placenta encapsulation! who's doing it, who's done it!? - Page 2

[St. Margaret]

Do you all think it's worth it to pay someone to do this, or would a friend who has done it before be good enough? I was hearing things about if they had training they know to drain blood (but it sounds like some here don't like that idea) and cut off certain parts, before doing it... I actually am friends with a woman who charges about $200 for it, but another friend has offered to do it for me free, as a gift to me (she has made use of hers before). I'm waffling but I'm leaning towards just getting my friend to do it for free, since isn't placenta just good placenta? I'm REALLY excited about using it this time.

[HeatherB]

I have a friend who just got certified with PBi who will come and do it for me. Not sure yet how much it will cost, but I'm expecting it to be worth it. It was a wild mix of emotional issues after the last birth so I figured it would be a good step. Better than trying to figure out what herbs are safe or not with a newborn, anyway!

There are definitely different ways to do it and I'm not familiar enough with the options to know what I'd choose if I did have a choice. But, St. M, I'd think if your friend has done it before it would be reasonable to have her do it for you, too. You might see what options she has chosen and why just to know it's how you'd want it handled, though.

[St. Margaret]

I am having her do it. She's really well educated about this kind of stuff, whereas I have only read basic instructions so I trust her.

Now, to find a way to let the ILs know about the placenta-consuming. Just want to be sure it's when I can see the look on their faces... Every pregnant mama deserves a little entertainment, right?

[lsmama]

How did you all find people who will do this for you?  I am very interested but definitely think it's beyond what I will be able to manage myself.  I am located in NY (Long Island) but pretty close to NYC.

Thanks!

[St. Margaret]

I'd try on the FYT forum, perhaps? That area should have lots of resources.  I'd see if there are any networks like around here there's a birth professionals network.  But you could also just try calling up a couple midwives, because mine had a list of a few people she knew about.  There's also a certification for it, so maybe if you google you might find that and then local certified folks.  sorry I don't have links, just ideas.

[hildare]

we did it!  it really seemed to help.  it wasn't gross or anything, it was just little capsules.  i didn't get too wonky emotionally, and i will be encapsulating again this time. 

[PuppyPanties]

Even if you decide not to do it - freeze it at least!!!! I had lightly thought about it, especially since I had a history of depression, but thought it was rather weird and most likely not needed. BOY DO I REGRET THAT 2 MONTHS PP!!!! At least if you freeze it you'll have the option of using it in the future if you need to!! Good luck momma!!! I wish you a quick and easy labor! 

[Carlyle]

I got dh to do it using these directions:http://www.cafemom.com/journals/read/1577334/Placenta_Encapsulation_Instructions_w_Pictures.  They're great and have pictures which is pretty helpful.

I also tried a chunk raw blended into a smoothie one day.

If I was having more kids, I would save a few days worth of chunks for smoothies and encapsulate the rest.  The smoothie definitely packed a punch (and I didn't taste it at all, it was totally not gross...and I'm largely vegetarian) and I had tons of energy and healing after it.  The pills seem to make a more subtle difference (for me).  It's hard for me to compare though--I feel like I've had more "blues" this time around even with the pills, but I think it's because I have MUCH less post partum help than I did last time.  So maybe it would be way worse without them!  I did notice for a while that I was weepier on days that I didn't remember to take the pills.

[Makaylamama]

I am having my placenta encapsulated! I am really excited about it too! I found a woman that was charging $350, and also would do a tincture and a painting with the placenta. This was lovely, but too much considering it cost about $4 to do it yourself--my husband is great but said there was no way he was doing it, and I wasnt interested in doing it myself either. Anways,  I found a midwifery student in the area, who was so excited when I asked her about it, and is doing it for FREE!! So, see if there is a doula/ midewife in training in your area who would like to do it for the pratice.

[joynsyde]

If you had told me, even one day before the birth, that I would be eating the placenta, I would not have believed you!  During the pregnancy, hubbie and I somehow forgot to figure out what we wanted to do with the placenta.  So after the birth, when the midwife asked what we were going to do with it, we said, "uh, oops, we don't really know."  We froze it until deciding. 

I had bad PPD after baby #1, and when I foudn out that the placenta could help with that, I wanted to try it.  We don't have an income at the moment, so I didn't have the option of paying someone to do it, though that was my first preference.  It was a nightmare to prepare, since I didn't know what I was doing, even though I got directions online.  I steamed it 15 mins/side, then sliced and dried it in the oven.  (I struggled with cutting off the really tough membranes b/c my knives aren't sharp!)  Then put the slices in the food processor, and instead of fine powder, I just got big chunks.  I was so frustrated, because I couldn't get those chunks into gelatin capsules!  And there was no WAY I was going to eat it without some kind of covering.  (Mental block, I know, but that's life.)

But where there's a will there's a way.  I remembered how my grandma used to get me to take my vitamins-- by wrapping them in soft white bread-- and I decided to do the same thing.  It took a long time.  I took a chunk of placenta, wrapped a piece of soft bread around it, and put it in a bag, which went into the freezer to keep them fresh.  (I made about 60 this way, until I got really tired of the tedious process, and there's still some placenta chunks left in the freezer.)  Now I can swallow the "pills" without being grossed out.

All that said, I am deliriously happy with the results!  I did not get PPD this time!  In fact, I have so much energy, and such a positive mood, it's really amazing!  On days that I forget to take one of my "pills" I notice my mood gradually start to slump downward.  The difference is so noticeable, I am really amazed.  I would never have believed it until I experienced it!  But I'm not telling very many people I know what I'm doing, because the gross factor is so high.  I'm just happy to enjoy the results.  If there is another baby in my future, I hope to have the money to pay someone to do it next time, though, because the process was pretty tough for me.

Bottom line: I enthusiastically recommend consuming the placenta postpartum.  If I can do it, you can do it.  

[Carlyle]

Originally Posted by joynsyde 

Then put the slices in the food processor, and instead of fine powder, I just got big chunks.  I was so frustrated, because I couldn't get those chunks into gelatin capsules!  And there was no WAY I was going to eat it without some kind of covering.  (Mental block, I know, but that's life.)

But where there's a will there's a way.  I remembered how my grandma used to get me to take my vitamins-- by wrapping them in soft white bread-- and I decided to do the same thing.  It took a long time.  I took a chunk of placenta, wrapped a piece of soft bread around it, and put it in a bag, which went into the freezer to keep them fresh.  (I made about 60 this way, until I got really tired of the tedious process, and there's still some placenta chunks left in the freezer.)  Now I can swallow the "pills" without being grossed out.

That's seriously resourceful!  We had the same problem in the food processor, but got great results by putting the chunks in a coffee grinder (ew, I know).  I've also read a suggestion from someone here to put the larger chunks in a paper bag and bang on it with a rock to get the pieces small enough to fit into the coffee grinder (dh chopped them smaller with a knife before we read that suggestion, and that worked fine too--although it sounds like your knives aren't that great).
 

[June Bug]

If you can stomach it, have someone chop it up and saute it in a pan with some garlic and onions. I was a little grossed out by the idea but after my birth my husband cooked it for me and I ate it no problem (not the whole thing). I had some after the birth, some later that day and then a little more the next day. Honestly, it was not bad. It is like your body needs it so much that the "grossness" of it is non-existent. I've heard many stories of vegetarian and vegan mothers having a similar reaction to my own.

Either way, I think it is a great thing to do, so many benefits. Apparently we are the only mammals who do not eat their placenta. 

[luckiest]

At first, the idea of ingesting our placenta, encapsulated or otherwise, totally grossed me out, but my plans have changed drastically after reading how great it is for you, and after considering the fact that ALL other mammals eat their placentas!

I'll be keeping enough of it for two or three smoothies (berry smoothies so I won't notice the color), and my doula is going to encapsulate the rest of it.  It takes her a couple of days to finish encapsulating, so the smoothies will get me through until the capsules come.  

In addition to all of the other benefits everyone has mentioned, I'm hoping it will help extend my rheumatoid arthritis remission.  I can hope!

[lsmama]

Thanks for all of the great info, everyone.  I would prefer to pay someone else to do it, but am having no luck finding someone.  DH is on board and actually into the idea of doing it himself, but I am wondering about the logistics.  Sorry if TMI, but does it smell when you're preparing it?  Also, did anyone manage to get their placenta out of the hospital? I will be having a midwife-attended hospital birth in an extremely un-crunchy part of the country.  My midwife is fantastic, but the hospital is a little backward.  With my first, I was in the hospital for 36 hours.  If my stay this time is similar, what do I do with the placenta while we're there?  Cooler?

[HeatherB]

Originally Posted by lsmama 

Thanks for all of the great info, everyone.  I would prefer to pay someone else to do it, but am having no luck finding someone.  DH is on board and actually into the idea of doing it himself, but I am wondering about the logistics.  Sorry if TMI, but does it smell when you're preparing it?  Also, did anyone manage to get their placenta out of the hospital? I will be having a midwife-attended hospital birth in an extremely un-crunchy part of the country.  My midwife is fantastic, but the hospital is a little backward.  With my first, I was in the hospital for 36 hours.  If my stay this time is similar, what do I do with the placenta while we're there?  Cooler?

My friend/encapsulation specialist (I was her first client) said it smelled kind of like roast beef.  She drained it (not sure how that's done), steamed it, and then dried it in a dehydrator.  You can put it in your oven on a low temp, too, though.  It looked like bacon when it was done!  I noticed some sort of odor in that area but the dehydrator was right next to the laundry room door, where a pile of birth linens had been left.  No idea which thing I was smelling, but it wasn't particularly unpleasant, either way.

Hospitals (and states) have various rules, so check before you go in.  Ideally someone takes it home in a cooler and puts it in the fridge/freezer for you.  I think our instructions were up to 3 hours out at room temp after birth, then up to 24 hours in the fridge before it would be preferable to freeze it.  Thankfully, the timing worked out where ours was being processed within that time frame.