What is a placenta preparation specialist?
A placenta preparation specialist has training in handling a placenta after birth in order to prepare the placenta for consumption or other commemorative purposes.
Your placenta preparation specialist has completed placenta preparation training by Woman’s Choice Perinatal Services as well as the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens training by Biologix Solutions. Your placenta preparation specialist also holds a current California Food Handlers Card. In accordance with professional training, your placenta preparation specialist will abide by strict sanitary and food handling practices to best ensure your safety while handling and preparing placentas and providing guidance regarding consumption of your placenta.
What placenta preparation specialists do NOT do:
Your placenta preparation specialist will NOT:
- Offer medical advice. Placenta consumption is not a substitute for medical treatment, and you should seek advice from a healthcare professional as needed for any conditions or illnesses.
- Make decisions for you. Your placenta preparation specialist will help you get the information necessary to make an informed decision about placenta consumption.
- Guarantee outcomes. Your placenta preparation specialist is available to provide information and resources regarding potential benefits for placenta consumption. However, individual experiences will vary, and no specific benefits or outcomes can be guaranteed.
Risks of Placenta Consumption:
The risks of placenta consumption via encapsulation are minimal when proper safety handling and sanitizing procedures are followed as well as being aware of the contraindications for placenta consumption, such as chorioamnionitis. The most common risks come from improper storage and unsanitary conditions, which puts the placenta at risk for contamination.
The risk of contamination also applies when the placenta is taken to pathology in the hospital. There is a risk the placenta may be contaminated, or potentially the wrong placenta may be returned.
Placenta Consumption Preparation Services:
Placenta Encapsulation
Placenta encapsulation is a process in which the placenta is inspected, cleaned, and sliced, either while raw or after steaming. The placenta slices are then dehydrated and ground into a powder. The placenta powder is used to fill empty gelatin capsules to be consumed orally. On average, a whole placenta yields approximately 100-200 capsules.
Placenta Tincture
A placenta tincture is made by infusing raw or dehydrated placenta with 100-proof alcohol for six (6) weeks and then straining the placenta from the liquid. The strained liquid is a preserved placenta tincture that can be consumed indefinitely when stored properly.
Placenta Treats/Smoothie Cubes
Placenta treats (chocolates, candies, etc.) are made by infusing dehydrated placenta with the chosen treat option during treat preparation. Smoothie cubes are prepared by blending raw placenta with water or coconut water, and then pouring the blended preparation into ice cube molds to be frozen and used as an addition to your personal smoothie recipe.
Placenta Salve
A placenta salve is made by infusing dehydrated placenta with oils and herbs, and then straining and combining with shea butter to create a firm salve that is easy to spread on the skin. The salve is safe for adults, children, and babies who have no known skin allergies to the ingredients.
Non-consumption Placenta Preparation Services:
Placentas may be used for creating a variety of keepsakes that are not for consumption. Placenta art prints, dehydrated umbilical cords, and/or resin jewelry/keychains are available in addition to or instead of the placenta consumption options.
After Birth:
If you wish to have your placenta picked up, you agree to call your placenta preparation specialist within two (2) hours of the birth of your baby/babies. The sooner you communicate, the better. Your placenta preparation specialist will arrive within four (4) hours of your call to pick up your placenta. You are responsible for ensuring your placenta is properly stored in your transport kit until they arrive.
If you do not want your placenta to be picked up or if you do not plan to encapsulate within three (3) days of the birth, your placenta needs to be bagged in two, 1-gallon freezer bags and be stored in a freezer until ready to encapsulate.
If your placenta is recommended to be sent to pathology for testing, request they take a sample of the placenta without removing the placenta from your birth space/room instead of taking the entire placenta. If your placenta is taken to pathology, the safety of consuming placenta may be compromised, and you will be fully responsible for any negative outcomes from consumption.
Communication:
Placenta Preparation Specialist response times for client-initiated communications
This section outlines the general expectations regarding how promptly your placenta preparation specialist will respond to your communications. Your placenta preparation specialist will always aim to respond in a timely manner and to meet these response times, but response times may vary and are not guaranteed.
- While not on-call for your birth, your placenta preparation specialist will respond to your text/email messages within 48 hours, but typically in less than six (6) hours.
- During the on-call period, your placenta preparation specialist will respond to text/email messages within three (3) hours between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Messages received after 9 p.m. may not receive a response until after 9 a.m. the following morning, so please CALL if you need a faster response.
- While not on-call for your birth, your placenta preparation specialist will return your call (if not answered initially) within 24 hours.
- During the on-call period, your placenta preparation specialist will return your call (if not answered initially) within one (1) hour.
Client communication expectations
This section outlines when you can expect to receive communications from your placenta preparation specialist. These are the general guidelines your placenta preparation specialist will aim to follow, but the timing and/or frequency may vary and be customized to your needs.
- After signing this agreement, your placenta preparation specialist will provide your contract for signature as well as an intake form, both to be completed and returned within 72 hours.
- Your placenta preparation specialist will check in with you via text/secure message within 2 weeks after you have received your placenta products and again approximately 6-8 weeks following your birth.
- You are NOT obligated to respond to the check-in messages. The intent of these messages is to provide you an opportunity to share how you’re feeling and how things are going for you and/or to ask any questions you may have.
Negative Reactions:
Once accepting your placenta products, you assume all responsibility for any outcomes in response to ingestion/consumption. Your placenta is specific to your body, and no one can determine how your body will react to ingestion/consumption.
If you experience any negative reactions, please discontinue usage of your placenta products and contact your placenta preparation specialist.
Cancellation:
Once you have signed this agreement and your placenta services contract, and either remitted payment online or paid the retainer (see Payments section), the time for your placenta preparation services will be reserved so that your placenta preparation specialist will be available to you. If you request to cancel this agreement prior to the on-call period, any payments in excess of the retainer fee will be refunded. No refunds will be provided if cancellation occurs within the on-call period.
Failure to provide service:
Your placenta preparation specialist will make every effort to provide the placenta preparation services described in this agreement. Sometimes, this is impossible (for example, with an infection during labor). If failure to provide placenta preparation services is due to your placenta preparation specialist’s error, there will be no charge for services, and Atala Doula Services will issue a full refund for all payments rendered for placenta preparation services. If your placenta preparation specialist is unable to provide placenta preparation services because you fail to contact them, fail to adhere to appropriate placenta handling and storage, and/or because handling of the placenta would jeopardize the health and/or safety of the placenta preparation specialist or other clients, full payment must still be rendered. If your placenta preparation specialist is unable to provide placenta preparation services due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control (natural disaster, state of emergency, pandemic, etc.), you will only owe the $75 retainer fee, and Atala Doula Services will refund any payments in excess of that amount.
Fees:
Placenta preparation services fees are outlined here: https://ataladoulaservices.com/services/other-products-services/#placenta. Your placenta services contract will specify the placenta services fees you are responsible for.
Payments:
Online payments are preferred using the Shop/Service Payments page found here: https://ataladoulaservices.com/product/placenta-services/. Online payments are processed via Stripe or PayPal.
Payments will also be accepted via cash, check, money order, Venmo, Square, or other payment transfer application upon request. A $75 retainer must be paid upon signing of this agreement and your placenta services contract, and the balance will be due by 38 weeks of your pregnancy to ensure on-call availability.
If you are less than two weeks from expected delivery, or if you have already given birth, payment in full is due upon signing of this agreement and your placenta services contract.