Placenta Encapsulation Information
Guide for Expecting Mothers
I am a member of PRN and I am certified by, The Independent Placenta Encapsulation Network, (IPEN). This information about Placenta Encapsulation is from the "PRN" Placenta Encapsulation Service Information Guide for Expecting Mothers"
This guide will help you through the process of placenta encapsulation with me, an IPEN Placenta Specialist. This information is yours to print and keep as a reference guide and/or help explain placenta encapsulation to your midwife and family/friends. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.
What is so special about my placenta?
The placenta has long been thought of as a magical part of the creation of a baby. This incredible organ is uniquely designed for your baby and an integral part of any pregnancy and birth.
The placenta physically connects you to unborn baby feeding essential oxygen, nutrients and vitamins. During and after birth women lose 1/8-1/10 of their blood supply from the bleeding wound left inside the uterus, where the placenta was attached for 9 months.
Members of the IPEN believe the mammal placenta was made to be consumed and make up for this loss by giving the new mother essential fats, proteins, vast amounts of iron and essential hormones to heal the wounds and aid the body in self recovery after birth.
Why should I consider consuming my placenta?
Dried placenta powder was recognised as a potent medicine in Europe for centuries and used to treat and cure many ailments, mostly those surrounding birth. However since the late 19th century most natural birthing methods where replaced by modern birthing techniques, losing along the way many valuable traditions practiced for centuries.
The benefits of consuming the placenta are being rediscovered and scientists are beginning to study placentophagy. Today there is profound scientific evidence to suggest consuming the placenta can be just as beneficial for humans as it is for other mammals.
Testimonials from my clients and clients of the IPEN, reveal that consuming the placenta after birth improves energy levels, increases milk production and slows or stops postpartum haemorrhaging creating an overall healthier post-birth recovery. (The IPEN have a long list of research studies and articles on their web site)
What is Placenta Encapsulation?
IPEN Placenta Specialists like myself, are trained to offer both Raw Dried and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) placenta capsules. The type of method a mother chooses is unique to her own circumstances. I can offer some guidance with your choice.
How do you make my capsules?
1. The placenta is washed thoroughly in cold water removing excess blood and clots
2. TCM recipe only - the placenta is steamed with lemon, ginger and green chilli
3. The placenta is sliced and dehydrated using a food dehydrator for 8-16 hours depending on size
4. The dried placenta is ground into a powder and put into vegetable capsules
TCM method: The placenta is considered a powerful and sacred medicine, a ‘full of life force’ organ in China and has been documented as a healing herb since 1578. Steaming the placenta with herbs is a crucial part of making placenta medicine.
Raw Dried Method: Some midwives and placenta specialist believe steaming the placenta may damage vital hormones and nutrients, therefore following raw food preparation guidelines, the placenta is not heated above 42°C (107.6°F) at any time during its preparation; the placenta is sliced and dehydrated raw.
This guide will help you through the process of placenta encapsulation with me, an IPEN Placenta Specialist. This information is yours to print and keep as a reference guide and/or help explain placenta encapsulation to your midwife and family/friends. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.
What is so special about my placenta?
The placenta has long been thought of as a magical part of the creation of a baby. This incredible organ is uniquely designed for your baby and an integral part of any pregnancy and birth.
The placenta physically connects you to unborn baby feeding essential oxygen, nutrients and vitamins. During and after birth women lose 1/8-1/10 of their blood supply from the bleeding wound left inside the uterus, where the placenta was attached for 9 months.
Members of the IPEN believe the mammal placenta was made to be consumed and make up for this loss by giving the new mother essential fats, proteins, vast amounts of iron and essential hormones to heal the wounds and aid the body in self recovery after birth.
Why should I consider consuming my placenta?
Dried placenta powder was recognised as a potent medicine in Europe for centuries and used to treat and cure many ailments, mostly those surrounding birth. However since the late 19th century most natural birthing methods where replaced by modern birthing techniques, losing along the way many valuable traditions practiced for centuries.
The benefits of consuming the placenta are being rediscovered and scientists are beginning to study placentophagy. Today there is profound scientific evidence to suggest consuming the placenta can be just as beneficial for humans as it is for other mammals.
Testimonials from my clients and clients of the IPEN, reveal that consuming the placenta after birth improves energy levels, increases milk production and slows or stops postpartum haemorrhaging creating an overall healthier post-birth recovery. (The IPEN have a long list of research studies and articles on their web site)
What is Placenta Encapsulation?
IPEN Placenta Specialists like myself, are trained to offer both Raw Dried and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) placenta capsules. The type of method a mother chooses is unique to her own circumstances. I can offer some guidance with your choice.
How do you make my capsules?
1. The placenta is washed thoroughly in cold water removing excess blood and clots
2. TCM recipe only - the placenta is steamed with lemon, ginger and green chilli
3. The placenta is sliced and dehydrated using a food dehydrator for 8-16 hours depending on size
4. The dried placenta is ground into a powder and put into vegetable capsules
TCM method: The placenta is considered a powerful and sacred medicine, a ‘full of life force’ organ in China and has been documented as a healing herb since 1578. Steaming the placenta with herbs is a crucial part of making placenta medicine.
Raw Dried Method: Some midwives and placenta specialist believe steaming the placenta may damage vital hormones and nutrients, therefore following raw food preparation guidelines, the placenta is not heated above 42°C (107.6°F) at any time during its preparation; the placenta is sliced and dehydrated raw.
How many capsules will my placenta make and how long will they last?
Your placenta should make between 90-200 size ‘0’ capsules for full term pregnancies. Because every baby is unique, placentas will vary in size and will therefore make different amounts. The Raw Dried method tends to yield more capsules than TCM.
Your placenta capsules should be stored in a cool, dark place but not the fridge. They have a shelf life of 6 months and can be frozen
How often should I consume my placenta capsules?
Most women consume their capsules 1-3 times a day during the first 4-6 weeks post-partum or until you feel your hormones have returned to a state of normality. It is said that taking your capsules with white wine helps disperse the nutrients around the body.
You can take 1-2 capsules whenever you feel you may need a ‘pick me up’ or more energy (usually a sign of low iron) or to boost your milk supply when breastfeeding. Dosage instructions are clearly printed on the capsules jars in case you forget.
Contraindications: It is not advised to consume TCM capsules if you have an infection in the body such as the flu or mastitis. It is said that the heat ‘energy’ from the TCM capsules can delay recovery. For mastitis, homoeopathic treatment is very effective, please contact me for information on a homeopathic option.
Your placenta should make between 90-200 size ‘0’ capsules for full term pregnancies. Because every baby is unique, placentas will vary in size and will therefore make different amounts. The Raw Dried method tends to yield more capsules than TCM.
Your placenta capsules should be stored in a cool, dark place but not the fridge. They have a shelf life of 6 months and can be frozen
How often should I consume my placenta capsules?
Most women consume their capsules 1-3 times a day during the first 4-6 weeks post-partum or until you feel your hormones have returned to a state of normality. It is said that taking your capsules with white wine helps disperse the nutrients around the body.
You can take 1-2 capsules whenever you feel you may need a ‘pick me up’ or more energy (usually a sign of low iron) or to boost your milk supply when breastfeeding. Dosage instructions are clearly printed on the capsules jars in case you forget.
Contraindications: It is not advised to consume TCM capsules if you have an infection in the body such as the flu or mastitis. It is said that the heat ‘energy’ from the TCM capsules can delay recovery. For mastitis, homoeopathic treatment is very effective, please contact me for information on a homeopathic option.
Will placenta capsules help prevent the ‘Baby Blues’ and/or Post-Natal Depression?
The ‘baby blues’ is now a named symptom of birth and mothers are told to expect to feel sad, anxious and very emotional around the third day after the birth, usually when the milk engorges the breasts. These symptoms can sometimes develop into post-natal depression.
Studies have proven that the symptoms of post-natal depression are linked with the severe lack of essential nutrients such as vitamin B6 and hormone CRH (our stress reducer hormone), both which are of high supply in the placenta.
Consuming the placenta in capsules nourishes the mother of lost essential nutrients and hormones following birth and may entirely prevent the ‘baby blues’ and post-natal depression.
What do I need to do to keep my placenta safe until the encapsulation?
Your placenta will need to be kept cool to ensure it remains safe to consume after birth.
Ideally your placenta should be stored in a refrigerator between 0-8°C after the cord is cut however some hospitals will not allow you to store your placenta in their fridges, therefore you will need to store your placenta in a cooler bag on ice.
We have you covered here too, as we after you book with us, we will send you everything you need, with instructions.
You then keep your placenta cooler bag with you in your hospital room until it’s collected or until a family member or friend transports it to your home refrigerator. We can decide how this will happen beforehand.
Home Births: You simple store your placenta cooler bag on the bottom shelf of your fridge ensuring readily edible foods are not near or touching it.
Cesarean Births: Ensure your doctors and midwives are both aware you would like to keep your placenta and ask if your partner can bring your storage dish ( which we send to you), into theatre. The hormone injection given to speed the 3rd stage will not prevent you from benefiting from placenta encapsulation.
The ‘baby blues’ is now a named symptom of birth and mothers are told to expect to feel sad, anxious and very emotional around the third day after the birth, usually when the milk engorges the breasts. These symptoms can sometimes develop into post-natal depression.
Studies have proven that the symptoms of post-natal depression are linked with the severe lack of essential nutrients such as vitamin B6 and hormone CRH (our stress reducer hormone), both which are of high supply in the placenta.
Consuming the placenta in capsules nourishes the mother of lost essential nutrients and hormones following birth and may entirely prevent the ‘baby blues’ and post-natal depression.
What do I need to do to keep my placenta safe until the encapsulation?
Your placenta will need to be kept cool to ensure it remains safe to consume after birth.
Ideally your placenta should be stored in a refrigerator between 0-8°C after the cord is cut however some hospitals will not allow you to store your placenta in their fridges, therefore you will need to store your placenta in a cooler bag on ice.
We have you covered here too, as we after you book with us, we will send you everything you need, with instructions.
You then keep your placenta cooler bag with you in your hospital room until it’s collected or until a family member or friend transports it to your home refrigerator. We can decide how this will happen beforehand.
Home Births: You simple store your placenta cooler bag on the bottom shelf of your fridge ensuring readily edible foods are not near or touching it.
Cesarean Births: Ensure your doctors and midwives are both aware you would like to keep your placenta and ask if your partner can bring your storage dish ( which we send to you), into theatre. The hormone injection given to speed the 3rd stage will not prevent you from benefiting from placenta encapsulation.
When should I contact my Specialist after birth?
To prevent added stress during your birth, I advise you book your encapsulation with me at least 2 weeks before your due date, but the earlier you contact me the better.
later, after the birth of your baby, you need to please contact me within 3 hours.
If for any reason I am not available I will have cover arranged with a local specialist who I have trained myself
Why should I choose Placenta Encapsulation Cork for my placenta encapsulation?
1. Professional – We are Ireland's leading placenta service provider.
2. Trained and Certified – We follow a tailor made food safety management system & have robust documentation for each client
3. We are the only placenta service provider in Ireland with purpose built placenta laboratories
4. Health and Safety - IPEN’s Code of Practice ensures we deliver a safe and quality product to every Client. We adhere to food Health and Safety guidelines and all our equipment is thoroughly cleaned and sterilised before and after each client using hospital grade cleansers and sanitizers.
5. We are Ireland only placenta service provider with our own dedicated courier, covering all the main maternity hospitals in Ireland ensuring your placenta encapsulation is simple and stress free.
Extra Services:
Placenta Tincture
Placenta essence
Homeopathic remedies
Please ask for details !
What do I do now?
• Request a Booking Form from me, your Placenta Encapsulation Specialist
• Aim to book your encapsulation at least 2 weeks before your due date, but again, the earlier I speak with you, the more information I can give you.
• Ensure you read carefully the Terms and Conditions of service, fill in and sign the booking form that we will send you, returning it to me.
• After booking you will receive an email attachment including an ‘Appropriate Placenta Care’ document. Please have this important document available during the birth to ensure your placenta is handled safely by your midwife and/or other birth attendants.
Disclaimer: Any advice or information provided by me regarding Placenta Encapsulation is based on experience, research, documentation and client testimonials from mothers who've used placenta capsules for their post-partum recovery. I am not a medical body and do not claim to treat, cure or relieve any symptoms in pregnancy, birth or post-birth. I always advise you seek advice from your GP or midwife if you have any problems with your pregnancy, birth or post-birth recovery. Families who choose to utilize the services provided by me take full responsibility of their own health and for researching and using the remedies provided in this service.