Placenta Encapsulation and Other Services

Are you curious about placenta encapsulation? The Placenta is a special organ. Formed during pregnancy, the placenta nourishes the fetus in the uterus and produces hormones which support the pregnancy. It attaches to both the mother and fetus, forming a connection which is broken after birth.

At Highland Birth Support I can offer a few different ways to help you honor this special organ.

Many parents leave their placentas with their care provider who disposes of it after the birth. However, for many the placenta holds further value. It can be prepared for consumption, which many claim can help prevent postpartum depression, increase breastmilk supply, and reduce pain and postpartum bleeding. The scientific evidence isn’t strong here, but conclusions based on recent studies can be found here.

Placenta consumption has a long history of medicinal use in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The uses in this tradition expand far beyond those for women in their postpartum period. Some TCM providers use placenta to affect the lungs, liver, and kidneys. More information regarding this can be found here.

Placenta consumption can also be done by adding the fresh or dried placenta to foods.  Some parents may also choose to compost or plant a tree with their placenta, keep it for spiritual or ceremonial use, or make art prints with it.

Placenta Services:

A $50 deposit is needed to reserve a spot on the calendar. Since the placenta is perishable it must be preserved very soon after birth.

Placenta Encapsulation: I will preserve your placenta for future use with a steam method. The placenta is steamed, dehydrated, ground, and inserted into capsules. You receive a jar of encapsulated placenta with instructions for use and suggested dosage. This method takes approximately 2 days and can be done in your home or elsewhere.

Price: $350

Placenta Prints: Some families wish to have a placenta keepsake, to remind them of the beauty of an organ that sustained their baby. I can create these prints using a number of mediums and a few different types of surface.

You can choose a non-toxic paint print, a food-dye print, or a print made from placental blood. I can print the image on watercolor paper or a framed canvas. If this is the only placenta service you are requesting, you will need to rinse, package, and freeze the placenta until I can come pick it up. If it is an add-on service to encapsulation you need not do any extra preparation.

Price on watercolor paper: $50

*Additional mileage costs will be added if this is chosen as a stand alone service with a travel distance of more than 30 road miles.