Why encapsulate your placenta?
“Baby blues” is a common occurrence – 80% of mothers experience it in the first days and weeks after giving birth. Because it is so common, nothing is typically done about it until it worsens into a diagnosis of postpartum depression, at which time anti-depressants may be prescribed. Anti-depressants, like almost all drugs, are passed to the baby through breastmilk, and mothers who don’t want to expose their babies to these medications are often faced with the decision to either stop breastfeeding or struggle with depression. Women suffer through the baby blues almost as a rite of passage to motherhood – but it doesn’t have to be this way.
Placentophagy, or consumption of the placenta, has been reported for decades to help stop the baby blues and diminish postpartum fatigue. Some women have cooked the placenta in a stew, mixed it into a smoothie, or even taken it raw to tap into its powerful effects. For many who feel squeamish about this or want to reap the benefits of placenta for more than just a day or two, there is another option: encapsulation. Powdered placenta has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries. In the postpartum period, placenta capsules can be used to
•balance your hormones
•enhance your milk supply
•increase your energy
Although current research on human placentophagy does not exist, what we do know is that women who take placenta capsules report fewer emotional issues, have more energy and tend to enjoy a faster, more pleasant postpartum recovery. The first few days and weeks with your new baby are precious. Give yourself the best chance to fully enjoy your “babymoon” with placenta capsules.
When is it done?
Ideally, the placenta is encapsulated within the first week after the birth. While you bond with your new baby, April will come to you and take care of your placenta in your own home. She is basically “on call” for you and will make every effort to come to your home within the one week time frame to encapsulate your placenta. During the first visit, she spends about 2 hours preparing the placenta for the drying phase, then leaves the placenta to finish drying overnight. The next day, she returns to complete the encapsulation step, which takes about one hour. You can begin taking the capsules right away for maximum postpartum benefits.
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