What are you doing with your placenta? « Back to Group Discussions

[withlittlelungs]

With DS I didn't do anything. I didn't even know that I had any options. This time I was planning on having it encapsulated, but now we can't afford it. Now that we're birthing in the hospital I don't even know if I want to deal with storing it/having DP leave to bring it home. But at the same time I feel bad "wasting" it (I know that is weird).

Just wondering if anyone else has plans to do anything with theirs!

[RainGardenMama]

WLL- I wonder if you could find someone in your area offering a sliding scale? I feel like I saw that mentioned in my searches here in Portland.
I have not yet told DH of my plan to have mine encapsulated and he will undoubtedly be annoyed at the additional expense, but I really would like to try it this time.

[withlittlelungs]

That is a really good idea. I just emailed the 3 placenta encapsulators in my area asking if they do a sliding scale or have a payment plan of some sort.
Does anyone know where you can read up on laws for your state regarding taking the placenta home? My midwife mentioned that in Texas I have the legal right to take it, but I can't find anything online saying so. 

[Bena]

Well, I'm still asking myself the same question about the 3 year old placenta that is still in our freezer right now!!!!!!

We had plans for it but they didn't work out and we can't come up with a "plan B" that feels right. So now I guess we'll be storing 2 untill inspiration or the moment is right!!!!

[cocoanib]

After taking some photos, I'll have smoothies right after birth and the first couple of days and encapsulating the rest.

I did the same with DD. Smoothies, then encapsulated the rest. It was wonderful! So wonderful for me that I started encapping for others. I do a couple of placentas a month now.

WLL, If  I was in you area, I would do yours!

As far as I know, no hospital can deny your right to your placenta. They may say that they can't give it to you, but when pressed they will give in. Especially if you site religious reasons. They usually just have you sign a waiver.

Here's some more info on getting your placenta released.

http://placentabenefits.info/hospital_10tipsignup.asp

[Bena]

Originally Posted by withlittlelungs 

That is a really good idea. I just emailed the 3 placenta encapsulators in my area asking if they do a sliding scale or have a payment plan of some sort.

Does anyone know where you can read up on laws for your state regarding taking the placenta home? My midwife mentioned that in Texas I have the legal right to take it, but I can't find anything online saying so. 

I'm not in the States but honestly I never questionned taking it home from the hospital. I can't remember if we brought a bag, or if our mw did or if the nurses did, but we just packed it up and took it home. No questions asked!

[LightForest]

With DD, my doula cut up the placenta into little pill sized chunks (at my request), then she wrapped them individually (in foil) and froze them. I swallowed some raw immediately after the birth, then swallowed a chunk a day for a few weeks till my supply was gone. It wasn't as gross as it sounds. The chunks were frozen, and I just placed them on the back of my tongue and let it fall down my throat with a swig of water. It tasted salty

The rest of the placenta lived in the freezer for two years, till we moved and I had to trash it before I ever thought of a use for it.

This time, my DH has agreed to cut up and freeze the placenta chunks for me again. I don't have a plan for the rest of it.

cocoanib or anyone else with encapsulation experience, I wonder if you know whether there's any benefit to encapsulation over swallowing it raw? It just seems like so much extra work to encapsulate, and I assume that lots of nutrients would be lost in the cooking/dehydration process? I really have no idea, though.

[withlittlelungs]

cocoanib- thanks so much for that website!

lightforest- I am also curious about raw consumption vs. encapsulation!

I found someone who is willing to give me a 25% discount and throw in free placenta tincture. It would be $150 and only requires $50 up front. We have a few weeks to put that together, but I'm still debating if we should be spending that money elsewhere. I had pretty bad PPD with DS and I'm worried about it this time around. It was barely manageable with one baby to take care of, I won't be able to do it with 3 kids. 

[Chapsie]

I know you'll be super busy taking care of twins, but would you consider encapsulating it yourself?   

Here's a link with instructions:

http://www.cafemom.com/journals/read/1577334/Placenta_Encapsulation_Instructions_w_Pictures

You'd just need to buy the gel caps and a cheap encapsulator machine (you can get them on amazon.com).  You can dehydrate it in your oven.  :)   

[firespiritmelody]

I started doing encapsulation (for doula clients) last year and it's amazing the results some of the mama's have had. Of course it's different for everyone but it's a very rewarding service to do.

LightForest - the theory is that the steaming process (with ginger, jalapeno and lemon) transforms it into medicine by warming it. This is the "Traditional Chinese Medicine" process. Supposedly, raw placenta is "cooling" to your Xi (chi?) After giving birth you loose xi and the "warmed" (ie: steamed & encapsulated) placenta replaces it. I compare it to eating meat - I'm sure you loose nutrients in a steak when you cook it, but there are still plenty of nutrients in a fully cooked steak.

As far as taking it home from the hospital, just bring a cooler style lunch box with you and make sure EVERYONE knows you want to keep it. They'll wrap it in a bio-hazard bag and you just need to keep it cold. Some hospitals will require you to have it off hospital property within a few hours, so you'd need someone to take it home for you. If you're hiring someone to encapsulate, they should come and pick it up from the hospital. Do make sure you do everything in your power to keep it from getting sent to the pathology department (some hospitals do this routinely "just in case" something is wrong with the baby, in some cases they can test the placenta without having to poke and prod the little one.) However, the pathology dept is NOT where you want something sent that you are planning on consuming, for obvious reasons. And if they treat it with formaldehyde it will become toxic so that would be no good.

[writermama12]

My birth center makes us leave the placenta with them for a week in case of some problem with the baby. Last time, we buried it under a birch tree we planted for DS2 the day before he was born (his middle name is Birch). This time I am very inclined to encapsulate it. It seems easy enough and I have a dehydrator (even though you don't need one) and a food processor. Not a big deal. However, is it safe to eat it/take it after waiting a whole week? It won't be frozen, just refridgerated. 

[withlittlelungs]

writermama, here is some info from the FAQ sheet I was sent: What is the ideal time frame for encapsulation?

The encapsulation process should begin within 24-48 hours of the birth. The placenta will generally be suitable for consumption longer (refrigerated the entire time). The placenta should be stored in the refrigerator or on ice until I arrive.

If it is not possible to start the process within that first few days following birth, the placenta should be promptly frozen. Double-bag the placenta in gallon-sized zip-lock freezer bags. The placenta must be completely thawed before encapsulation, which will take at least 24-48 hours in the refrigerator. Please contact me regarding best storage options for your time frame.

[scruffy too]

I plan on freezing mine and planting it under a new tree in the Spring/Summer. 

[cocoanib]

Originally Posted by LightForest 

With DD, my doula cut up the placenta into little pill sized chunks (at my request), then she wrapped them individually (in foil) and froze them. I swallowed some raw immediately after the birth, then swallowed a chunk a day for a few weeks till my supply was gone. It wasn't as gross as it sounds. The chunks were frozen, and I just placed them on the back of my tongue and let it fall down my throat with a swig of water. It tasted salty

The rest of the placenta lived in the freezer for two years, till we moved and I had to trash it before I ever thought of a use for it.

This time, my DH has agreed to cut up and freeze the placenta chunks for me again. I don't have a plan for the rest of it.

cocoanib or anyone else with encapsulation experience, I wonder if you know whether there's any benefit to encapsulation over swallowing it raw? It just seems like so much extra work to encapsulate, and I assume that lots of nutrients would be lost in the cooking/dehydration process? I really have no idea, though.

It's a matter of preference, but I tend to think that as raw as you can get is best. That's why I start with smoothies. In your case, swallowing chunks of it is even better. When I encapsulate my own, I do the raw method and just dehydrate. Some clients prefer this way as well. Some go for the TCM method and want me to steam first.

However you consume your placenta, you will get benefits, but without heat more nutrients and hormones are left intact.

Originally Posted by withlittlelungs 

cocoanib- thanks so much for that website!

lightforest- I am also curious about raw consumption vs. encapsulation!

I found someone who is willing to give me a 25% discount and throw in free placenta tincture. It would be $150 and only requires $50 up front. We have a few weeks to put that together, but I'm still debating if we should be spending that money elsewhere. I had pretty bad PPD with DS and I'm worried about it this time around. It was barely manageable with one baby to take care of, I won't be able to do it with 3 kids. 

Your welcome!

That's a good price and with a tincture too, you will have placenta benefits for years to come.

Originally Posted by writermama12 

My birth center makes us leave the placenta with them for a week in case of some problem with the baby. Last time, we buried it under a birch tree we planted for DS2 the day before he was born (his middle name is Birch). This time I am very inclined to encapsulate it. It seems easy enough and I have a dehydrator (even though you don't need one) and a food processor. Not a big deal. However, is it safe to eat it/take it after waiting a whole week? It won't be frozen, just refridgerated. 

Originally Posted by withlittlelungs 

writermama, here is some info from the FAQ sheet I was sent: What is the ideal time frame for encapsulation?

The encapsulation process should begin within 24-48 hours of the birth. The placenta will generally be suitable for consumption longer (refrigerated the entire time). The placenta should be stored in the refrigerator or on ice until I arrive.

If it is not possible to start the process within that first few days following birth, the placenta should be promptly frozen. Double-bag the placenta in gallon-sized zip-lock freezer bags. The placenta must be completely thawed before encapsulation, which will take at least 24-48 hours in the refrigerator. Please contact me regarding best storage options for your time frame.

I treat the placenta as I would any other meat as far as storage and length of time. If you feel comfortable after a week, I say go for it, but the sooner the better!

Also, here's my encapsulation and smoothie process after my daughter(before I knew I would be doing it for others). There's pics and whatnot.

http://www.craftyearthmama.com/2010/04/placentaphagy-for-postpartum-health-and.html

[SlimP]

Our plan with DS's placenta was to halve it and plant under fruit trees at the respective grandparents homes but like you Bena, it's still in our freezer 3 years later! (Glad we're not the only ones ) So I've been looking into encapsulation this time around, I'm particularly interested in the nutritional benefits that might help me avoid PPD.
I'm usually not squeamish, I'd eat anything usually and have a dehydrator, but still don't think I could face raw or steamed placenta, or slice up my own for drying.......powdered by someone else, no bother there though!

[ancoda]

I am having mine encapsalated.   I had PPD with all 3 of my boys and I am really hoping to be able to remember some of the first 6 months of this babies life.  I have almost zero memories of any of my boys as babies. 

[SlimP]

WLL, I spoke to someone today who encapsulates and tinctures placenta and happened to mention my 3-year-old's still in the freezer. She said she has used placentas up to 4 yrs old so maybe you can hold onto yours until you can afford it! Hopefully it's a bit early to be thinking about, but allegedly, placenta is a wonderful menopausal tonic if you don't get to take it post-partum.

[buko]

Just chiming in with my 2 cents... which is about what it's worth, LOL.  I am a big clinical evidence type of person, but also of the mindset that anything that "can't hurt, might help" is worth trying for things like PPD, which are pretty darned serious.  I think without loads of double-blind studies and whatnot, which we don't yet have, it's likely that the positive effect many see is some combination of the following:

-Actual hormones/etc. in the placenta that help

-Placebo effect (not BS! an actual cool effect that shouldn't be discounted!)

-A correlation between the birth experiences of women when they also end up encapsulating/eating the placenta vs. when they don't.  I.e., I hear of many women who had mediocre to traumatic birth experiences, and then suffered PPD-- whether demonstrably "because" of those experiences or not.  Then, these same women, often(-enough) tell of having no PPD with a later pregnancy where they ate their placentas... but that pregnancy also happened to be (usually) more empowered and ended with a more "natural" birth, (usually more peaceful/empowered) homebirth, birth center birth, VBAC, etc.  Obviously this would frequently be the case, as if you even think to eat your placenta and are "allowed" to do so, you probably are planning/having a fairly empowered-type, natural birth.  So-- correlation vs. causation, maybe.  Not that this is always the case, of course, but I do see that running theme in general, so it's kind of hard to separate out the one variable, and that's aside from the possible/probably placebo effect that also exists even if the hormone/etc. theory is also true.

So!  That said!  I figure, "can't hurt, might help (and doesn't gross me out, so what the heck)."  I am of the mindset that if it does have anything to do with hormones in the placenta and whatnot, it makes more biochemical sense to me that raw would be a better delivery method than cooked/encapsulated.  I am also generally skeptical (not completely disbelieving, but skeptical) of TCM.  So, to that end (and it doesn't hurt that it's cheaper), I will probably be cutting it up into small pieces, freezing it, and taking it as "pills" for a while.  Especially since-- though this pregnancy itself has been amazingly free of mood swings-- I'm very prone to both depression and anxiety.

[LDoulaSteph]

Encapsulation mine :)

[sunshinelove]

Last time I was really fascinated by lotus births. I ended up having a partial lotus birth with my daughter--by day 3 the cord was so shrunken and dried up that it was becoming a real hassle to move her and the placenta around without tugging too hard on the cord. I also had the sense she was ready to let it go. Sure enough, as soon as I cut it she became calmer and more content. I planted the placenta in my backyard, which was very good for the soil and also felt right.

This time I'm hoping to consume as much as possible. I didnt have PPD but the sudden drop in hormones after birth felt harsh emotionally and physically. I'm hoping to minimize the sweating, emotional ups and downs and exhaustion with placenta smoothies. If I cant talk DH into it then I'll cut some up myself and blend it with strawberries, juice, bananas and yogurt. I hope to make enough to be able to freeze some to have it for later.