Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I encapsulate my placenta?
Taking placenta pills and tincture may help with the following:
- replenishing nutrients such as iron, and therefore decreasing the risk of anemia
- decreasing postpartum bleeding
- balancing hormones
- decreasing fatigue and increasing energy
- reducing or eliminating 'baby blues', moodiness, and/or depression
- increasing breastmilk supply
- decreasing after pains (especially for mothers of multiple children)
- speeding postpartum recovery and uterine involution (shrinking)
(Sources: www.placentabakery.com, www.placentapills.com)
Something we want to emphasize is that placenta encapsulation should be treated as a preventative and complimentary treatment, and NOT as a substitute for other forms of medical care. While placenta capsules can play a huge role in the postpartum period being a healthy and happy one, but they are not wholly responsible. It is important for you to work alongside a trusted medical provider and a support system for you as you transition to adding another member to your family. This is but another way for you to have additional support for your body in postpartum; one that hundreds of women have benefitted from right here in Southeast Nebraska.
- replenishing nutrients such as iron, and therefore decreasing the risk of anemia
- decreasing postpartum bleeding
- balancing hormones
- decreasing fatigue and increasing energy
- reducing or eliminating 'baby blues', moodiness, and/or depression
- increasing breastmilk supply
- decreasing after pains (especially for mothers of multiple children)
- speeding postpartum recovery and uterine involution (shrinking)
(Sources: www.placentabakery.com, www.placentapills.com)
Something we want to emphasize is that placenta encapsulation should be treated as a preventative and complimentary treatment, and NOT as a substitute for other forms of medical care. While placenta capsules can play a huge role in the postpartum period being a healthy and happy one, but they are not wholly responsible. It is important for you to work alongside a trusted medical provider and a support system for you as you transition to adding another member to your family. This is but another way for you to have additional support for your body in postpartum; one that hundreds of women have benefitted from right here in Southeast Nebraska.
How do I get my placenta to you?
It's easy peasy - your placenta will be picked up at your place of birth! After filling out the sign-up form and paying your deposit, you will receive detailed instructions on exactly what that process looks like as well as lots of other useful information! Usually a partner, family member or doula lets Lincoln Placenta Encapsulation know when you are in labor, and from there, a plan is made to pick it up at the earliest convenience, normally within the first 12 hours after delivery. The placenta should be placed in a container within 3 hours after birth (Ziplock bag, Tupperware container, etc.) and refrigerated or put on ice until pick up. If for some reason we are unable to collect the placenta in the first 24 hours, the placenta should be put in the freezer.
How long will it take to receive my pills/tincture?
You can expect your capsules and tincture within 4-7 days of picking up the placenta, depending on circumstances. The sooner we can get them to you, the better, so we try our best to have your package to you quickly. If there are extenuating circumstances, you will be contacted as soon as possible.
How many capsules will my placenta make & how long will they last me?
Each woman is different and so is every placenta. Quantity can vary from 100 to 300, although we generally see the average of about 200 capsules. Because the pills have been dehydrated, their shelf life is quite stable. As long as the capsules do not get wet and are stored in a cool, dry place (we recommend the freezer; your capsules will also have a dry Silica packet included), they will be good for many years to come. The tincture does not need to be refrigerated or frozen for long term storage, just kept in a cool, dark place.
Does it matter where I give birth?
No, but it should be refrigerated or on ice within three-four hours after birth and should not be treated with any chemicals. DO NOT ALLOW YOUR PLACENTA TO GO TO THE LAB! If there is any question about your placenta being encapsulated due to any condition, please call and discuss it with your placenta encapsulator. There are few reasons a placenta can not be encapsulated, and we would hate for you to miss out because of possible misinformation.
Have you had personal experience with placenta pills/tincture?
Yes! My placenta pills helped me tremendously after the birth of my daughter and my son. Not only did I skip baby blues with my first altogether, my postpartum bleeding was over after just a few short week and my milk supply evened out very quickly. They also were wonderful whenever I felt anxiety, and I had much more energy when I took them regularly. As for placenta tincture, I've been pleased to experience energy boosts and emotional balance after taking it. I enjoy my tincture most in a strawberry smoothie! - Madison Sasman, Founder
My placenta pills helped me after the birth of my third child. At the time I had twins who were not even 3 years old yet so I needed all the energy I could get. My pills helped with a quick recovery & gave me an immediate energy boost right away. As I went on through baby's first year I was thankful to have them help with my milk supply after my cycle returned. There was a notable difference from my first pregnancy recovery to my second with the help of these pills & my tincture. - Kristy Pape
My placenta pills helped me after the birth of my third child. At the time I had twins who were not even 3 years old yet so I needed all the energy I could get. My pills helped with a quick recovery & gave me an immediate energy boost right away. As I went on through baby's first year I was thankful to have them help with my milk supply after my cycle returned. There was a notable difference from my first pregnancy recovery to my second with the help of these pills & my tincture. - Kristy Pape
Where did you receive training? How long have you been encapsulating?
Lead Encapsulator and Owner, Kristy Pape, trained with founder Madison Sasman in the fall of 2015 and was the back-up encapsulator for the intervening years before becoming director. Along with this training, there have been hours spent researching, networking with other encapsulators, and perfecting services so as to serve you as safely, quickly, and professionally as possible. The responsibility of handling a mom's placenta is one that we take very seriously and strive for excellence in our techniques.
Lincoln Placenta Encapsulation began in early 2013 and has served over 300 families in Nebraska since that time. If you would like to know more about previous client's experiences with Lincoln Placenta Encapsulation, definitely check out the Testimonials page!
Lincoln Placenta Encapsulation began in early 2013 and has served over 300 families in Nebraska since that time. If you would like to know more about previous client's experiences with Lincoln Placenta Encapsulation, definitely check out the Testimonials page!
How will you prepare the placenta?
We prepare using what is typically referred to as the Raw Method of placenta encapsulation (as opposed to Traditional Chinese Method or TCM). The term "Raw Method" is a bit of a misnomer; a more accurate term would be un-steamed, but what it means is that we completely dehydrate your placenta at 160 degrees for at least 12 hours before grinding and putting the powder into capsules. From our research, we feel the "raw" method retains more nutrients and therefore can be more beneficial to the mother. Herbs are NOT included in your capsules; we are happy to encapsulate certain herbs for you to consume if you wish, however, we will not put them directly in your pills. There have been instances of women who've had a reaction to herbs during postpartum, and we would hate to have all of your placenta capsules unsafe for you because of the herbs added.
If you are interested in the TCM method, we would be happy to direct you to encapsulators in our area who offer those services.
If you are interested in the TCM method, we would be happy to direct you to encapsulators in our area who offer those services.
Are there risks to having my placenta encapsulated?
The risks of placenta encapsulation are not non-existent, but they are minimal. The main risk factors are improper encapsulation processes that may allow some naturally-occuring bacteria to survive the encapsulation process or that it may become contaminated during processing. A placenta naturally has some bacteria on and in it from your body; it is not sterile. Because it filters toxins for your baby in pregnancy, there is a risk that small levels of these toxins could survive the encapsulation process if there is not proper preparation. It is for this reason that it is very important to choose an encapsulator has experience with mitigating these risks.
In order to reduce the risks of encapsulation, our process includes thoroughly cleaning the placenta and making sure that the environment it is encapsulated in is properly cleaned and prepped. Your safety is a top priority.
UPDATE: The CDC recently issued an advisory statement based on a single case of a hypothesized link between improper placenta processing and a baby becoming sick with late-onset Group B Strep (GBS). There was no trace of GBS (a common bacteria) in the breastmilk of the mother, who tested negative for GBS, but traces were found in her placenta pills. The report stated that "Consumption of contaminated placenta capsules might have elevated maternal GBS intestinal and skin colonization, facilitating transfer to the infant.” So the baby contracted GBS from his mother’s skin or other bodily fluids, not the pills. The mother's bacterial colonies MAY have been elevated by the contaminated pills, but there is no research to confirm or deny this. Please keep in mind that routes of transmission of late-onset GBS are poorly understood and that the CDC is making this recommendation based on a single case where the mechanism of transfer was hypothesized rather than proven. Regardless, I want to emphasize that placentas MUST be properly handled before encapsulating them. The risks of placenta encapsulation are similar to the risks of consuming meat: proper preparation can greatly minimize the risks of contamination or allowing bacteria to survive in the capsules.
In order to reduce the risks of encapsulation, our process includes thoroughly cleaning the placenta and making sure that the environment it is encapsulated in is properly cleaned and prepped. Your safety is a top priority.
UPDATE: The CDC recently issued an advisory statement based on a single case of a hypothesized link between improper placenta processing and a baby becoming sick with late-onset Group B Strep (GBS). There was no trace of GBS (a common bacteria) in the breastmilk of the mother, who tested negative for GBS, but traces were found in her placenta pills. The report stated that "Consumption of contaminated placenta capsules might have elevated maternal GBS intestinal and skin colonization, facilitating transfer to the infant.” So the baby contracted GBS from his mother’s skin or other bodily fluids, not the pills. The mother's bacterial colonies MAY have been elevated by the contaminated pills, but there is no research to confirm or deny this. Please keep in mind that routes of transmission of late-onset GBS are poorly understood and that the CDC is making this recommendation based on a single case where the mechanism of transfer was hypothesized rather than proven. Regardless, I want to emphasize that placentas MUST be properly handled before encapsulating them. The risks of placenta encapsulation are similar to the risks of consuming meat: proper preparation can greatly minimize the risks of contamination or allowing bacteria to survive in the capsules.
Are there other options for using my placenta?
Yes. Some families choose to bury it and plant a tree at the site in honor of what it did for mom and baby. There are also those who choose to consume their placentas in other ways, such as in a smoothie. Placenta prints are also an option for commemorating what the placenta did for you and baby. Lincoln Placenta Encapsulation does offer placenta prints and placenta smoothies at an additional fee. Please contact us for information.
I'm ready to sign up, what do i do now?
Sign up is simple! Contact Kristy by phone at (308) 293-0342, email at lincplacenta@gmail.com, or simply follow this link to fill out the intake form here. We are happy to walk you through the process! We look forward to serving you during your postpartum journey!
THE INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE HAS NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THE SERVICES
OFFERED BY LINCOLN PLACENTA ENCAPSULATION ARE NOT CLINICAL, PHARMACEUTICAL, OR INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE OR TREAT ANY CONDITION. FAMILIES WHO CHOOSE TO UTILIZE THE SERVICES ON THIS PAGE TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY OF THEIR OWN HEALTH AND FOR RESEARCHING AND USING THE REMEDIES.
OFFERED BY LINCOLN PLACENTA ENCAPSULATION ARE NOT CLINICAL, PHARMACEUTICAL, OR INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE OR TREAT ANY CONDITION. FAMILIES WHO CHOOSE TO UTILIZE THE SERVICES ON THIS PAGE TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY OF THEIR OWN HEALTH AND FOR RESEARCHING AND USING THE REMEDIES.
