Despite the success of Anne Swanson's case last year, Sunrise Hospital continues to force mothers to obtain a court order to receive their baby's placenta. Another young mother is currently in the exact same situation - Sunrise will destroy her baby's placenta by Monday, April 7 if she does not obtain a court order.

Fortunately, we have a wonderful set of lawyers who are once again helping with this case, and we will hopefully be successful again. HOWEVER - community participation is incredibly important to a successful outcome for this mama.

We need a STRONG showing of support on Monday. Please, if you are at all able, come out to Sunrise Hospital April 7 and stand with us in support for a mother's right to take home what she has created and birthed. Hospitals should not have the right to destroy something that was created by a woman, sustained her baby throughout its first months of life, was born with the baby, and is very much wanted by the parents.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2007
Contact: Jodi Selander
Placenta Benefits, Ltd.
702.326.9764
PR@placentabenefits.info

DESPITE COURT RULING, SUNRISE HOSPITAL NOT MOTHER-FRIENDLY
-- Hospital Still Forces Mothers to Obtain Court Order for Placenta --

LAS VEGAS, NV – A peaceful group of mother advocates will gather near Sunrise Hospital on Monday, April 7, at 10 a.m. to show support for women who request their baby's placenta after giving birth. Most hospitals in the Valley support a mother's right to take the placenta – Sunrise and North Vista are the unfortunate exceptions. Hospitals that do have mother-friendly policies pertaining to placentas include Summerlin, St. Rose, Spring Valley, Southern Hills and Mountain View.

Erin Martinez delivered her baby at Sunrise Hospital in late March. Sunrise Hospital told her she would need a court order before they would release her baby's placenta. They have given her two weeks to do so before they destroy the placenta April 7, 2008.

The rally will take place nearly a year after a similar rally supporting Anne Swanson. Swanson's placenta was eventually returned, following a decision by Judge Susan Johnson in the case of Swanson vs. Sunrise Hospital, July 2007.

Placenta encapsulation has become popular in the Las Vegas Valley, a practice that has a long history of providing postpartum benefits to mothers. Many women find that placenta capsules help them avoid the "baby blues", have more energy, increase their milk production, and recover more quickly from the pregnancy and birth.

The state of Hawaii guarantees mothers the right to take the placenta from hospitals. Advocates in Nevada are preparing similar legislation for the upcoming legislative session.