Frequently Asked Questions About Placenta Encapsulation

Q: What is the process?
A: Once the encapsulation is scheduled and the deposit is paid I will put you on my calendar and make sure that I am available 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after your due date. If you know you usually deliver early or late then you can let me know and I can make arrangements to extend that period if necessary. Then all you need to do is give me a call or text once you've had your baby and I will come within a few hours to pick up the placenta. You will need to bring a cooler to keep the placenta cold during that time to make sure it stays fresh. Hospitals and birth centers usually have ice or ice packs. It is best to encapsulate the day the placenta is delivered for optimum freshness and quality.

It is very important to talk to your doctor or midwife BEFORE you go into labor and make sure you let them know that you want to take the placenta home with you. They will be able to let you know what the hospital or birth center's policies are concerning the release of the placenta. Some hospitals require that the placenta be removed from the building immediately and others will not release the placenta until 24 hours after delivery. You'll also need to let the nurses at the hospital or the birth center know when you're in labor to make sure that it doesn't get contaminated or discarded.

Q: How long does the encapsulation process take?
A: The encapsulation processing time varies depending on what method you choose. The traditional Chinese method takes about 24 hours from the time I pick up the placenta until the time that I drop the finished pills off. The raw method takes longer because the dehydration process is longer. It can take anywhere from 24 to 72 hours to get the finished pills back.

Q: How do I know that I will be getting my own placenta back?
A: I only process one placenta at a time so there is zero chance that there would ever be an accidental mix up or contamination from another placenta. I take great care to ensure that each placenta is safely prepared in a sanitary work space and the finished pills are 100% pure placenta from the mother. There are zero herbs, powders, or other fillers used. I begin the encapsulation process immediately after I pick up the placenta so there is no holding time and your placenta is never in a refrigerator with other placentas or dehydrating with other placentas. One of the most valuable things about using placenta medicine is that the placenta is made by the mother, for the mother. The vitamin and hormone levels are perfectly suited to each mother's needs because they were made by her. This huge benefit would be lost if the placenta pills contained anything other than the mother's own placenta. Although most clients choose to have the placenta picked up and prepared elsewhere, I also offer to come to my client's home to do the encapsulation so that the client can supervise the process from start to finish.

Q: How can I be sure that your work space is clean and that my placenta won't be contaminated?
A: This is a very important topic. Because placentas can be contaminated with blood borne diseases if the mother has tested positive, it is crucial to use an encapsulation specialist that is trained to safely handle blood borne pathogens. I am certified in blood borne pathogen handling as well as food safety handling. I have a meticulous sanitation process that I use before and after preparing each and every placenta. Most of the utensils that I use during the encapsulation process are disposable and only used one time. The equipment that is not disposable, such as the dehydrator, are sanitized using a hospital grade solution and thoroughly rinsed and steamed. This process is used on every surface and on each utensil that is used to prevent any contamination or spread of infection.

​Q: Do you accept clients that have tested positive for blood borne pathogens such as HIV or Hepatitis?
A: I do not accept clients that have tested positive for blood borne pathogens because it is not typically recommended that they use placenta medicine.

Q: Why do some encapsulation specialists ask for proof of negative blood borne test results?
A: ​Early in pregnancy, most doctors or midwives request a full STD panel be done on the pregnant mom. Some encapsulation specialists ask to see a clients STD panel for proof that they have not tested positive for any infectious diseases. I do not think that proof of this information is necessary. I do ask my clients to disclose their health status and I do not accept clients that have tested positive but I treat each and every placenta as if it is infected. Most, if not all, hospitals will not release the placenta of an infected mother and although rare, infection could happen between the time that testing takes place during pregnancy and the delivery of the child. I take every precaution to preserve the health of my clients, myself, my family, and my future clients. The sanitation process that I use would kill any blood borne pathogens and prevent spreading infection to myself or future clients.

Q: How long have you been a placenta encapsulation specialist?
A: I encapsulated my very first placenta in July of 2009 after the birth of my 3rd child. I I continued reading and studying about the placenta and it's benefits over the next couple of years and decided to get certified as a placenta encapsulation specialist in December of 2011. Fruit of Life Placenta Encapsulation officially opened in January of 2012 and I have been encapsulating placentas ever since!


This page is still a work in progress. More questions coming soon!