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ENCAPSULATION
I was trained in placenta encapsulation in 2011 by Carrie Hankins (The Placenta Lady Denver). Carrie has a long legacy of supporting postpartum families through tender love and accessible care. I'm grateful to have learned from her.
In addition to my skills training, I am a firm believer in continuing education. I have learned from various experts over the years, and most recently received a certificate in Placentophagy: Frequency, Rationale, and Neonatal Outcomes, which confirmed that consuming your placenta not only has benefits for you, but is safe and beneficial for your baby as well.Placenta ‘augments the Essence’ …in Traditional Chinese Medicine, this translates to “Placenta makes greater/stronger the vital force of a person.”
ENCAPSULATION — My sliding scale is $130-230. For more information on sliding scale options, visit the COMMUNITY page.
Encapsulation fee includes capsules, an umbilical cord keepsake, and optional herbal gifts from our apothecary.
When you are ready to reserve a spot, the intake form can be found below (the “book it” button). Please submit an intake form ONLY when you are ready to reserve a space. Thank you!
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Method Used: Traditional Chinese
I offer steam-prep encapsulation. Clients who choose this method often report a smoother emotional transition postpartum and a more stable milk supply. Steaming the placenta tempers the hormones it contains and offers a softer reintroduction and reabsorption into the body over time.
Placenta pills can help balance postpartum mood and lessen fatigue while your body heals and recovers from the big experiences of pregnancy and birth. For many of you who are beginning the next big transition of making milk, eating your placenta has been proven to increase the lactose and protein in your milk supply, and babies fed human milk from a mother who is taking placenta pills gain weight more quickly (making it an excellent option for parents of premature babies). There are many ways to receive the benefits of your placenta. At Afterbirth Alchemy, I offer the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Method that has been in practice for centuries.
I have also been trained in the raw method of encapsulation, freezer prep for smoothies, and various other options. Please reach out with any questions about this and what else I offer, if requested.
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TINCTURE
Placenta tincture or essence can be made from raw or desiccated placenta (your choice). Both methods use small-batch handcrafted Icelandic vodka.
I offer two sizes.
30ml (1oz) Placenta Tincture ($40) - great for use on days you need a lift.
10ml (1/3oz) Placenta (mini)Tincture ($25) - great for on-the-go, fits nicely in your purse or diaper bag.
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PRINTS
Placenta prints are created using your placenta and canvas paper. It is essentially a stamp of your placenta (the fetal side) on paper as a keepsake and something beautiful to cherish forever. I use either the blood from the placenta (if there is enough), or food safe/nontoxic/water-based paint. Your placenta is rinsed well, and all paint is thoroughly removed prior to processing.
PLACENTA PRINT — $25
I use 16”x20” canvas paper + the blood from your placenta, or paint.
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PORTRAITS
I offer professional photos/portraits of your placenta before processing for an additional fee. Curious? Check out my placenta gallery. I can also be found on Instagram @alchemyafterbirth.
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HEALING SALVE
Placenta salve minus encapsulation still requires the placenta to be processed via steaming, dehydrating, and grinding into a powder. Salve is fully customizable with oils and herbs.
PLACENTA SALVE — $40 - as an add-on to encapsulation
I generally use olive oil, beeswax, vitamin e oil, and sometimes coconut oil. I do have shea butter, jojoba oil, and various other options as well.
The Science Behind These Services
Additional Studies
1 - Consumption of Maternal Placenta in Humans and Nonhuman Mammals: Beneficial and Adverse Effects
The advantages of placentophagy shared in this article:
Proven Benefits:
1) increase in lactose and protein in breastmilk,
2) source of trace minerals, non-essential and essential amino acids, and B vitamins,
3) increase in the weight gain of the breastfed infant,
4) improve mood after birth/relief of symptoms of depression,
5) postpartum recovery time is shorter, including less bleeding,
6) increase in maternal energy, and
7) increase milk production.
“We surveyed 189 females who had ingested their placenta and found the majority of these women reported perceived positive benefits and indicated they would engage in placentophagy again after subsequent births.”
“Maternal placentophagy, the consumption of the placenta or "afterbirth" by the mother following parturition, is an ubiquitous behavior among eutherian mammals, including non-human primates. Here we report on a cross-cultural survey of 179 human societies regarding the consumption, treatment, and disposal of human placenta, in addition to accompanying cultural beliefs and perceptions about the organ.”
“Based on one recommended daily intake of placenta capsules (3300 mg/d), a daily dose of placenta supplements contains approximately 0.018 ± 0.004 mg copper, 2.19 ± 0.533 mg iron, 0.005 ± 0.000 mg selenium, and 0.180 ± 0.018 mg zinc. Based on the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for lactating women, the recommended daily intake of placenta capsules would provide, on average, 24% RDA for iron, 7.1% RDA for selenium, 1.5% RDA for zinc, and 1.4% RDA for copper.”
“Placentophagy was not associated with any adverse neonatal outcomes. The most common reason given (73.1%) for engaging in placentophagy was to prevent postpartum depression.”
6 - Placenta Encapsulation Safety (APPA)
In a review of maternal salivary hormones, researchers found “detectable changes in circulating hormone concentrations that could potentially impact a mother’s hormonal physiology.” (Young)
A link between decreased maternal exhaustion and high quality sleep was found connected to mothers who ingested their placenta.(Selander)
When researchers looked for 17 specific hormones in processed placenta, they discovered estradiol (estrogen), progesterone and allopregnanolone were found in high enough levels to reach physiological effect thresholds at normal (3,300 mg) dosages. Incidentally, Allopregnanolone is the active ingredient in the recently approved Brexanalone, a promising pharmaceutical treatment of postpartum mood disorders.