Questions to Ask When Hiring a Placenta Encapsulation Specialist
If you are considering encapsulating your placenta after birth, you’ll probably want to find a placenta encapsulation specialist- unless you’re a beautiful badass homestead mama and want to do it yourself!
Simply search for “placenta encapsulation in (your location)” to find service providers and information. If that fails to yield results then try searching directories such as findplacentaencapsulation.com or avoidthebabyblues.com.
The person who encapsulates your placenta will be handling something that may feel very sacred to you- as it helped to sustain and nourish your baby for 9 months! Here is a list of potential questions you can ask a placenta encapsulation specialist to make sure that their practice is safe and sanitary, and that they will handle your placenta with care.
1) Where and when were you trained?
There is not governing organization that standardizes regulation for placenta encapsulators. That being said, the specialist should be able tell you where she received her training and if she has any certification
Make sure you are comfortable with your specialists experience level
2) What methods of encapsulation do you offer and can you walk me through your protocol?
Most specialists offer TCM or raw methods of encapsulation. Many also offer both. Be sure to to make the best choice for own preferences.
The specialist should be able to walk you through their encapsulation procedures for each method they offer
3) What equipment do you use?
Make sure the specialist uses a food grade dehydrator with the fan on the top of their unit- this prevents particles from falling down into a bottom-situated fan and circulating them around the next time it is used.
Your specialist should use a glass or disposable cutting board
All reusable equipment should be able to be fully submerged in a bleach solution, rather than sprayed or whipped down.
4) What if you are not able to encapsulate my placenta when I call you?
Many placenta encapsulators are also doulas or midwives, meaning they may lead a non-predicable on-call life.
A specialist should have an experienced back-up that you can call if they are unavailable
5) How do you ensure your equipment is properly cleaned after use?
The only sufficient method of disinfection is bleaching. If the specialist uses any other method to clean their equipment, this may increase the risk of contamination.
6) Where do you encapsulate?
Some specialists will only encapsulate in certain places, while others can be more flexible with what the client prefers. They may prefer encapsulating in their own home-designated workspace, or in your home. Make sure your preferences match up with what the specialist offers.
There you have it folks! These questions should get you started as you start to explore the placenta encapsulation specialists in your area and how they do things. Although I have yet to meet a fellow encapsulators whose practices I questioned or who did not take their job extremely seriously, I still believe it is important to have access to these questions and feel empowered in your choice.
Love,
North Bay Placenta Services
Marin County, Sonoma, San Francisco, East Bay, and South Bay
