The full service fee includes placenta encapsulation, pickup of your placenta, delivery of your finished capsules, and five optional complimentary add-ons that you may select on your intake form.

The encapsulation process should begin within 72 hours after birth. I strive to pick up your placenta within a few hours of birth, process it, and deliver your capsules back to you within 36 hours of pickup. If encapsulation cannot start within the first 4 days, your placenta should be frozen. Double-bag it in gallon-sized zip-lock freezer bags, and when you're ready, allow 24-48 hours in the fridge for it to thaw completely. Your placenta should never be frozen, thawed, and then refrozen.

If properly frozen and protected from freezer burn, your placenta can be encapsulated up to six months after birth (or longer in some cases). If you’re unsure about encapsulation right away, take your placenta home and freeze it—once the hospital disposes of it, it’s gone for good. If your placenta has been frozen for a year or more, I can evaluate it once thawed to determine if encapsulation is still possible. Many moms have still benefited from their capsules after long-term freezing, so don’t hesitate to reach out.

Bring a cooler (medium-sized) to the hospital or birth center. After birth, your nurse will place your placenta in a sealed, hospital-provided container, which then goes in your cooler with ice, kept in your room. This should be done within four hours of birth. Ideally, you do not want the hospital to store your placenta—this is the most common way placentas are misplaced, ruined, or sent to pathology. Never let your placenta leave your sight! Hospital staff are busy, and mistakes happen. Your partner or a trusted family member should be in charge of ensuring it is properly stored and kept on ice, with the ice changed every four hours.

Yes, you can! Unless you are Hepatitis, HIV, or AIDS positive, San Diego County hospitals allow mothers to take their placentas home for any reason, be it cultural, religious, or nutritional. Some hospitals may require a liability waiver, while others might not ask for any paperwork. To ensure a smooth release, inform your OB or midwife ahead of time and include it in your birth plan. Clearly state your intention upon admission and again after birth. You don’t need to explain why—simply say you’d like to take your placenta home and request that no chemicals be used on it. If you encounter resistance, mention that you have a profound belief in keeping your placenta.

If your OB or midwife suggests sending your placenta to pathology, ask if they can do a visual exam in the delivery room instead or if a small sample will suffice. If the entire placenta is taken to pathology, it can no longer be encapsulated due to cross-contamination. Fortunately, most doctors are willing to work with you. Avoiding unnecessary pathology is key.

It is not safe to encapsulate a placenta in the following cases: Heavy smoking or drug use during pregnancy Cancer of the placenta, choriocarcinoma Mother develops a confirmed case of chorioamnionitis or another uterine infection Mother develops a true fever due to infection during labor OB/ Midwife sends the entire placenta to the Pathology Lab for testing The placenta is not handled or stored properly Placentas that were stored longer than 4-5 hours at room temperature with no refrigeration. Placentas left in the refrigerator beyond 4-5 days..

Your particular birth choices or outcomes do not affect whether or not your placenta can be encapsulated. I have encapsulated many placentas birthed by mothers who received Pitocin, epidurals, or had cesarean sections, or when meconium was present.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a common bacteria that some pregnant people carry. The CDC states that GBS is eliminated with moist heat at 131ºF for 30 minutes and with dry heat at 160ºF for at least an hour. At Mama Love, our encapsulation process exceeds these standards for every placenta, regardless of GBS status. We follow the Traditional Heated Method, which includes steaming the placenta first (moist heat) and then dehydrating it at 160ºF for a minimum of 6 hours (dry heat). This ensures that any potential bacteria, including GBS, are eliminated, making the capsules safe for consumption.

A fever during labor does not necessarily mean there is an infection and can sometimes be associated with an epidural. If infection is suspected, your care provider will determine whether additional evaluation or testing is needed.In my years of practice, true infection requiring the placenta to be discarded has been uncommon. If your provider determines there is no infection, we can usually proceed with encapsulation.

Due to my preparation following USDA food standards, removal of the sac and meconium, and the traditional heated method, meconium is not a problem and does not make the placenta unfit for encapsulation.

Calcification, in any amount, is a variation of normal and does not make the placenta unfit for encapsulation.

Premature birth does not automatically determine your placenta as unfit for encapsulation. In some cases, the placenta will need to be sent to pathology to determine the possible causes of the preterm. Ultimately, it is up to your OB or midwife whether or not your placenta will be released.

Mama Love will not be able to encapsulate your placenta if you have these bloodborne diseases. There may be encapsulation specialists who will encapsulate in your home, with your equipment but unfortunately, I do not have any referrals.

I encapsulate only one placenta at a time, ensuring zero risk of mix-ups or cross-contamination.

All equipment is stainless steel or disposable. The Capsule Maker is made of plastic and metal. I follow federal and state sanitation standards, using antibacterial soap and a hospital-grade disinfectant.

Your jar will come with a suggested dosage, usually higher in the first postpartum week. However, always listen to your body and adjust as needed for the best results.

I recommend taking them consistently for the first few weeks postpartum and continuing until they’re gone. However, some mamas like to save some for potential hard transitions in the future.

Store your capsules in the air-tight, amber glass jar provided, in a dry place like your counter or medicine cabinet. Do not refrigerate them, as moisture can introduce mold. If you have capsules left after six weeks, transfer them to a freezer bag and store them in the freezer. You can also freeze them from the beginning in a freezer bag without the glass containers.

Their potency decreases over time. For best results, use them within six weeks or freeze them for up to six months.

If you develop an infection (such as mastitis, flu, or fever), pause consumption until you recover.

I offer both the Basic Heated Method and the Raw Method. Each has unique benefits. See more details here

Not at all! Enjoy your precious bonding time with your newborn. Your placenta will be perfectly fine on ice until you're ready for us to pick it up.

I have been able to access Balboa when families add me to their visitor list, but typically for Balboa and Camp Pendleton, I meet a friend or family member just off base for pickup. There’s no need to rush—the placenta can remain safely stored in a cooler with plenty of ice until it’s convenient to meet me.

It depends on the size of your placenta and the preparation method. Most yield 150-200 capsules, though the steamed method results in slightly fewer (120-180).

No, and generally you will receive more capsules.

Great choice! This does not affect encapsulation.

Absolutely! We cater to vegetarians and vegans by offering vegetarian capsules with no animal gelatin. Just let us know your preference on your intake form, and we'll take care of the rest.

I have partnered with a trusted backup encapsulation specialist trained to the same standards. If I’m unavailable, I’ll ensure you’re taken care of. I always give clients as much notice as possible if I’ll be out of town.

Technically, yes, but I would still need to charge the full service fee. The service fee reflects the professional handling of your placenta—not the artistic value of the print itself. Whether I am making capsules, a Tree of Life print, cord keepsake, or tincture, much of the work is the same—including pickup and delivery, preparation time, supplies, and thorough sanitizing before and after handling your placenta. For this reason, I offer these as complimentary add-ons to encapsulation rather than lower-priced individual services.Tree of Life prints are simple keepsakes and naturally vary. I am not a professional artist, and I don’t want families paying the full service fee expecting to purchase a professionally commissioned piece of artwork. Many families love their original print as-is, while others choose to have an artist enhance it afterward. Check Etsy for artists.