ST. LOUIS—Purple Lotus Doulas provides experienced placenta encapsulation services to St. Louis-area families. Learn about the benefits and the process.
Placenta encapsulation is the process of taking a a placenta, after it has finished it’s job of nourishing your baby, and safely preparing it in a way that allows it to be put into capsules, so that they can be swallowed like a pill.
Placenta Encapsulation is offered in St. Louis by: Sarah and Elizabeth
Why would someone want to consume their placenta?
Consumption of the placenta, also known as placentophagy, is a practice that dates back to ancient times and is still common in certain cultures today.
Placentophagy (from ‘placenta’ + Greek φαγειν, to eat; also referred to as placentophagia) is the act of mammals eating the placenta of their young after childbirth. Most placental mammals participate in placentophagy.
The placenta contains high levels of prostaglandins which stimulates involution (a shrinking or return to a former size) of the uterus. The placenta also contains small amounts of oxytocin which eases birth stress and causes the smooth muscles around the mammary cells to contract and eject milk. Proponents also believe it may help prevent postpartum depression and “the baby blues,” increase milk supply, replace depleted iron and increase energy, expedite the healing process after birth, and more.
Can you taste it?
Like many supplements, such as vitamins or herbal blends, placenta capsules have a noticeable odor. Most women don’t find this to be a problem when taking their capsules. For those with a more sensitive palate, swallowing the capsules with a meal or beverage such as juice or milk seems to mask any bothersome taste or smell.
How is it prepared?
Traditional Chinese Method
The Traditional Chinese Method, or TCM, is the most common method used by placenta encapsulators. The process is as follows: the placenta is first gently rinsed with water and then steamed with lemon and ginger (in our case using top quality doTERRA essential oils). Once it has cooled, it is dehydrated at 105 degrees for 8-12 hours, finely ground and then placed into capsules (vegetarian capsules available for an extra fee).
Raw Encapsulation
We also offer raw encapsulation for those who desire it. This process differs slightly from TCM by eliminating the steaming process and dehydrating the raw placenta for 18-24 hours at 165 degrees before grinding and encapsulating.
This method is different from the traditional method in that the placenta is not steamed or cooked in any way before dehydrating. It is still dried, powdered and encapsulated and the dosage is similar but postpartum parents who utilize this method often report a more immediate and intense energy burst after taking these placenta pills.
This method is a good option for those who already follow a raw foods diet or for those who are particularly interested in the freshest hormonal benefits of placenta encapsulation. There are however, some situations where raw encapsulation would not be ideal, like if the postpartum parent had a suspected infection during labor or has a history of anxiety, insomnia or hyperthyroidism.
How many capsules will I receive?
The number of capsules varies by the size of the placenta and its usable portion. In general, a placenta will be larger the longer the gestation at the time of birth. Multiples will produce more capsules than singletons. But even given that, there is a great variance in how many capsules a mom receives, though it averages between 70-130.
How do I get my placenta from the hospital?
While it might seem daunting at first, the process of obtaining your placenta following a hospital birth is typically fairly simple. Here are the steps we suggest taking to ensure that the process goes smoothly and once you book your placenta encapsulation with us, we will email you a pdf handout with detailed instructions to ensure that everything goes smoothly in obtaining your placenta:
- Contact your hospital to confirm that they have a placenta release form on file. Most local hospitals are accommodating due to the increasing number of requests for placenta release. If your hospital has a release form on file in L&D, obtaining your placenta following birth shouldn’t be a problem. If your hospital does NOT have a placenta release form on file, please contact Purple Lotus Doulas to discuss further options.
- If you have a birth plan, make note on it that you will be taking your placenta home. It is also helpful to inform your care provider of your plans prior to labor.
- Upon admission to the hospital, communicate your plans regarding placenta release to the L&D nurses. Your doula and/or partner can assist with this communication.
- Soon after your baby’s birth, your partner and doula should remind the healthcare provider and nursing staff about saving the placenta. It will be placed into a specimen container after the healthcare provider has examined it. Based on our experience, we recommend keeping an eye on it to ensure that the placenta isn’t taken out of your room or accidentally disposed of. (This is one of many great reasons to hire a doula — they can also be your placenta guardian!)
- Your PLD encapsulator will instruct you prior to labor on how to store your placenta and will also make arrangements on when/where they will begin the encapsulation process.
What do I do with it until you pick it up?
As soon as possible, it is best to put it on ice in a cooler brought from home or in the refrigerator. Call your PLD Placenta Encapsulator as soon as possible for further instructions. We will instruct you how to store your placenta, based on your birth location, preference of where you’d like the process done and a few other factors.
Where do you do the encapsulation process?
After your placenta is picked up, it will be processed remotely and the finished capsules will be delivered to you.
How long until my capsules are ready?
It takes approximately 24 hours to from the time the encapsulation process is started until the capsules are ready. How soon we are able to start processing your placenta depends on a number of scheduling factors (whether your encapsulator has other placentas to process first, is at a birth, has prior scheduled obligations, etc). After we pick up your placenta, your completed capsules may be delivered to you as quickly as 48 hours later or as long as 1-2 weeks later.
Do you give me instructions on how to take them?
Yes, you will receive instructions on how many to take per day and how to taper off. It is important to note that you should never take your placenta if you have an active infection. Common illnesses in which a postpartum parent should stop taking their capsules are: colds, sinus infections, flu and mastitis. Once symptoms of the infection have cleared, they may start taking their capsules again.
What is included in the cost?
- Your prepared capsules stored in a decorative jar
- Umbilical cord keepsake (as long as we have enough cord to work with)
- Detailed instruction sheet
- Upon client request, we will do 3-6 placenta prints at no additional cost
- Pickup/delivery within the St. Louis metro region
Pricing
$275 for Traditional Chinese Method or raw encapsulation.
There is a $75 discount when utilizing any other Purple Lotus Doulas services, or if you are a repeat client just utilizing placenta encapsulation services, we offer a $50 discount. (Discounts cannot be combined.)
There is a $25 retainer fee due upfront to secure your spot on our schedule. We strongly encourage you to book ahead of time, so that we can help support you with information about how to get release rights to your placenta, how to store your placenta and any other questions you have. However, we may be able to accommodate last-minute requests, so please don’t hesitate to contact us!
Additional costs:
- Placenta tincture – $20
- Vegan capsules – $15
- Add’l fee for parents of multiples – $50
- Pickup/delivery outside of the St. Louis metro region – based on distance
Book your placenta encapsulation now
If you have any questions before booking, you can use the Contact Purple Lotus form or email info@purplelotusdoulas.com.
Inquiry Form
Email