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, they should! Unless you are Hepatitis, HIV, or AIDS positive, San Diego County hospitals allow mothers to take their placentas home for any reason (cultural, religious, nutritional, etc.). Some hospitals require a liability waiver, but others may not ask for any paperwork. To ensure a smooth release, let your OB or midwife know 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.

Fever does not always equal infection and is most commonly associated with epidurals given during labor, which can raise body temperature. If you have a fever for only a few hours before birth then it is unlikely that the placenta is infected in any way. Your care provider can also determine if a true infection is suspected by how the placenta looks, feels, and smells. Some area hospitals will also provide testing if they want to rule out infection, but inspection without testing is what is most common. Historically, my clients who have been told a fever was associated with infection ended up having clear lab test results two days postpartum, and the placenta was always able to be encapsulated following the traditional method without any ill effects. True infection, which renders the placenta unusable, has not been common in my years of practice, and when it does occur, there is no question that the placenta needs to be discarded. If you have a fever question following your birth, please contact me with details, and we can go from there with the best plan of action.

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 any bloodborne diseases. I have heard there are encapsulation specialists that 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 have a suggested dosage, typically higher in the first postpartum week. However, listen to your body and adjust as needed.

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 them in the air-tight, amber glass jar provided in a dry place like your counter or medicine cabinet. Do not refrigerate—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 may freeze them from the beginning as well, 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 that sacred bonding time, stress-free, with your newborn—your placenta will be fine on ice until you are ready for us to pick it up.

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).

Great choice! This does not affect encapsulation.

Absolutely! Many of our clients are vegetarian or vegan. We offer vegetarian capsules with no animal gelatin—just let us know your preference on your intake form.

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.

If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out—I’m happy to help!