Placenta Encapsulation
"The placenta is our second mother. It is mother nature nurturing us with her perfection"
- Marian de Jong
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Placenta encapsulation is the dehydrating and encapsulation (vitamin/pill making) of a woman's placenta after birth. These capsules/pills are then ingested by the woman with a specific dosage to suit her needs after birth. This medicine, originating in Traditional Chinese Medicine thousands of years ago, helps promote hormonal balance as well as provides many nutritional benefits.
Encapsulation costs 850 nis or 1000 nis with added Mama Tincture
Nutrtional Benefits
The placenta transports nutrients to the fetus during gestation, as well as producing and regulating hormones and opioids. The placenta retains some of these substances after delivery, and therefore consumption of the placenta by the mother will help her recover more quickly following childbirth by replenishing nutrients and hormones lost during and after birth which can help by increasing milk production, curbing postpartum depression and decreasing bleeding after birth.
In addition to protein and various vitamins, placentas contain high levels of CRH, a hormone known to reduce stress. Though CRH is normally secreted by the hypothalamus, during pregnancy production of CRH by the placenta dramatically increases levels of CRH in the blood stream, which peak at delivery. Even postpartum, the placenta still contains very high levels of CRH, and eating it can bring the mother’s CRH levels back to a healthy range.
Consumption of the placenta is also believed to cause the release of the chemical oxytocin in the brain. Oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions leading to the onset of labor, and after childbirth can also cause the uterus to contract and sooner reach its pre-pregnancy size. It is also known as the "love hormone," and an increase in oxytocin aids in promoting hormonal balance as well as decreasing postpartum depression.
* The benefits of consuming one's placenta are anecdotal and research has not yet been published.
The Method
Some women eat the placenta raw postpartum. It can be put into shakes or frozen in small pieces and takes as a raw pill. Most women have capsules made. There are different methods of encapsulation and each method is believed to have its own benefits. The steaming method involves steaming the placenta with ginger and other warming herbs. It is believed that the postpartum woman is vulnerable to( yin) and to the cold so it is important to increase warming energy through steam and herbs. This can give the mother vitality and warmth. Raw Encapsulation is done after rinsing, drying, dehydrating and grinding the placenta. This method believes the raw placental tissue maintains its hormonal and vitamin capacity.
The entire process takes 2-3 days. The amount of pills each woman receives depends on the size of her placenta, and varies greatly from 80-150
It is also possible to make a Mother Tincture for the baby. Tincture is created by soaking a piece of the placenta in alcohol to extract the components of the placenta that are not otherwise water-soluble. This makes an incredibly potent, shelf-stable product that can be used for months or years to come. Tinctures are prepared with 100 proof organic vodka, and can be picked up at your six week week postpartum visit.
Safety & Sanitization
My equipment and supplies — wherever possible — are one-time use only and properly discarded immediately. The minimal amount of equipment that must be reused is thoroughly sanitized.
After each use: all equipment is washed with Hibiclens, sanitized in a bleach solution, heat sanitized, and then stored away in sealed container
Before each use: all equipment is washed again with Hibiclens, then sanitized in a bleach solution, and then heat sanitized in a dishwasher before beginning encapsulation process
What To Do With Placenta After Birth
The placenta should be refrigerated or placed on ice within the first two hours after birth. It can remain in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. After that it should be moved to the freezer.
Once you receive your placenta capsules, please keep them in the fridge. The technique of dehydration extends the shelf life significantly by removing the moisture, inhibiting the growth of yeasts, molds, and bacteria. Therefore, as long as the capsules do not get wet and are refrigerated properly they will be good for several years.