Can I Encapsulate My Placenta If I’m Having a C-Section?
Since 1985, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the ideal rate for cesarean sections should be between 10% and 15%. WHO Publication RHR-15.02
Here in New Jersey, our cesarean rate is more than double that and clocks in at over 33% — one of the higher rates in the country. For comparison, states like Alaska, Utah, Idaho, and South Dakota hover around 24%, while Mississippi tops the chart at nearly 38%.
While many cesareans are absolutely necessary and lifesaving, way too many of them happen because of hospital culture, lack of informed consent, or outdated “timelines” for labor that are not evidence-based.
A cesarean isn’t a no-big-deal kind of thing.
It’s major abdominal surgery — you lose blood, your organs are temporarily moved around, your hormones crash (especially if the surgery happens before labor begins), and your body has to recover from both birth and an incision. The recovery can be intense and often takes much longer than after a vaginal birth.
A cesarean also puts you at a higher risk for perinatal mood disorders like postpartum anxiety or depression.
Some questions to ask your provider:
These questions can help you get a clearer picture of how your provider and hospital approach birth — and how much they trust the process:
What’s your current cesarean rate? Your practice’s?
(If they don’t know, 🚩)How often do you induce labor, and how does that affect your cesarean rate?
What’s your rate of cesareans for first-time, low-risk births?
(This number is important — a healthy rate is under 23%.)What are the most common reasons you perform a cesarean?
(If they say “failure to progress,” ask what that means to them.)Do you support VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean)? How often are VBACs successful in your practice?
Fight the urge to feel like you’re being annoying by asking these questions! You’ve hired this person to be your care provider — which means you are in charge.
Asking questions about your care doesn’t make you difficult… it makes you informed. And informed birthers have better outcomes — physically, mentally, and emotionally.
One of the best ways to feel confident and prepared is to take a quality birth class — not just the hospital’s version that teaches you how to be a “good patient,” but one that helps you understand your rights, your options, and what physiological birth looks like.
And if you’re able, consider hiring a doula. Studies consistently show that having continuous labor support from a trained doula reduces the likelihood of cesarean birth, shortens labor, and improves your overall birth experience, which also sets the stage for a smoother postpartum. Better birth outcomes mean less physical trauma, more confidence in your body, and a stronger foundation for bonding, breastfeeding, and emotional recovery in those first weeks.
Birth doesn’t always go as planned, but going in informed, supported, and empowered can make a huge difference.
Can you encapsulate your placenta after a C-section?
I get this question often, and the answer is absolutely. Taking placenta pills after a cesarean can actually be super beneficial. Your body is recovering from surgery, your hormones are crashing, and you need all the support you can get. Placenta pills can help support your mood, energy, and healing — naturally.
I’ve worked with over 1500 South Jersey–area families, including many who’ve given birth by cesarean, to support their postpartum recovery through placenta encapsulation. Every birth is different, but every body deserves the chance to heal holistically.
If you’re preparing for a planned C-section, or just want to make sure you’re set up for recovery no matter how birth goes, you can learn more or reserve your due date at the link below.
👉 Learn more or book your placenta encapsulation
📍 Serving South & Central New Jersey, the Jersey Shore, Philadelphia, and Delaware
