Why turn my placenta into medicine?

The placenta has been honored as a powerful postpartum healer in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. Childbirth affects the body and mind in profound ways. For many moms, this period of joy and recovery is also marked with a huge drop in pregnancy hormones, along with blood loss and fatigue. These factors contribute to the mood adjustment period, commonly referred to as the “baby blues”. Although this fluctuation in mood can be expected for 80% of new mothers, more serious postpartum mood disorders, such as postpartum depression, are becoming all too common in our society. The placenta is full of essential feel-good hormones, healing chemicals and iron, which can be gradually welcomed back into your body through placenta pills. Placenta encapsulation is the simplest, safest and most natural way to aid in postpartum wellness. 

What are the reported benefits?

  • Increased energy

  • Restoring hormonal balance, decreasing the “baby blues” and postpartum depression

  • Shorten postpartum bleeding and increase your iron supply

  • Quicker healing of the vaginal tissues

  • Assist the uterus in quickly returning to it’s pre-pregnant size (known as involution)

  • Increased breastmilk production

All of these physical and emotional benefits can lead to improved bonding with your baby. I like to think of placenta medicine as a very smart insurance policy for the happiest possible 4th trimester! 

Here is a great article on why many mother's are choosing to eat their placentas.

What’s in the placenta?

  • Oxytocin: known as the “love hormone”; it helped your uterus contract to give birth to your beautiful baby. It is also present during breast feeding to facilitate bonding of mother and baby.

  • Gamma globulin: immune booster that helps protect against postpartum infections

  • Urokinase Inhibiting Factor & Factor XIII: stops bleeding and enhances wound healing

  • Thyroid Stimulating Hormone: boosts energy and helps recover from stressful events

  • Gonadotrophin: the precursor to estrogen, progesterone and testosterone

  • Interferon: stimulates the immune system to protect against infection

  • Cortisone: combats stress and unlocks stores of energy

  • Hemoglobin: replenishes iron deficiency and anemia

  • Prostaglandins: anti-inflammatory

  • Prolactin: promotes lactation

Placenta Encapsulation Services:

A thorough description of the process can be found at the bottom of this page.

Service Area
I offer placenta encapsulation services in Mountain View, Los Altos, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, San Jose, Cupertino, Saratoga and Campbell.

Placenta Encapsulation  - $350
Includes pick-up of your placenta within 24-36 hours after the birth, the encapsulation process, and the drop-off of your jar of pills within 3-4 days with clear instructions for storage and consumption. 
Placenta encapsulation for twins is $450

Add-ons:
Photos of your placenta upon request - Free
Umbilical Cord Keepsake upon request- Free
Placenta Tincture - $50
For those who would like to prolong the benefits of their placental hormones long after they have taken all their pills. The tincture is made by soaking a piece of placenta in high grade alcohol for 6 weeks. The tincture left after straining is shelf-stable when stored in a cool, dark place and will last for many years! The tincture can be used in any time of trauma, transition, emotional distress, for symptoms around your cycle and even during menopause! Only available with placenta pills. Tinctures are ready to be dropped off after 6 weeks.

Frozen placentas can be encapsulated up to 6 months after the birth.

Here is a thorough explanation of the process:

Once you have given birth, you will send me a text and I will let you know what time you can expect me to pick up your placenta. I am available for placenta pick up between the hours of 8:00 AM and 10:00 PM.  I will start the encapsulation process within 48 hours after the birth

The process is done in my home. All surfaces are sanitized with a bleach solution according to OSHA standards for blood borne pathogens. Surfaces are also covered with chux pads while I am working. All equipment is sanitized after use or is disposable (i.e. gloves, surface covers, lining for dehydrator). 

There is no chance of cross contamination and I have never had a mother get sick from the pills. I also do not encapsulate the placentas of any mothers with blood borne diseases. 

I clean the placenta of all clotted blood and then dehydrate the placenta for 16-24 hours. I then grind the dehydrated placenta into a powder and put it into vegetarian capsules. Your jar of pills is ready within 3-4 days after delivery with detailed instructions for storage and consumption. The pills last indefinitely when stored in the freezer. Most mothers consume all of them within the first few months, although you may save some of them for future use during times of hormonal transition. Placentas vary in size and yield between 80-150 pills.