Placenta Services
You made this Placenta. It kept your baby nourished and healthy throughout pregnancy and development.
Why throw it away? Other mammals don't discard their placenta and also know the benefits of their placenta. There are so many benefits for you!
My belief is that no matter who you are and what your birth experience is (or will be) you deserve to have your placenta encapsulated the way you want it. I offer a broad range of options and charge a fair rate for my services. I put a lot of love and time to each clients placenta and am passionate about the benefits. I also follow strict OSHA and food safety guidelines as my top priority is your health and safety.
Why throw it away? Other mammals don't discard their placenta and also know the benefits of their placenta. There are so many benefits for you!
My belief is that no matter who you are and what your birth experience is (or will be) you deserve to have your placenta encapsulated the way you want it. I offer a broad range of options and charge a fair rate for my services. I put a lot of love and time to each clients placenta and am passionate about the benefits. I also follow strict OSHA and food safety guidelines as my top priority is your health and safety.
Shawna is great! It was super easy to communicate with her and sign up via her website. She also had a fast turnaround and brought the pills to us while we were still in the hospital. I highly recommend her. Thank you again Shawna!
-Adrienne, San Francisco
-Adrienne, San Francisco
Some People Say they feel:
*Increased Energy
*Increased milk flow, enhanced breast milk supply
*More stable mood (hormone balancing)
*Faster healing as well as lessened bleeding
*Helping with symptoms of menses when it returns
The hope is, you will have an easier recovery from your birth, than you would without placenta pills. None of these benefits are a guarantee, but many people have felt more balanced with placenta.
This organ is temporary. It is made to keep your baby alive during pregnancy. It feeds the baby and transfers waste out of baby so that you can dispose of it, it does not hold on to toxins or waste. Some of the hormones found in the placenta that can benefit you after are:
By putting these hormones back into the body in the first few days of birth, the birth parent is able to heal faster. These hormones can allow the breasts to increase the flow of milk. The new parent can have more energy and be able to focus on the new baby, even on very little sleep. The placenta pills can also lessen the baby blues, and lower the risk of depression. Postpartum depression can occur even if someone takes the pills, but the risk is lower.
*Increased milk flow, enhanced breast milk supply
*More stable mood (hormone balancing)
*Faster healing as well as lessened bleeding
*Helping with symptoms of menses when it returns
The hope is, you will have an easier recovery from your birth, than you would without placenta pills. None of these benefits are a guarantee, but many people have felt more balanced with placenta.
This organ is temporary. It is made to keep your baby alive during pregnancy. It feeds the baby and transfers waste out of baby so that you can dispose of it, it does not hold on to toxins or waste. Some of the hormones found in the placenta that can benefit you after are:
- Oxytocin
- Estrogen
- Progesterone
- Testosterone
- Prolactin
- Iron
- Hemoglobin
- Immunoglobulin G (IgG)
By putting these hormones back into the body in the first few days of birth, the birth parent is able to heal faster. These hormones can allow the breasts to increase the flow of milk. The new parent can have more energy and be able to focus on the new baby, even on very little sleep. The placenta pills can also lessen the baby blues, and lower the risk of depression. Postpartum depression can occur even if someone takes the pills, but the risk is lower.
"Five stars! Shawna was available to pick up my placenta at the hospital several hours after birth. The capsules were available the very next day. She also gave us some lovely "extras" like broth and an umbilical cord heart. The capsules really have helped with my hormone regulation and recovery. I'm feeling much more balanced and secure than I did with my previous birth (where I had no placenta capsules). I can't recommend it enough!"
Jane- Alameda, CA
Jane- Alameda, CA
How does it work?
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Pick up and Drop off
I will pick up between 7am-11pm 7 days per week. If you deliver during my non-pick up hours, I will provide you with information about how store the placenta until I can arrive. |
Kit to Transport Placenta
In order to make sure that your placenta is packaged and stored properly, I will mail you a cooler bag, ziploc bags and instructions, for no extra charge as long as you book me within 2 weeks of your due date. I only ship via USPS Priority Mail. This makes things much easier for the hospital staff and gives you and I the assurance that the placenta is safe. This is also included in the price. |
"Thank you so much for helping us out last minute! We really appreciated how prompt and helpful you were!"
-Katie B. Albany, CA
-Katie B. Albany, CA
Placenta Encapsulation is a two-part process and most of the time is spent dehydrating. Once the placenta has been either steamed or sliced up in it's raw state, it is dehydrated for 24 hours at 160 degrees. Next, it is made into powder and put into capsules, for an easier way to eat the placenta.
I am very focused on making sure that your placenta is handled with love and care, and spend a lot of time on each one.
Special care is also taken to ensure that my equipment is cleaned well between clients. Nothing ever touches the placenta, except for water and gloves. I never process two placentas in the same location at the same time. I renew my blood borne pathogens certification yearly. As well as my Food Safety Certificate every 3 years. I treat all placentas with Universal Precautions.
I offer two different ways to prepare the placenta before dehydrating. Both methods end up in pill form. The choice is either steamed with water and herbs (optional) or raw-sliced up in it's natural form. This decision is made by the client based on their preference. For differences in preparation, please read here. I am also happy to discuss these options to give you more information to help with your decision.
Each placenta is different, unique and beautiful. I am aware that some people are not as fascinated by placentas as I am. I would love to talk with you and your family if you want to know about your placenta.
I am very focused on making sure that your placenta is handled with love and care, and spend a lot of time on each one.
Special care is also taken to ensure that my equipment is cleaned well between clients. Nothing ever touches the placenta, except for water and gloves. I never process two placentas in the same location at the same time. I renew my blood borne pathogens certification yearly. As well as my Food Safety Certificate every 3 years. I treat all placentas with Universal Precautions.
I offer two different ways to prepare the placenta before dehydrating. Both methods end up in pill form. The choice is either steamed with water and herbs (optional) or raw-sliced up in it's natural form. This decision is made by the client based on their preference. For differences in preparation, please read here. I am also happy to discuss these options to give you more information to help with your decision.
Each placenta is different, unique and beautiful. I am aware that some people are not as fascinated by placentas as I am. I would love to talk with you and your family if you want to know about your placenta.
"Shawna is really awesome!! She quickly responds to your email within hours and is very accommodating. Her turn around service is very quick from picking up your placenta at the hospital to bringing the encapsulated placenta to your house. Having her take care of everything was the best since I had my hands full with twins. The positive effects of taking the encapsulated placenta is real!! Since I had double the amount of hormones from having twins, I was at a higher risk of my hormones dropping quickly and too low which can lead to PPD. The placenta pills balance me out!! Overall, I felt good but of course I had my bad days when I was exhausted and stressed out. I do not regret anything and I highly recommend anyone who is i interested to do it!! It's worth it and Shawna is the best!!"
- Cherise San Bruno, CA
- Cherise San Bruno, CA
"Shawna was great from the very beginning. She was informative, kind and really easy to work with. Her flexibility and kindness made the whole process very easy. I highly recommend her for everyone that just had a baby."
-Rachel J. San Francisco
-Rachel J. San Francisco
Choose your Prep Method
Steamed MethodThe placenta is rinsed, and steamed gently in the steaming water. Steaming the placenta to 131 degrees F for 30 minutes and then dehydrating at 160 F for 24 hours will kill any potential bacteria from the birth or hospital. |
Un-steamed MethodWith this method the placenta is rinsed and sliced and then dehydrated in its natural state. It is believed that the placenta holds more of the nutrients in this method since nothing is lost in the steaming process. It is dehydrated at 160 degrees for 24 hours, per food safety guidelines. |
all about add on items
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Prints
prints are a nice way to keep the imprint of the placenta in an artful way. I use the blood as the "ink" |
Broth
this is only available when the STEAMED method is used. Many clients find that it gives them an extra boost of energy and is best if used in soups or chili |
Umbilical Cord Keepsake
many birth parents like to keep the cord keepsake as it is a symbol of the connection between them and their child, if you do not want it, it can be dried and added in with the pills. |
Tincture
this is a piece of either raw placenta or some powder infused in high quality Organic Vodka for 45 days after birth. This can be used indefinitely for hormone balancing 8oz. I can finish it for you and return it later, or leave it with you, with instructions on how to do it yourself. |
Salves with or without Placenta-
I make healing Placenta Salves and you can mail me powder from your placenta if you do not live in the San Francisco Bay Area, or you can add this on as an extra to your service. A salve is made with cocoa butter, healing herbs, beeswax and dried placenta powder. It can be used to help heal cesarean scars, skin problems and diaper rash. |
Bottom Care-Sitz Bath Kit-
made with organic healing herbs, you can order enough bags of herbs to use for the first 5 days after birth. This can be a soothing way to heal after birth used in a sitz bath, peribottle, or warm compresses. |
"I was looking into getting my placenta encapsulated, when Shawna was recommended to me. Shawna is smart, friendly and very knowledgeable about placenta encapsulation. She answered all of my questions in a timely manner and was very kind. The encapsulation took two days at my house, and she was professional and made the whole process safe and clean. I have already recommended Shawna to other mothers and will continue to do so. Shawna provided excellent service and is a wonderful person."
- Sarah N. San Francisco
- Sarah N. San Francisco
Shawna was great to work with. She quickly arrived within a few hours to pick up and everything was prepared and ready within 2 days. I also got the salve which feels amazing on the skin. It's so smooth and natural, I recommend it if you are considering it. With the pills, I chose the Steamed with herbs method. I found that I noticed a difference 3 days into taking them and I took 2 in the am and that is all I needed for the day... but had to take 2 together, one seemed not quite enough.
If you are considering trying it out, Shawna will take good care of you! She also seems very knowledgeable and passionate about what she does and that is why I chose her services!
-Bear Berkeley, CA
If you are considering trying it out, Shawna will take good care of you! She also seems very knowledgeable and passionate about what she does and that is why I chose her services!
-Bear Berkeley, CA
frequently asked placenta questions
Q: How Do I choose between the Steamed and Unsteamed methods of Prep?
A: I don't tell people which to choose. The reasons people choose one or the other is based on personal preference. Some people who are following a TCM diet after birth, prefer the steamed method, as it is believed to introduce heat to the body to aid in healing. If you are currently seeing a Chinese Medicine practitioner, I recommend that you ask them about which would be best for your constitution. If you are looking for containing as many of the nutrients as possible, you may want to go with the Raw method, although both provide energy and we don't know how much is lost in the steaming process.
Q: Can I still have my placenta turned into pills if I have a Cesarean (C-Section)?
A: Yes! Having a c-section is not a reason to not encapsulate. As long as the placenta is sealed up in a bag or container and on ice within 2 hours after the birth and is kept cold until I pick up, you can definitely still have your placenta encapsulated!
Q: Can I still take my placenta if I have tested positive for (Group B Strep)?
A: Yes! Many women (about 25%) test positive for GBS around the 37th week of pregnancy. If this is the case, she is put on antibiotics to prevent the spread of infection to the baby. Once the baby and placenta have been born, if there is concern of infection, a small piece can be sliced off and sent to pathology while the placenta is stored to await results. Once the placenta is being processed, it is recommended to steam it and dehydrate it rather than choosing the raw dehydrated method. All placentas are dehydrated at 160 degrees F, per food safety guidelines. I have never had a client report any illness due to the placenta pills, and have gotten nothing but positive feedback from new moms and families.
A: I don't tell people which to choose. The reasons people choose one or the other is based on personal preference. Some people who are following a TCM diet after birth, prefer the steamed method, as it is believed to introduce heat to the body to aid in healing. If you are currently seeing a Chinese Medicine practitioner, I recommend that you ask them about which would be best for your constitution. If you are looking for containing as many of the nutrients as possible, you may want to go with the Raw method, although both provide energy and we don't know how much is lost in the steaming process.
Q: Can I still have my placenta turned into pills if I have a Cesarean (C-Section)?
A: Yes! Having a c-section is not a reason to not encapsulate. As long as the placenta is sealed up in a bag or container and on ice within 2 hours after the birth and is kept cold until I pick up, you can definitely still have your placenta encapsulated!
Q: Can I still take my placenta if I have tested positive for (Group B Strep)?
A: Yes! Many women (about 25%) test positive for GBS around the 37th week of pregnancy. If this is the case, she is put on antibiotics to prevent the spread of infection to the baby. Once the baby and placenta have been born, if there is concern of infection, a small piece can be sliced off and sent to pathology while the placenta is stored to await results. Once the placenta is being processed, it is recommended to steam it and dehydrate it rather than choosing the raw dehydrated method. All placentas are dehydrated at 160 degrees F, per food safety guidelines. I have never had a client report any illness due to the placenta pills, and have gotten nothing but positive feedback from new moms and families.
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Want to Help Others? Have a little extra money?
You can help someone get placenta services or train, with me, in the SF Bay Area!
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Still Not sure about service? Contact me to schedule a free phone consultation. We can chat about all your options and see if placenta encapsulation will be right for you.
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Placenta Encapsulation has not been evaluated by the FDA. The person who gives birth to the placenta is the person that the pills are intended for. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence about the benefits of placenta encapsulation and a little bit of research. It is up to the client to research their options and to make a choice that this is what is best for them upon hiring Bay Area Placenta Services.