is wrong on so many levels!

[bananabee]

That is crazy! I would understand if they had some sort of use for it and it was part of a contract that they keep it, but seriously!

[UberMama]

Mini update ~ I called pathology. The lady told me that they send all placentas to the morgue for seven days (yuck on the morgue and yuck on the seven days). If no issues arise with mom/baby, they dispose of it. If issues arise, THEN they send it to pathology.

I put in a message to my OB office asking them who I am to speak with regarding my need to get it sooner than 7 days based on my religious views. So I am waiting on the nurse to call me back about that. I'm also going to let them know that I will let them have a piece of it, but I want most of it within 24-48 hours if not sooner.

Ugh. This has me so upset.