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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

None of the statements below has been evaluated or approved by the FDA and should not be used as medical advice. Sacred Seasons Birth does not offer, nor imply, a guarantee of results. All of the data collected is anecdotal, obtained from surveys provided to women who have encapsulated their placentas. Always consult with your care provider if you are experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression, anxiety, or rage. Some women may have underlying health circumstances that may alter the outcome of them consuming their placenta.


What is a placenta/how does it function?

The placenta is a truly extraordinary organ. It is the only “one-time-use” organ that is expelled from the body after delivery and regrows with every subsequent pregnancy. The placenta provides the developing baby with blood, nutrients, oxygen, minerals, and hormones via the umbilical cord. It is responsible for 100% of a baby’s hormone production and takes over the vast majority of the mother’s hormone production, which significantly downregulates her hypothalamus. When the placenta is delivered, most of the mother’s hormones are retained in the placenta, which can result in feeling

  • hot
  • cold
  • shaky
  • irritable
  • sweating
  • sleep disturbances
  • elaborate dreams
  • postpartum depression (PPD), postpartum anxiety (PPA), Postpartum rage (PPR)

What are the benefits of placenta encapsulation?

The reported benefits women have experienced after encapsulating their placentas include (but are not limited to):

  • Increased Energy
  • Decreased PPD/PPA/PPR
  • Help Fight Infection
  • Stimulate Milk Production
  • Assist in the Reinstatement of the Uterus
  • Decreased Instances of Postpartum Hemorrhage
  • Decrease in Pain & Swelling
  • Decreased Stress & Regulate Sleep

Are there negative effects of encapsulation?

The most common negative side effect reported is women getting “the shakes”, similar to having had too much caffeine. This is typically an easy fix by adjusting the number of capsules and/or the frequency at which they are consumed. That being said, everybody is different, so there is no way to know how your capsules will affect you until you’ve consumed them. Some women have underlying health conditions or disorders that may cause unpleasant side effects, such as the onset or worsening of PPD, PPA, or PPR. You should ALWAYS stop taking your capsules and consult with your care provider if you develop new or worsening symptoms of PPD/PPA/PPR or any other negative side effects.

Can I encapsulate if I am positive for GBS?

You absolutely can! Group B Strep, STIs, or meconium present at birth do not preclude you from encapsulation. We ask that you divulge that information, as a professional courtesy, to our placenta encapsulation specialist. In instances of a microbial concern, the placenta will be given a double apple cider vinegar bath before the preparation process. We strongly encourage the TCM preparation for clients for whom these situations are applicable, but it is not mandatory.

What prevents me from encapsulating?

The only circumstances in which we cannot encapsulate a placenta are in instances of confirmed infection. Typically, a mother will run a very high fever during labor that can continue postpartum. The hospital can send a portion of the placenta off for pathology to determine if there is an infection in the placenta. It is impossible to know that there is an infection without pathology, so if your care provider is claiming there is an infection in the placenta, we strongly encourage you to press for pathology to confirm. DO NOT allow the entire placenta to go to the lab. We cannot guarantee the chain of custody nor that the placenta wasn’t cross-contaminated while there. Far too often, a placenta has been sent to the lab for pathology, and we never see it again. If your placenta requires testing, the lab tech can come to your room, take a sample from the mother’s side of the placenta, and that will give them more than enough tissue to run the tests.

How do I properly store my Placenta?

Your placenta must be put on ice or into a refrigerator no more than 4 hours postpartum. You will need to take the following with you to your birthing facility:

  • 2 one-gallon-sized Ziploc baggies
  • a small DISPOSABLE cooler (from Dollar Tree)
  • Either a marker to label your cooler or ask for a label from your nurse to put on the cooler and the first Ziploc

For sanitary reasons, we cannot return any hard-sided cooler to you once it has been used to transport a placenta. It is imperative to use a disposable cooler. Dollar Tree has the perfect size cooler for placentas, and most locations carry them all year. Some facilities will put the placenta into a plastic tub with a lid; others do not provide any receptacle for it, so it is important to bring the baggies as a backup plan.

Make sure to double-bag the placenta in the one-gallon Ziplocs in order to prevent leaking. Once the placenta is in its container, put at least 2” of ice in the bottom of the cooler, place the placenta on top, and then bury it in another 2” of ice. Replenish the ice every 4-6 hours or as needed, for up to 72 hours. After 72 hours, the placenta needs to be removed from the cooler or refrigerator, placed into the two one-gallon Ziploc bags (if it isn’t already), and put deep into the freezer (not in the door but as close to the back of the freezer as possible) for up to one year.

Once the placenta is SECURED (meaning in the Ziplocs/container, in the disposable cooler, buried in ice, and safely in your possession), you or your support person will need to CALL Mercy (not just a text) to notify her that the placenta is ready for transport.

Can I let the hospital store my placenta for me?

We strongly encourage you NOT to let your placenta out of your possession for any reason. Unfortunately, many times, once the placenta is separated from the client, we will never see it again. Many hospitals sell placentas for a large amount of money, so unfortunately, not all facilities are supportive of mothers keeping their placentas for personal use.

Do I tell my doctor I am encapsulating my placenta?

Depending on your relationship with your doctor, that is absolutely up to you. We encourage mothers to simply say “just so you know, I am keeping my placenta”. Utilizing a statement of fact is a much more successful tactic of conveying this information than asking them for permission. Once you arrive at the hospital, tell your nurse, “I am keeping my placenta, will you add that to my chart, please?”. Having the information added to your chart makes it part of a legal document and reduces instances of placentas “going missing”. If you receive any pushback from an individual, you have access to Mercy Eizenga via phone, 24/7/365. Call her immediately, and she will walk you through advocating for yourself.

Do you offer payment plans?

We can split the fee into two payments. The first is a $50 or higher deposit at the time that you sign up for services. The remainder will be due when the capsules are delivered.

What is your service area?

I serve a 60-mile radius from Tyler, Texas. I am willing to travel up to double that, but it does require an additional $50 gas surcharge.