Are you hoping for a more peaceful postpartum period? Worried about how you will feel after you give birth?

​My philosophy 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.  Each placenta is handled with love and care.  I follow strict OSHA and food safety guidelines as my top priority is your health and safety.

       Benefits

The placenta you give birth to, kept your baby nourished and healthy throughout pregnancy and development. Why throw it away? Other mammals don't discard their placenta and instinctively know the benefits. 
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Some people notice:
*Increased Energy
*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 your placenta. None of these benefits are a guarantee, but many people have felt more balanced. Your placenta feeds the baby and transfers waste out of baby so that you can dispose of it. The placenta acts as a facilitator, and does not hold on to toxins or waste. Some of the hormones found in the placenta that can benefit you after are:
  • Oxytocin-
  • Progesterone
  • Testosterone
  • Prolactin
  • Iron
  • Hemoglobin
  • Immunoglobulin G (IgG)
By putting these hormones back into the body in the first few weeks of birth, many birth parents are 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 has been known to lessen the baby blues. Postpartum depression can occur even if someone takes the pills, but the risk is lower. 
Read more here: ​ https://experiment.com/u/DKKnUQ
Myths of Benefits:

No one should be making claims or promises of benefits of this service. Everyone responds differently and their experiences in healing vary based on many factors. 

Placenta Pills are not guaranteed to help you:
* lose weight
* prevent postpartum depression
* increase milk supply
* prevent postpartum hair loss

Be cautious of any business promising these effects as we cannot ethically make these claims.

          How it Works

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. 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 ​Bloodborne 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. I am also happy to discuss these options to give you more information.

Kit to Transport Placenta

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.  There is no additional charge.
I will pick up the placenta between 8 am-10 pm 7 days per week in front of the hospital.

If you deliver during my non-pick up hours, I will provide you with information about how store the placenta until I can arrive.
"Thank you so much for helping us out last minute! We really appreciated how prompt and helpful you were!"
​                                                                                    -Katie B. Albany, CA
Steamed Method
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When you choose this method the placenta is rinsed, and steamed gently without herbs in the steaming water. Some people who are following a TCM diet while healing, choose this option. We steam the placenta to 131 degrees F for 30 minutes and then dehydrate at 160 F for 24 hours.  This method will kill any potential bacteria from the birth or hospital.  

​*if you request or provide specific herbs I can add them to the steaming water

Non Steamed or Non-Steamed

The placenta is rinsed, sliced thin and dehydrated at a temperature of 160* Fahrenheit, for 24 hours. This method is believed to be more potent, and hormone rich. Steaming or cooking the placenta causes the most hormone loss. The heat from the dehydrator is high enough to kill GBS, and any meconium.
Choices of Capsules
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You can choose the type of capsules that are filled with your placenta powder. 

Sometimes flavors are unavailable but Bay Area Placenta Services tries to keep flavors in stock. Flavors are artificial. Some people like them because they mask the taste or smell. 
You can choose any combination of flavors available on the booking form

  • Unflavored Vegan (clear)
  • Unflavored Vegan (brown)
  • Unflavored Gelatin (clear)
  • Bubblegum flavored (Pink Gelatin capsules)
  • Berry Flavored    (purple gelatin capsules)
  • Orange Flavored  (orange gelatin capsules)
  • Grape Flavored (purple gelatin capsules)

Add On Items

Tincture

This is a piece of either raw placenta or some powder infused in high quality Organic Vodka for 45 days (6 weeks) after birth. This can be used indefinitely for hormone balancing 8 oz. I can finish it for you and return it later, or leave it with you, with instructions on how to do it yourself. ​
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Salves/Balms with or without Placenta

​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 organic mango butter, healing herbs, and your own dried placenta powder. It can be used to help heal cesarean scars, skin problems and diaper rash. 
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Bottom Care-Sitz Bath Kit-
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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.

                       Placenta Keepsakes

many 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.
Placenta Prints are a nice way to keep the memory of the placenta in an artful way. I use the blood as the "ink". Some people like to have color added in the form of paint or food coloring. This is your choice, I don't default to that, as I worry about hurting the integrity of the placenta. I use canvas instead of paper as it tends to hold the color much longer.
​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
​"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

Bay Area Cities that I Provide Service:

​SAN FRANCISCO, SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, DALY CITY, PACIFICA, MILLBRAE, BRISBANE, BURLINGAME, HALF MOON BAY, BELMONT, REDWOOD CITY, WOODSIDE, MOUNTAIN VIEW, HILLSBORO, SAN CARLOS, SAN MATEO, MENLO PARK, PALO ALTO, SUNNYVALE, OAKLAND, BERKELEY, WALNUT CREEK,  MARIN, San Jose AND MANY MORE!
Don't see your city on here? Check to see if I will come to you!
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 to heal after birth.
​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
San Francisco, SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, DALY CITY, PACIFICA, MILLBRAE, BRISBANE, BURLINGAME, REDWOOD CITY, HALF MOON BAY, BELMONT, WOODSIDE, MOUNTAIN VIEW, HILLSBORO, SAN CARLOS, SAN MATEO, MENLO PARK, PALO ALTO, SUNNYVALE, OAKLAND, BERKELEY, WALNUT CREEK,  MARIN AND MANY MORE!

(415)933-5789