What About Corona Virus?

We process at temperatures to kill viruses and bacteria. Respiratory viruses are not obtained through the GI system. This is why you can eat takeout and get groceries!
All that PPE everyone talked about in 2020? We’re ALWAYS decked out in PPE when encapsulating. We wear masks, gloves, hair covers, aprons, and gowns. We even have pretty orange gloves. You don’t see them, but we do. And details matter! We use a medical courier who has access to all hospitals for pickup of your placenta. We will deliver your capsules to you safely using porch drop off or ship it to you if you live outside of the New Orleans area.

What’s the Research Say?

Placentophagy, or consuming one’s placenta, is currently not an evidenced based practice. This isn’t because it has been proven to not be helpful, it’s because there isn’t a body of evidence to say much about it at all. There is a growing amount of research and we look forward to future publications. Here are some articles you may find helpful.

Placentophagy - A Behavioral Enigma
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone and Postpartum Depression
Placenta Ingestion Helps Alleviate Pain
Placenta Ingestion Lowers Progesterone and Raises Prolactin Levels - higher prolactin means more milk
Maternal Iron and Postpartum Emotions - placenta is iron rich
Iron supplements decrease fatigue. - fatigue is associated with postpartum depression

Raw or Steamed?

We practice the modern raw method of placenta encapsulation. Steaming prior to dehydration does not impact safety and results in fewer capsules, meaning some of your placenta is lost. We follow and maintain food safe temperatures during all processes. If steaming is important to you, we can offer this as an add-on service.

“Drying is the world's oldest and most common method of food preservation . . . The scientific principal of preserving food by drying is that by removing moisture, enzymes cannot efficiently contact or react with the food. Whether these enzymes are bacterial, fungal, or naturally occurring autolytic enzymes from the raw food, preventing this enzymatic action preserves the food from biological action.” usda.gov

What about GBS?

GBS, or Group Beta Strep, is a bacterium pregnant people are tested for during pregnancy. If you are positive for this bacterium we are comfortable encapsulating your placenta if you receive appropriate antibiotic treatment. If you are GBS pos and you do not receive antibiotic treatment we are not able to encapsulate your placenta. However, we are able to prepare a placenta print and cord keepsake for you.

GBS General Information
GBS and Placentophagy

Do you provide in-home services?

We prefer to encapsulate in our kitchen where there is no pets or other potential contaminates. But yes, we can also offer placenta encapsulation in your home. You will be mailed a transport kit and will be responsible for keeping your placenta at the appropriate temperature and having it moved to your home, into your refrigerator. Our placenta specialist will coordinate with you to visit your home twice to complete the encapsulation. Please note in-home encapsulation is an add-on service and there is an additional fee.

What if I have a cesarean or medicated birth?

No problem. Your placenta can be encapsulated for you if used pain medications during birth and if you had a cesarean birth to welcome your baby.

What if I already have my placenta at home?

As long as your placenta has been properly stored, you have options. We can provide services in your home, or you may choose to have our medical courier pick up your placenta and deliver it to our professional placenta kitchen.

Can I donate milk if I consume my placenta capsules?

Milk Banks do an incredible job of safely providing donor human milk for babies. If you would like to donate your milk to a milk bank we encourage you to reach out to them and learn about their guidelines. Our placenta encapsulation meets criteria necessary for the Milk Bank in New Orleans and we are happy to discuss with any milk bank you are interested in donating to.

What if I don’t live in the New Orleans area?

Contact us and let us know where you are delivering your baby (and placenta). It is likely we can send the medical courier to you and simply charge you the difference in the courier fee. Other options are to have a trusted friend or family member bring your placenta to us or we can talk you through your shipping options. After we prepare your placenta we will ship you your capsules at no additional charge to you.

If you live anywhere in the continental US we can help you! Just reach out to learn about how we can safely ship your placenta.