Your Village: Divine Doula Placenta Encapsulation

The intent behind Humble Beginnings Birth Services is to walk with you on your path to parenthood; to be there when you have questions, when you need encouragement, or when you need a shoulder to cry on.  I have met some wonderful women who share the same heart as I do for supporting new and expecting moms.  These gals are so special I want you to know about them too! If you are drawn to working with me, I know for sure you will love knowing and working with them!

I first met Misty Rauscher over a cup of tea several years ago. We both had small children and were getting ready to begin homeschooling.  We chatted about our kids and our birth businesses.  Fast forward to 2015, Misty is now the mom of five, we've had several years of homeschooling under our belts, and our birth businesses have grown and evolved.  Along with being a doula, Misty offers placenta encapsulating services. I've always been curious about the process and the benefits of ingesting your placenta after giving birth.  Many of my clients rave about the benefits, so I thought I'd go to the source and chat with Misty about her services, and how taking placenta pills after birth can increase the likelihood of a faster, smoother postpartum recovery.

What are some of the benefits of taking placenta capsules?
There are several major benefits to taking placenta pills postpartum.  First, hormonally, we’re at an all-time high right after the baby is born. Once the placenta comes out, we’re at an all-time low.  Placenta capsules can replenish and restore balance to hormone levels. They can improve milk production and lessen the time of postpartum bleeding.  Another benefit, which is bigger than people realize, is the iron and protein that placenta pills can  put back into your body. Many people take iron supplements after pregnancy because they’re anemic from losing blood. Your placenta has the perfect amount of iron for your body which can aid in recovery.

Once a new mom decides she wants to encapsulate her placenta and contacts you, what happens next?
I send all new clients an intake form asking for information such as due date, birth location and contact person. New parents sign a liability waiver and send me the results of their blood work (HIV and Hep B) from their care provider.  (Since I am working with placentas and blood, I need to protect myself.)  Once I have this and a 50% deposit, we wait for the baby to arrive!   I also have an instruction sheet about how to keep the placenta fresh, what to do before delivery, after delivery, and contact info. Parents are responsible for getting the placenta to me. Due to life with five kids, this works best for me, however, occasionally, I can arrange for a pick-up.  

What are the different options they have for their placenta?

• Steamed preparation-- which means the placenta gets steamed by itself in the pot.
• Chinese Herbs--the placenta is steamed with herbs, but herbs are not included in the capsules.
  
• Tincture-- placenta is fermented for a certain amount of time, strained and then presented in liquid form. This is good for people who may need more help after their pills run out. It is also great for soothing teething babies and getting your period to return.
  
• I also provide complementary cord keepsakes and placenta prints.

How did you get started encapsulating placentas?
When I was pregnant with my 3rd baby I had been a doula for a couple of years. I decided I needed to experience everything out there my clients were experiencing and came across Placenta Encapsulation. Then, it was not nearly as popular as it is now. I remember reading about it and being so grossed out. I couldn’t even believe it! There is no way people are ingesting their placenta in pill form.  In true Misty fashion, I said, “I’m gonna do it  I need to see what this is all about. I’m pregnant and I have a placenta, so let’s do it!” After the birth, when I started taking my placenta pills, I felt amazing, I felt like I had so much energy and I didn’t feel so crazy. I used to get pretty bad headaches postpartum due to the hormonal depletion. The pills helped to take them away. I felt good about using a “natural remedy” and not some over-the-counter medicine. After my experience, I started recommending it to all my clients.  I soon realized I was referring out something I could easily offer to them myself.  I went through a training course... and here I am!

What do you say to the moms and dads who think it just plain gross to eat a placenta?  
I tell them my story and how it affected me. I did if for my next two pregnancies as well.  I also tell them that when they get it back it just looks like a vitamin. It looks like any other pill. If you know you can swallow a pill, you can do a placenta pill. I offer Berry Pills for those who have a hard time swallowing them. You can’t see what’s inside, and they have a berry flavor going down. I really want everyone to do it, so I make it easy for them!

You are a mom of 5 and you've been working with new moms for many years. What is one nugget of wisdom or piece of advice you would give to someone who is just beginning their parenting journey?
If you need to make friends with new people for this new season in your life, give yourself the space to do so.  Once you have your first baby, you may find your old friends in a different place. Some will stick around and others will drift away. But don’t be afraid to make new friends with the other mom at the park with an 8 month old. You both may look like death, but these are the friends that can turn out to be really good ones.  So my advice is to make friends with people in the same season as you.

Misty (Divine) Rauscher, owner of Divine Doula, is a certified labor doula in Denver, Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Englewood and other surrounding suburbs in Colorado, with knowledge in the Bradley Method, Hypnobirthing and natural childbirth.  You can find our more about her services at Divine Doula.

What is your experience with placenta encapsulation?  Did you do it? Would you recommend it to others?  Or, no thanks, it's not for me?  I'd love to hear what you think!