Placenta Medicine
Encapsulation | Tinctures | Smoothies | Keepsakes
The placenta is an amazing organ your body starts making right away following conception. That’s right, your body makes a whole organ to support your baby and pregnancy! The placenta attaches inside the uterus; it’s job is to provide oxygen, nutrients and antibodies from the parent to the baby and removes waste for the baby. The placenta grows with your baby and is on average, about 1.5 pounds at birth! After baby is born the placenta detaches from the uterine wall and is usually birthed about 10- 30 minutes later. At Geneabirth we practice “delayed cord clamping” to ensure baby gets everything they need from the placenta before the umbilical cord is cut by the family (if desired.) Your midwives will do a comprehensive exam of the placenta before preparing it for encapsulation. All placenta preparations listed below are done safely and honorably by OSHA certified and IPPA certified placenta encapsulator, Hayley.
Placenta Encapsulation
Placenta package includes:
Virtual interview and pregnancy resources as needed.
Encapsulation processing specific to your needs
Umbilical cord keepsake
Raw placenta cubes for smoothies and cooking (optional)
Sliding scale investment: $225- $275
Placenta Tincture
Creating a tincture with the placenta is a great way to extend its longevity. It only takes a small portion of the placenta to make the tincture and won't effect encapsulation process. It will be ready 6- 8 weeks post birth. Some parents choose to use it during their first postpartum menstruation to help stabilize hormones, decrease bleeding and cramps, and increase energy for years to come!
Investment: $30
Placenta Smoothie
A tasty (we’re not just saying that!) and economical way to consume raw placenta directly after birth to begin to receive benefits immediately. Studies show that ingesting raw placenta soon after delivery decreases pharmaceutical interventions to control bleeding. You can choose to have a smoothie and still encapsulate and tincture as well.
Benefits of Consuming Your Placenta
Iron
- Replenishes your iron from blood loss during birth to prevent post birth anemia. The placenta postpartum is rich in iron, it is estimated that up to 50% of US citizens have some form of anemia (low iron). Replenishing so much blood after birth is a large task to take on. Having low iron often results in lower hormone levels, fatigue, lack or concentration and depressive symptoms. In studies, people with postpartum depression given iron supplements improved greatly.
Lactation
- In a study where people were given placenta to consume, 86% reported increase milk production within four days. Research is still being done to completely narrow down exactly which hormones react with human milk supply to give it a boost.
Hormone Stabilization
- Hormone fluctuations looked at indirect research with postpartum depression has shown that the placenta contains hormones that assist in treating and preventing this disorder. Placenta consumption enables you a consistent flow of oxytocin long after your birth euphoria ends to stabilize your ever changing hormones post birth. During the pregnancy, the placenta produces stress-fighting hormones. Once the placenta is no longer present, it can take months for the brain and body to level out the hormones. During this time, the instability can cause depressive symptoms. By ingesting the placenta after birth, the birthing person is reintroducing these vital hormones to their body, until the brain signals it’s own production and can level out on it’s own.
Pain Relief
- Research has shown that ingesting placenta increases the effectiveness of opioids (ie: Tylenol). The birthing person would need to take much less pain medication to reach the same desired pain management. They would experience less pharmacological side effects and better maternal responsiveness.