PLACENTA FAQS

What is placenta encapsulation?

Placenta encapsulation allows you to enjoy the benefits of your placenta after birth. Your placenta is cleaned, steamed, and dehydrated. It is then put into capsules, making it easy and convenient to consume. It’s as simple as taking a vitamin, allowing families to enjoy the many reported benefits.

How does the process work?

1. After making the decision to encapsulate your placenta, fill out the registration form and pay your deposit to reserve your space on your placenta specialist’s calendar. (Balance is due by 39 weeks of pregnancy)
2. Around 1 month prior to your due date, you will receive a Welcome Baby KC Transport Kit in the mail with everything you need to safely and discreetly pack and store your placenta after birth.
3. After your baby’s birth, you’ll get in touch with your placenta specialist and let them know when your placenta is ready for pickup. Your placenta specialist will come to retrieve your placenta within 12-24 hours at the latest, although frequently sooner.
4. Encapsulation takes a maximum of 48-72 hours, frequently much sooner. When your capsules are ready, Welcome Baby KC will hand-deliver or mail your capsules to you, along with a postpartum booklet with instructions and information.
5. Over the next two weeks, your placenta specialist will keep in touch with you to ensure everything is going well.

What do I need to take with me to my birth place to ensure that my placenta is ready to encapsulate?

You will receive a Welcome Baby KC Transport Kit with everything you need to take with you to your birth place for your placenta. Just toss your kit in your birth bag, and you are ready to go.

How should I store my placenta in my Welcome Baby KC Transport Kit after birth?

Within two hours of birth, the placenta should be double bagged in one-gallon Ziploc bags (some hospitals will put it in a sealed container, and that is also fine) from your Welcome Baby KC Transport Kit. Bags should be sealed tightly and placed in your Welcome Baby KC cooler on ice. To ensure that the placenta is properly stored and taken care of, we recommend that you designate someone on your birth team to be in charge of your placenta after birth. As long as the placenta is in a cooler with ice, it will stay safely chilled until Welcome Baby KC is able to come and pick it up. Once your placenta is ready for pickup, contact your Welcome Baby KC placenta specialist, and they will make arrangements to pick up the placenta from you within 12-24 hours.

How many capsules will I receive?

Every placenta is different, but on average each placenta yields 100-150 capsules.

How do I know I will not receive someone else’s placenta encapsulation products?

Your Welcome Baby KC placenta specialist’s top priority is safety and sanitation. For this reason, your placenta specialist only works on one placenta at a time. There is no chance of any accidental switch or cross-contamination because only one placenta is processed at a time. All supplies and materials are either thrown away or thoroughly cleaned and sanitized between clients. Your Welcome Baby KC placenta specialist maintains an immaculate OSHA- and EPA-compliant work space so you can rest easy knowing your capsules are safe.

When do I need to pay for encapsulation and add-on services?

There is a $50 non-refundable deposit due at the time of booking. The remaining balance is due in full by 39 weeks. Payment plans can be arranged.

What if I live outside of the KC Metro?

Welcome Baby KC’s Placenta Specialist picks up placentas outside the metro and even processes placentas shipped from all over the state! For placentas outside the metro and within driving distance, Welcome Baby KC will retrieve your placenta with an additional travel fee starting at $50. If you’d like to ship your placenta to Welcome Baby KC for processing, please contact us for more information.

What if my care team wants to take my placenta to pathology?

If your provider requests that your placenta be sent to pathology, request that they send a small piece of the placenta instead of the whole thing. This retains the integrity of the placenta while still allowing it to be tested. If lab results come back normal, you are able to encapsulate as planned. Due to the risk of cross-contamination, it is not advised to encapsulate if your entire placenta has been sent to pathology.

Why is it important to use someone that is trained in placenta encapsulation?

Choosing the right specialist to encapsulate your placenta is an important decision. A trained specialist must follow all OSHA and EPA guidelines for safe handling and disinfection. A properly trained specialist will also be able to advise you on correct dosage guidelines, instructions for proper capsule storage, and when to not take your capsules. Welcome Baby KC's placenta specialist completed their training with the Association of Placenta Preparation Arts (APPA), and adheres to all of its rigorous standards of safety, sanitation, and confidentiality. Welcome Baby KC's placenta specialist is currently the only APPA-trained Placenta Specialist in the Kansas City area. We use a dedicated work space to ensure that your placenta is processed in a safe and sanitary environment. No matter who you choose to encapsulate your placenta, please be sure that you are using a trained professional for your own safety.