Transitions Midwifery Services, LLC

 

Placenta Medicine

The benefits of placental medicine are just beginning to surface in mainstream media, but this ancient healing modality has been utilized by many cultures throughout the world for centuries. Almost every mammal consumes the placenta after birth, also known as “placentophagy.” Anecdotally, placentophagy helps:

• Stimulate uterine contractions
• Slow postpartum hemorrhage
• Replenish nutrients after birth
• Curb postpartum depression
• Increase milk supply
• Help your uterus return to pre-pregnancy size faster
• Replenish depleted iron
• Decrease fatigue
• Decrease likelihood of insomnia or sleep disorders
• Enhance pain tolerance
• Ease of menopausal hormone fluctuations
• Prevent postpartum hair loss due to hormonal changes

What does placenta contain?

• Your own hormones
• High in vitamins and minerals, such as B6
• Iron and protein
• Blood stem cells
• High levels of prostaglandin
• Small amounts of oxytocin

I offer several placenta processing services. You may choose one or all: the tinctures only use small portions of the placenta, which would leave the rest available to encapsulate. The deposit secures your place on my calendar. After your birth, contact me on the numbers below, and we can arrange a pick-up or delivery. I will “work the magic” and create the requested preparations. I will not accept any fresh placentas from the mother herself….she must be at home resting and nursing the baby! Ok…I’m joking, a little. Honestly, no matter how easy the birth, or how wonderful you feel, you, new mama truly should be tucked into a comfortable place with every need met for at least a week after. But I digress….

Clients who are planning a birth at Charleston Birth Place….my home is approximately 6 miles from the center; often-times I can pick up your placenta but I cannot guarantee this. Clients opting for hospital births may have some additional challenges, as hospital policies may dictate whether or not your placenta actually belongs to you. I welcome families who are planning a home birth with another midwife, or unassisted, as well. Please let me know, when we make the initial arrangements, where you are planning to deliver, so we can discuss the specific details of your chosen locale. Place your placenta as soon as possible after your birth in a food-grade container (double-bagged and labeled in Ziplock-type freezer bags), and have a small, portable cooler with ice to transport it to me, or home. Store it in your refrigerator until we can finalize arrangements. You may wish to put the Ziplock bag into a bowl in your refrigerator in the unlikely event of leakage.

If you have frozen and kept your placenta, fear not! These options are still available. Fresh is optimal, as it is not known if freezing changes the hormonal and energetic qualities of the placenta. However, I’ve had a few clients who, several weeks or months after birth, decide to process their placenta and they, too, have reaped the benefits noted above. For this reason alone, keeping your placenta in the freezer “just in case” is a wonderful idea!

REMEDIES

* PLACENTA ENCAPSULATION:  I will prepare your placenta using a dehydrator on a raw food setting.  This yields dried placenta with even greater benefits than a higher temperature processing, and usually results in approximately 350-400 capsules.  The size of your placenta is the sole determining factor of the quantity.  Nourish your body well during your pregnancy, with colorful, whole, organic foods, and your baby and placenta will flourish!  This service is $200; a $75, non-refundable deposit is required.  The recommended dosage is two capsules, taken three times a day, although you can’t “overdose” on the remedy.

* HOMEOPATHIC PLACENTA “MOTHER” TINCTURE: I will make a “mother” tincture from a dime-sized portion of your placenta.  This service is $40; a $20, non-refundable deposit is required.  This unique liquid will have the “essence” and “energy” of your placental hormones, but will contain minute amounts of the actual organ.  It is constitutionally perfect for your baby, and can be used throughout his/her life.  It has been extremely helpful for my clients in several ways:

• Assists both you and baby during times of difficult transition, i.e. growth spurts, separation from parents, sleep difficulties, and weaning.
• Gentler hormone support for you.  One of my clients in particular opted for both placenta medicine preparations, but felt as if the capsules were too strong for her constitution.  However, she flourished with regular use of a few drops of the homeopathic tincture.
• Further preparation is required, but is easy to do.  Take 1 drop of the “mother” tincture, and 99 drops of quality water; mix together in a dropper bottle.  Swirl together, then “success” the bottle (clap the bottle firmly into the palm of your hand).  This mixture is 1C potency.  You can see how your “mother tincture” may last forever!
• Dosage is 1 drop of the 1C on the tongue, massaged into the temples, or into the soles of the feet.

* CLASSIC PLACENTA TINCTURE: Placenta tincture is made from a walnut-sized piece that can be used in the months after birth, whereas the capsules tend to be most effective in the days and weeks postpartum.  The placenta contains vitamins, minerals, hormones and stem cells so it is a very good immune remedy. A few uses for mother or baby include cough, stuffy nose, indigestion, teething, high stress events (1st day of school, daycare, etc).  It is also beneficial for mom during transition and stressful times. It will keep indefinitely, and anecdotally has been useful for women with PMS, PMDD (premenstrual dysmorphic disorder), and/or perimenopause.  This service is $40; a $20, non-refundable deposit is required.  This tincture must be “cured” for 6 weeks before it is ready for use.  The dosage is 7-10 drops under the tongue as needed.

*PLACENTA SALVE:  I can create a salve from a small amount of the placenta powder.  Sheep placenta is frequently the “secret” ingredient in highly expensive skin lotions and beauty creams that claim anti-aging and restorative benefits.  Topical placenta application has been used to soothe, reduce inflammation, promote healing, and relieve pain.  It is made with organic extra virgin coconut oil, organic almond oil, and beeswax, and a couple of drops of lavender essential oil, if desired.  This rich skin treatment can be used for:

• Diaper Rash
• Baby eczema
• Cradle cap
• Perineal tears
• Sore nipples
• Stretch marks
• Sun or heat burns
• Cuts and scraps
• Cesarean incisions
• Cracked and dry skin such as elbows and heels

It can also be custom-blended with organic, healing herbs for additional benefits. You can choose as many as you’d like from the list below for an additional fee:

• Calendula – The calendula is a potent antiseptic herb. Several of the active chemical constituents found in the herb are fungicidal, bactericidal and anti-viral agents. The astringent quality of the herb also has a beneficial affect on the functioning of the capillaries, which aids in the treatment of cuts, physical wounds, varicose veins, and various other inflammatory disorders.  The remedy made from the calendula can be employed to treat cuts, scrapes, and different kinds of minor wounds; it is excellent for alleviating reddened and inflamed skin. It is an excellent remedy for minor burns and sunburn. It is a good remedy for acne and the treatment of rashes. All types of infections caused by fungi including ringworm, the athlete’s foot, and thrush can be treated using the calendula. In addition, the calendula is excellent for treating diaper rash and cradle cap in infants. The herb also soothes nipples that are sore.
• Plantain – The common plantain is an astringent herb with mild anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.  It may be used to effectively treat bruises and broken bones. Ointments or lotions prepared with the common plantain leaves may be used for hemorrhoids, fistulae or anomalous channels in the skin as well as ulcers.
• Comfrey – The presence of tannins and mucilage in this herb is effective for alleviating injuries and scratches on the body.  Lotions prepared with comfrey are recommended for acne and boils as well as alleviate psoriasis. In addition, the herb is also effective in reducing scars.

The basic salve is $40.  The custom-blended is an additional $10 (fee applies regardless of package chosen).  This salve can only be created if you encapsulate your placenta, since it requires placenta powder.

* CREATE YOUR OWN PACKAGE:  For $225, I will encapsulate your placenta, and make one of the additional remedies (a tincture or salve).  This service requires a $100 deposit.  This package saves you $15.

* DELUXE PACKAGE: For $255, your placenta will be encapsulated and a salve created.  You also choose one of the tinctures, for three remedies total.  A $115 deposit is required; this package saves you $25

* EVERYTHING!: Yes, you CAN have it all!  I will be happy to create all four remedies for you.  The tinctures require rather small amounts of the placenta, leaving plenty to encapsulate, and the salve only takes a couple of teaspoons of the powder.  This is by far the best value at $290, with four unique medicines from one amazing organ, for a savings of $30.  A deposit of $125 is requested for this service.

 

Please contact me for any questions or payment instructions.

Testimonials:

“I’ve been meaning to email …[to share] how the placenta pills worked out.  It’s been almost 10 months and I still have my hair.  I really didn’t think it would work, and not sure if it is a coincidence or not, but I barely lost any hair this time.”   ” Anyway, I really don’t think the [recommended] vitamins were of much use and attribute the benefits to the placenta pills.  I sure am thankful that you made those up for me, I haven’t had this thick or long of hair in ages.  After so many pregnancies and losing so much hair each time, I felt like I didn’t have much left.”

C in Summerville, SC