Placenta Capsules FAQs

What qualifies you to provide this service?
Proper training and a lot of experience:  We’ve offered this service since 2009 and between us have done 500+ placentas, making us the most experienced encapsulators in Saskatchewan. We are both OSHA certified and trained in Universal Precautions, food science and preservation. We train placenta encapsulators through Birth Ways International.

How long does it take?  The capsules are ready in 1-2 days from when we get the placenta.

How many capsules will I get?
That depends on the size of your placenta. The only thing that goes into the capsules is the placenta, i.e. no fillers to create a specific number of caps. Most placentas make at least 100 caps, with the average producing around 115. Bigger placentas can fill close to 140 capsules.

What’s the difference between gel and veg caps?
Gel caps are made from animal gelatin and veg caps are vegan, made from plant materials. See a detailed ingredients list for our high quality capsules.

How do you clean and care for your equipment?
The processing is done using OSHA Blood Borne Pathogen Standards. All surfaces and equipment are cleaned, then disinfected, then twice-sterilized using chemical methods. (This is “over-kill” but is reassuring to us and our clients!) We use high quality equipment that can be properly sterilized and is kept in like-new working order.

Can I keep my placenta if I have a caesarean birth?
Yes. The steps are exactly the same. Simply ensure your O.R. nurse knows you wish to keep it.

Am I “allowed” to keep my placenta? Do I need permission from my doctor?
You don’t need permission from anyone. It’s yours to keep. Simply write in your birth plan or tell your care-provider, “I’m keeping my placenta.” Other details are for you to share or not, as you choose. You will be asked  to sign their Release of Live Tissue waiver. Remind the people attending your birth that you wish to keep it. Obstetrical staff in most areas, including at Regina General Hospital and nearby rural hospitals, are quite used to their patients keeping their placenta.

Can you make capsules from my placenta if I choose to use epidural or other medications in labour?  Yes.

Is my placenta safe to encapsulate if there’s meconium (baby poops inside) during the birth?
Yes. The initial cleaning process and proper dehydration takes care of this.

Are there any cases where my placenta can’t be encapsulated?
In the rare case of uterine or placental infection during labour, your placenta will be taken away to the Pathology department for analysis. We’ve processed well over 500 placentas and have never received one that appeared to be infected. All placentas are inspected by midwives/doctors, who do not send infected placentas (or anything else) home with patients. Basically if your placenta is not being sent to Pathology, then there’s generally not a concern about infection.

If your placenta is left at room temperature for too long then we are unable to process it. It should be treated like raw meat and be refrigerated or put on ice shortly after birth – certainly within a couple of hours but sooner is ideal. If it won’t be processed within 3 days then it should go into a freezer.

Do you serve out-of-town clients?
Yes. We have systems in place to make this easy for you. We provide detailed, easy-to-follow instructions.

How do I package the placenta for you?
At Regina General Hospital, the placenta is usually put into a square plastic container; you can use that for storage and transport. We provide detailed instructions to bring your own container as a back-up. You can ask your nurse to get it ready. While it’s not their “job” per se, most are happy to help. At home births or other hospitals you’ll need to provide your own container (we provide detailed instructions). If you have your baby at night or are shipping the placenta, then you’ll keep it cold (detailed instructions provided) until the morning when it’s picked up.

How do I get the placenta to you?
One of us picks it up at Regina General Hospital or at your home (or any location) within Regina city limits. If you have your baby out of town then you can have it delivered to us. We provide detailed instructions.

How do you ensure the capsules are returned to the right person?
This is one of the most important parts of the process! One of several advantages to working in partnership is that we can process two placentas at the same time in two separate locations. We have a triple labeling system in place to ensure 100% accuracy; your placenta is attached to a label at every stage of processing, from placenta pick-up through to delivery of capsules. This system is a matter of routine, and is followed with every client’s placenta, even though we rarely have 2 placentas in the same building at the same time.

How do I get the capsules back?
We deliver the capsules anywhere within Regina city limits. If you live out of town then we can ship them or send them with someone going your way (we can drop the package off anywhere in Regina to that person).

How long do the capsules last?
They’re best used within 1 year, stored at room temperature in an airtight container (glass jar). After that they don’t necessarily go “bad”, but the nutrients start to diminish. If you wish to keep them longer, then the freezer can extend that for up to another year if they go in within the first few months. (We don’t recommend this because we hear from so many women who put them in the freezer and promptly forgot about them.)

How do I store the capsules?
Just keep them in the glass jar.  There’s no need to refrigerate them.  They’re good for up to a year at room temperature in a cupboard.  If you wish to keep them longer, then store in a deep-freeze for up to two years.

Can you make capsules out of my frozen placenta?  Yes.

How do we proceed? 
Please follow the steps on our encapsulation page. There’s a form for you to complete and all the information you need is there too. We need your estimated “due date” and contact info. Cash is our preferred form of payment but we also accept e-transfers.

What if I Haven’t Made Arrangements Yet?  We can usually accommodate last minute request and have provided this service in response to several texts such as, “I just had my baby and want my placenta done!” In an ideal world everything will be set up ahead of time. However if you just decided to do this while you’re in labour – or even after your birth – and need to make quick arrangements, please TEXT during normal “awake” hours. (If you have your baby after 9am or before 8am, please put your placenta in fridge or on ice and get in touch in the morning.) Please follow the steps on our encapsulation page.

Do you buy or sell placentas, or placenta products?
We do not! This is not only unethical and unsafe, but is illegal in Canada. (If anyone offers to do this, please report them to the Public Health Department.) We provide the service of turning your own placenta into capsules for your own use.