Why I chose to encapsulate my placenta

I’m officially a “crunchy mom”, I use essential oils, I breastfeed, I made all my kids’ baby food, annnnnnd I eat my placenta. Well not literally eat it, but I ingest it.

If you’re reading this, you may be considering doing the same, or have done it and want to hear how it worked for me, or you are just curious about placenta encapsulation. So I’ll try to answer every question possible, and hit all the main points!

*before you keep reading, there are some bloody images of my placenta below*

What is placenta encapsulation: 

Its basically the dehydration of your placenta, and put into capsules.

Why did I do it?:

I did it because I’ve read many stories of mamas who suffered with postpartum depression with previous children, and when they ingested their placenta, they didn’t have post baby blues, they had increased energy, better healing with less bleeding, and more milk! I never suffered from PPD but I do know that my hormones were out of wack after I gave birth to my boys. I couldn’t stand my husband, I was super irritable, and literally couldn’t stand him (read all about that HERE)! And I hated feeling that way about my husband. So I decided to give placenta encapsulation a try. I mean, I was about to become a mom of 4, I could use all the extra energy I can get. And I know I was going to breastfeed, so increase in my milk production is a plus!

So did it work for me?:

Yes! My husband calls them my happy pills. This postpartum recovery has been the best out of all 4! For having 4 kids, 1 in elementary school, 2 in preschool and a newborn, I feel AMAZING! I’m making more milk this time around than I did the other times. I only bled for 2 weeks instead of 6. I’m not a walking zombie, I’m not being kept alive by coffee anymore, and I don’t hate my husband! Lol. I definitely feel a difference taking these pills, and I’m so glad I decided to encapsulate my placenta.

Other options instead of encapsulation:

1. You can eat it raw.

2. You can put in the freezer, and dice it up and throw it into a smoothie. My sister in law did this and she swears you can’t taste it.

3. You can cook it, and enjoy it with your favorite foods.

How do they encapsulate it?:

So this is not something I’d ever do by myself, so luckily I met this lovely Lady named Yamel at a prego expo I was modeling for, and after talking to her for a bit I learned that she’s a freaking mom boss. She has 5 kids, is a Registered Nurse AND runs a doula business called One Love Doula Services. She talked to me about placenta encapsulation and I ended up booking her right then and there! She told me exactly everything I needed to do from the moment I deliver until they show up in my home to start the encapsulation process.

So here’s how the process goes…

At the hospital:

1. Tell the Labor and Delivery staff you plan on encapsulating the placenta. So they know to give it to you after the delivery.

2. After your labor and delivery nurse gives you the placenta, keep it on ice in a cooler immediately! And have your husband take it home to place in the fridge or freezer.

3. Let your doula know you delivered! She will then give you instructions on storage of the placenta and set up a date (usually within 48 hours) to come to your house to begin the process.

At home:

Everything needs to be sanitized. Our Doula cleaned our kitchen counters and sink like 3 times to ensure everything was sterile!

1. The Doula will cut off the cord, and the sac. This part is messy, but so interesting! It’s amazing to see what kept little Laila alive for 9 months!

2. Then she boiled water, and used a double boiler to steam the placenta! *your house will smell like cooked meat lol*

3. After the placenta steamed for like an hour, she diced it all up very very thin!

4. After she diced them up, she placed them on dehydrater racks!

5. After dehydrating for a full day, our Doula came back and continued the process.

6. She then put the dried up/ dehydrated placenta into a blender and blended it until it was powder.

7. After she was done blending it all, and it was all powder. She placed them into the capsules.

8. After she was done, she put them in an adorable container and give me instructions as to when to take the pills and how often.

Overall I HIGHLY recommend getting your placenta encapsulated to everyone! It won’t hurt you! And most importantly, you won’t taste it. You’re literally just swallowing a pill. If you’re in the central Florida area, please please please consider One Love Doula Services for all your doula needs! The owner is so humble and such a beautiful soul. You can tell she’s passionate about what she does! If you have any questions about my experience, please feel free to message me on Instagram or leave a comment below!