Professional Placenta Encapsulation with a Seasoned Birth Expert
"I met Erica though my search for a doula and a placenta encapsulation expert. While I didn’t work with her as a doula, given she’d recently given birth to her son, I did have her encapsulate my placenta, and she kindly made a tincture for me as well. Within days she dropped off the capsules and tincture in a beautiful packaging that was made with love and thought. I took the capsules as per recommendation and have no doubt they had a positive effect on my recovery. Through sleepless nights and recovering from a third degree tear, I’ve no doubt the capsules helped me to heal and provided me with much needed energy to match my hormone levels and the needs of my newborn. I was sorry when the capsules ran out as I would’ve happily kept taking them. Additionally, Erica was a wonderful source of information on my journey from late pregnancy through to postpartum".
Kelli, Midtown Manhattan
Encapsulation
For thousands of years, TCM has recognized the placenta as a tonifier of Qi, life energy, after a mother gives birth. Today, many women look to placenta encapsulation as a natural way to even their hormones after birth, avoid postpartum depression, gather more energy while caring for their newborn, and to promote lactation. I use methods inspired by TCM to gently steam, dehydrate, powder and encapsulate the placenta. I can also work with the raw start method, or half and half! Typically, a placenta will yield 60-120 capsules, depending on its size. Mothers report using up their pills within the first six weeks of their baby’s life when their body most needs them. Some women take theirr capsules for the first week or two, making sure to freeze any leftover capsules by the sixth week postpartum, and then slowly consume the rest as needed over the first year of their child’s life. The choice is up to you.
Tincture
Some women have reported using this placenta tincture for postpartum mood improvement and/or PMS and menopause later in life. Common usage of 7-10 drops of tincture can be put in a glass of water or other beverage for the mother to drink during times of transition after her placenta pills are gone. If you select this service, you will find a 4oz dropper bottle in your bag. Placenta tincture should rest for at least six weeks from the baby’s birth day. At that time, you can choose to either leave the solids in the tincture or to strain out the placenta pieces and discard them in your chosen manner, such as burial. If you choose to keep the solids in the tincture, make sure they remain covered with alcohol. You will store the placenta tincture in a cool, dry place. Remember tincture is made using high proof alcohol and as such, should not be given to infants). You can take up to 40 drops, in a day. Follow the cues of your body.
Umbilical Cord Keepsake
Your baby’s umbilical cord will be dried into a heart as a keepsake. Some mothers choose to include them in baby books, keepsake boxes or bury them ceremonially. It is your choice! The umbilical heart symbolizes the loving bond between mother and child. In certain cultures it is tradition to bury the cord as a sign to keep the child grounded throughout their life and ensure they always return home. You will store your keepsake in a cool, dry place as to protect it from moisture and humidity.
"I met Erica though my search for a doula and a placenta encapsulation expert. While I didn’t work with her as a doula, given she’d recently given birth to her son, I did have her encapsulate my placenta, and she kindly made a tincture for me as well. Within days she dropped off the capsules and tincture in a beautiful packaging that was made with love and thought. I took the capsules as per recommendation and have no doubt they had a positive effect on my recovery. Through sleepless nights and recovering from a third degree tear, I’ve no doubt the capsules helped me to heal and provided me with much needed energy to match my hormone levels and the needs of my newborn. I was sorry when the capsules ran out as I would’ve happily kept taking them. Additionally, Erica was a wonderful source of information on my journey from late pregnancy through to postpartum".
Kelli, Midtown Manhattan
Encapsulation
For thousands of years, TCM has recognized the placenta as a tonifier of Qi, life energy, after a mother gives birth. Today, many women look to placenta encapsulation as a natural way to even their hormones after birth, avoid postpartum depression, gather more energy while caring for their newborn, and to promote lactation. I use methods inspired by TCM to gently steam, dehydrate, powder and encapsulate the placenta. I can also work with the raw start method, or half and half! Typically, a placenta will yield 60-120 capsules, depending on its size. Mothers report using up their pills within the first six weeks of their baby’s life when their body most needs them. Some women take theirr capsules for the first week or two, making sure to freeze any leftover capsules by the sixth week postpartum, and then slowly consume the rest as needed over the first year of their child’s life. The choice is up to you.
Tincture
Some women have reported using this placenta tincture for postpartum mood improvement and/or PMS and menopause later in life. Common usage of 7-10 drops of tincture can be put in a glass of water or other beverage for the mother to drink during times of transition after her placenta pills are gone. If you select this service, you will find a 4oz dropper bottle in your bag. Placenta tincture should rest for at least six weeks from the baby’s birth day. At that time, you can choose to either leave the solids in the tincture or to strain out the placenta pieces and discard them in your chosen manner, such as burial. If you choose to keep the solids in the tincture, make sure they remain covered with alcohol. You will store the placenta tincture in a cool, dry place. Remember tincture is made using high proof alcohol and as such, should not be given to infants). You can take up to 40 drops, in a day. Follow the cues of your body.
Umbilical Cord Keepsake
Your baby’s umbilical cord will be dried into a heart as a keepsake. Some mothers choose to include them in baby books, keepsake boxes or bury them ceremonially. It is your choice! The umbilical heart symbolizes the loving bond between mother and child. In certain cultures it is tradition to bury the cord as a sign to keep the child grounded throughout their life and ensure they always return home. You will store your keepsake in a cool, dry place as to protect it from moisture and humidity.
Your complete placenta package includes
- Materials and Supplies
- Pick up and drop off services by me or a medical courier
- Encapsulation
- Umbilical keepsake
- Guidance on pill usage
- Email/phone contact before and after the baby is born
- Related postpartum info at your request
add ons:
- Placenta Tincture
Mothers who have taken their placenta capsules have reported
Improved maternal milk supply Increased maternal-infant bonding
Decrease incidence of baby blues Better mood and outlook
Increased maternal energy Restored hormonal balance
Assistance with uterine involution Decreased lochia (postpartum bleeding)
Talking to Friends and Family about Placenta Encapsulation
Some people are awe-struck, confused, or taken aback when they hear you are consuming placenta pills. This is a great opportunity to share the benefits of the placenta that you have learned on your own research journey! Explain to them that the placenta is a facilitator organ designed to transfer oxygen and nutrients to the baby, therefore it is nutrient rich. It functions similarly to the lungs. It is not a toxic filter like the liver or kidneys. Also it is a blood-rich organ so your pills are high in iron. The iron is easily absorbed unlike most iron supplements because it is your own.
Safety
- I am becoming fully trained and certified with the Association of Placenta Preparation Arts (APPA). APPA education is very comprehensive and includes the history of the placenta, placenta traditions, pregnancy/placenta hormones and how they work in the body, postpartum mood disorders, placenta anatomy & physiology, placenta processing, and more.
- I have completed an APPA specific course for Blood Borne Pathogens, compliant with OSHA standards for safety and sanitation with BBPs for placenta preparation.
- I have completed food handling safety certification.
- I work in a dedicated placenta preparation workspace in order to uphold the highest standard for safety and sanitation possible.
- I have very specific and rigorous protocol for placenta transport, refrigeration, preparation, dehydration, and sanitation.
- I only work on one placenta at a time in order to give full attention to detail and safety.
Before you Birth
Talk to your care provider about taking your placenta home right after the birth. You will need to make special arrangements with the hospital staff to release it right away. Please contact me as soon as you know you wish to retain services. At that time please let me know if you have any other questions about placenta services or if you have any other cultural, religious, personal or dietary placenta rituals you would like me to help facilitate as well. Please have my phone number handy, as you will be texting me or my assistant when the baby arrives!
The information on this page has not been evaluated by the FDA. Erica Shane does not intend to make medical treatment claims. Services provided are not clinical, pharmaceutical, or intended to diagnose or treat any condition. Families who choose to utilize the services on this page take full responsibility for their own health and capsule/tincture usage.
"Erica was my doula – both birthing and postpartum – for the birth of my second baby. After a grueling first birth experience, I prepared for my second labor with much anxiety and the search for the right support became a big priority. After speaking with numerous doulas, I knew Erica was the one. In preparation for labor and delivery, Erica and I had multiple touch points. She was incredibly helpful in providing practical suggestions as I progressed in my pregnancy and as I prepared for birth. Listening and observing comes natural to Erica – in visiting me at home, she was eager to integrate my husband and my older child to our conversations and making sure that they knew how best to support wife/mommy. Erica has a deep rolodex of resources including prenatal massage and baby nurses. She was always available to speak, email or text and I never felt she was un-available to me or in a rush to hang up the phone or leave our meeting. She truly has a presence of a friend and that’s exactly what I needed. Erica was also more than just support. She provided context to the topics I discussed with my doctors at my prenatal appointments and helped me draft a birth plan that was more than just a wish list. During labor, Erica was the ultimate advocate and support for me and my husband. She provided comfort measures for me. She explained what was going on in layman’s terms, which I very much appreciated even though I had gone through labor before. She politely but firmly reminded my doctors and hospital staff of my wishes without offending them. For post-partum, Erica’s visits really centered around making sure mommy was recovering. She did so in tangible ways by bringing delicious and wholesome food, providing lactation help and giving me massages. Also, she quietly impressed upon people at home (visitors, family, help) to be sensitive to the needs of the mother too, during a time when it’s so easy to focus solely on the cute little newborn. Most importantly, during our conversations, I was not only able to process my second birth but also bring closure to the challenges of my first birth. Erica really is a born-nurturer. And I’m so glad that she was there for my birthing experience." Kyu, Manhattan