Placenta Encapsulation Services Your placenta is an incredible organ. Your body creates it specifically for the purpose of nourishing and protecting your baby throughout your pregnancy. But what happens to the placenta after the birth? Usually, it is discarded as "medical waste." But your placenta doesn't have to be done working just yet--it will share its incredible benefits with you after your baby's birth, too. Why encapsulate my placenta? Most mammals (including primates) consume part or all of their placentas. Many women in diverse cultures throughout history have consumed their placentas for rebalancing their bodies after giving birth. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has used the placenta for its healing benefits for thousands of years. Your placenta contains your body's own natural hormones and iron stores, which remain after birth. While there are no research studies proving the benefits of consuming placenta capsules, many women report experiencing more energy, a bountiful milk supply, decreased postpartum mood changes (including postpartum depression), and less bleeding after the birth--in general, a more peaceful postpartum recovery period! You can read an article about the healing benefits of the placenta here.   Placenta Capsules   When is it done? Ideally, the placenta should be encapsulated within 3 days of the birth. Even if you and the baby are still at the hospital, Robin can start the process at your home with your partner or a friend or relative present. That way you can start taking the capsules right away. Even if it has been a while since the birth, you can still experience the benefits of your placenta. Double-bagged and frozen solid, a placenta can be encapsulated even after six months or longer. If frozen, please thaw the placenta overnight in the fridge before Robin comes over to begin the encapsulation process. How do we get started? Contact Robin by phone (972-679-2297) or email to arrange a consultation before the birth, if possible. She will meet with you to answer any questions you may have about the process or any special requests you may have. If your baby has already been born, Robin can still encapsulate your placenta for you. Make sure the placenta gets into the fridge (for encapsulation within 3 days) or freezer (for longer storage) as soon as possible, double-bagged in gallon-size Ziplock bags. If you are taking it home from the hospital, you can ask your nurse to wrap it for you, and you can send it home with someone. They might ask you to sign a release form in order to take it home. The cost for the full encapsulation process is $225. This includes being "on-call" during your due period; preparing, drying, and encapsulating the placenta in your home; the placenta capsules in a cobalt blue glass jar (each placenta makes anywhere from 100-150 capsules); and the umbilical cord dried into a heart shape as a keepsake. You can also add on a placenta essence for an additional $50. This is essentially like having a homeopathic placenta remedy. This uses a very small piece of the placenta, and will keep indefinitely. It can be taken during times of stress or illness. Please let me know in advance if you are interested in this, as it takes a bit of extra time to prepare. Robin can also make placenta prints (see photo, right), three or four prints for $10. These are made on acid-free watercolor paper. I do offer a sliding scale for those with financial need and will consider bartering and other alternative forms of payment when appropriate. Please email me with any questions. You can also go directly to my store to purchase the placenta encapsulation services.

The Tree of Life (placenta print)     What are the steps? Robin will do all of the work at your home, unbotrusively, though you or your family are welcome to watch if you wish. She brings all of her equipment with her and only needs a counter or table to work on, plus the use of your sink, stove and an electrical outlet. Robin is OSHA-certified in dealing with blood-borne pathogens specifically as a placenta encapsulator and is meticulous about sanitizing everything thoroughly as she works. Robin uses the TCM method of steaming and drying the placenta and turning it into powder that is then put into capsules. She will come to your home twice--once for about two hours to wash and steam the placenta and prepare it to dehydrate overnight. At this time she would make placenta prints and a tincture, if you request either. She will return again the next day for about 1 1/2 hours to finish the encapsulation process and leave you with a bottle of placenta capsules. The suggested dosage is 1- 2 capsules up to 3 times a day for the first 2 weeks postpartum. Then you can begin decreasing the dosage down to 1 or 2 pills a day as needed.       Testimonials: "I wanted to let you know how the placenta pills have saved me!!! God bless my sister for finding you and taking the initiative to get my placenta encapsulated. Bernie is now 2 weeks old and the pills have completely equalized my emotions and helped with my energy level majorly. Yesterday I forgot to take a pill in the morning and at lunch and was a mess!!! They are truly magic as far as I'm concerned. Thank you for making the pills for me and for providing such an important service to postpartum women." --Nadine