FAQs

---

 

“What is Placenta Encapsulation entail?”

Placenta Encapsulation, derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine, is the process of steaming the placenta with lemon and ginger, slicing it into thin strips, dehydrating/”mummifying” the strips in a food dehydrator, then grinding them into a powder, that is then put into capsules. Process makes 70-150 pills (size 00 capsules) depending on the size and density of your placenta.

 How and when do I sign up for your services?

Please try to contact me at least a few weeks before your due date

To reserve a space, please send me an email (sfplacentalady@gmail.com) including the following:

1) Your  full name and due date

2) Your cell number and place you are planning on giving birth

3) Partner or a support person’s name and cell number

* If you would like any extras such as an art print, cord-keepsake, photo, or tincture in addition to the encapsulation please include that.

After this, I will send you a $100 deposit request and confirmation email with instructions for the big day.

“You want to ‘cook up’ my what?!?” 

Think of it like a liver, but unlike a liver, which only filters out toxins, the placenta also  filters in nutrients, oxygen, and various hormones to the fetus during pregnancy.  A “super liver” that has all the added unique benefit of personalized hormone restoration.

What is Placenta Tincture? 

Placenta Tincture is made by taking a dime-size portion of the maternal side of the placenta, and steeping in 100 proof alcohol for 6 weeks. It is then strained through a coffee filter into a 4 oz. amber dropper bottle. Store in a cool dark place and it will keep indefinitely. take 8-10 drops in some water/day to balance hormones during PMS or menopause.

How are clients kept separate during the processing? AND How do you prevent cross-contamination?

I am small scale and I only process around 6 placentas/ month, at the most, so I rarely have more then one in my fridge at a time-

But you can be sure it is labeled with your name and your baby’s date of birth/time.

I also carry a blood borne pathogens certification (like a tattoo artist) and am super aware of cross contamination of raw and dried blood.

I go through about 10 pairs of gloves during one encapsulation. Each time I do a placenta, all my work surface and supplies have to be throughly cleaned and sterilized. Anything that touched raw blood gets sprayed with a 10:1 bleach solution and soaks for at least 10 minutes. (And washed again)

 I clean my steam pot with a one-time use sponge and scour pad. I also use parchment paper in my dehydrator, for easy cleaning. 

When I do an art print, the placenta is laying on a disposable water proof chuck pad, to avoid getting blood on any surfaces. I am NEVER processing more than one placenta at a time ( unless in the case of twin placentas) 

How do I save my placenta? And, Do you come pick it up?

If you plan to give birth at the hospital tell your Doctor or Midwife that you would like to keep your placenta. (Put in Birth Plan) Most hospitals in SF wont have a problem storing it in an air-tight container in the fridge, or on ice. Make sure to bring your own small leak proof cooler, in case your particular hospital in not kosher to the idea of storing it in their fridge.

The following link is a helpful document to also bring with you to the hospital. Hospitals don’t want to be liable for anything, so it’s just a helpful thing to have incase your doctor is showing some resistance towards letting you take home your precious organ.

Click to access Hospital-Release-of-Placenta.pdf

*If you give birth at home, have  your Midwife put it in a gallon sized zip-lock (double bag) or tupperware container in your fridge.

After the birth, you (or a support person) give me a call and we will arrange a time for me to come pick up your placenta. ( If it’s late , or the middle of the night please wait until 8 am the next morning before calling)

I have a “medical lunch-box” filled with ice and I can meet you in your room, or have your partner bring it out to me.

 Do you take clients outside of San Francisco?

Yes, but I have a low carbon foot print so I prefer to travel by bus and Bart.
I do not own a vehicle.
Alta Bates and Kaiser in Oakland are a walkable distance from the Bart for me. I can arrange to have a friend do the pick up if you are in the south or east bay.

Also happy to meet doulas or partners anywhere.

When is payment due and what type of payment do you prefer? 

If in SF, the remaining balance is not due until after I drop your capsules off to you. ( by day 4 postpartum)

If outside the city, payment will be due the day I receive your placenta, since I will be mailing your pills to you.

I prefer Venmo, cash or check for the remaining balance.

What if I am not sure I want to encapsulate my placenta until after my baby is born?

I always encourage women to save their placenta, even if they are not sure if they want to encapsulate it. You can always store it in the freezer until you decide what you would like to do with it.

I am interested in your services but not sure if I can afford it…do you offer any type of sliding scale?

If money is an issue please contact me so we can work something out. I can offer a sliding scale or trade option. I believe every woman should be able to have this service if she chooses.

Would you consider ingesting one’s placenta vegan friendly?

Yes. In fact, nourishing your body postpartum with it’s own “living meat” is especially recommended for those on a vegan or vegetarian diet because it’s so rich in iron and B-vitamins.  Also, I always use vegetarian capsules for encapsulation.

What happens if I give birth on the same day as one of your other clients?

I work closely with fellow Placenta Specialist, Torrey Mansur.

She is my back up placenta lady in the event it’s “raining placenta” Torrey was trained by me and I trust her method and recipe for optimal safety and preservation of precious hormones.

Are there any contraindications to ingesting one’s placenta?

Yes, a few.

I do not recommend you ingest your placenta if you contracted a uterine or blood infection during labor.

Also, if any drugs were used during labor that you turned out to be allergic to.

And finally, if morphine was accidentally injected into your placenta during an emergency C-section.

In the event of one of these rare occurrences, I would return your $100 deposit.

I heard being GBS+ is a contraindication to Placenta encapsulation. Is this true?

No. If the placenta reaches a temperature of 130 for at least 90 minutes then this is not a problem.

A uterine *infection* caused by GBS is a different story.

Please note that a GBS infection is very different then just being GBS positive.