For those who aren’t aware, placenta encapsulation transforms a new mother’s placenta into capsules for her to take in the first few months postpartum.
Globally, hundreds of thousands of mothers have opted to have their placenta encapsulated and consumed it after birth, and common benefits many reported were things like:
- Higher energy levels
- Lesser chance of baby blues
- Lesser chance of postpartum depression
- Balanced mood and hormones
- Increased milk supply
- Increased iron levels
- Reduced postnatal bleeding
- Uterus returning back to pre-pregnancy size faster
- Losing the baby weight faster
- Overall faster and better recovery
In our Western society, up until recently, consuming the placenta after birth was often a rather taboo subject and many were put off by the 'ick' factor of it all.
However, this is slowly changing, and right now, Cork-based
Placenta TLC wants to change this, and make it easy, safe and more accessible to Irish women to have their placentas encapsulated after birth.
Offering a nationwide service, Placenta TLC was founded in 2018 by placenta encapsulation specialists, Lisa Cotter and Trish Carroll, who met over 12 years ago while studying homoeopathy.
"Placenta encapsulation has become hugely popular here in Ireland, as well as all over the world," Cotter explains.
"At Placenta TLC we can sometimes have four to five births a day from all corners of Ireland for which we arrange the collection of the special care package containing the placenta; and then process it and return the capsules within a three day turn around time.”
How it all works
When you book placenta encapsulation services with Placenta TLC, your placenta will be collected after delivery by either Trish or Lisa, either at the hospital where you give birth, or at home, if you opt for a home birth.
Placenta TLC is a full-time service, 365 days of the year, so you can rest assured your placenta will be collected and encapsulated no matter when or where you give birth.
Your placenta is then brought to the Placenta TLC labs and processed immediately.
Only one placenta is processed at a time in the labs.
As the only placenta encapsulation service in the country that has purpose-built, stand-alone lab units to process placentas for encapsulation, Trish and Lisa provide best-in-class levels of safety and hygiene; and ensure the highest levels of quality and reliability in the preparation of placenta capsules.
"When we receive a placenta, it is identified with the client’s name and is cross-checked against the client’s booking documentation," Cotter explains.
"Each placenta is then processed in a dedicated unit and the documentation is annotated with the unit ID number. ALL documentation stays with your placenta from start to finish, in its dedicated unit, and is completed as the placenta is processed.
Once processed, your placenta will be turned into small capsules that look no different to a normal supplement you would get in a healthfood shop, and returned to you beautifully packaged and ready for you to start taking.
As a special keepsake, Placenta TLC will also frame your baby’s umbelical cord and gift it to you as an everlasting symbol of the physical connection you once shared with your baby.
The easy-to-used booking system takes any stress out of the process, with collection and delivery happening safely and seamlessly door-to-door.
Prices vary depending on location; however collection starts at €220 for Cork collections.
Why should you eat your placenta after birth?
Here are some of the nutrients found in the placenta and how each one helps aid in recovery:
VITAMIN B6
Helps support adrenal function (adrenal glands are what produce hormones). Helps to calm and maintain a healthy nervous system. Helps to speed up metabolism by acting as a coenzyme in the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Helps your body to produce antibodies which help your immune system.
VITAMIN B12
Helps to treat some types of anemia. Helps your body to use fat and carbohydrates for energy and to make new protein.
VITAMIN E
Protects against toxins such as air pollution. Helps damaged skin cells to heal.
IRON
Iron is the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to transport it throughout your entire body. Without healthy red blood cells, your body can’t get enough oxygen, which can lead to fatigue.
CYTOKINES
Small secreted proteins released by cells in the body. They have a specific effect on the interactions and communications between cells. They help in the making of new cells to heal and replace damaged cells and tissue.
STEM CELLS
Help to repair damage done to the body caused by childbirth
For more information visit placentatlc.ie.
