Your placenta. Your choice.
What happens to your placenta after birth is up to you.
It’s Yours!
In New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, your placenta is considered your tissue, therefore, it is legally yours, as much as your baby is.
Hospitals may have procedures to follow, but you are allowed to take it home in nearly all situations.
You don’t need a reason.
You just need to let your care team know.
But Why?
People decide to keep their placenta for lots of different reasons. Some are practical, some are emotional, and some are just personal. And, oftentimes, it’s simply that they don’t want the hospital to have it.
Common reasons include:
Cultural or spiritual traditions
Burial or planting under a tree
Creating placenta art or keepsakes
Placenta encapsulation
Making tinctures or salves
Wanting control over what happens to their body (or body parts)
Just feeling that it matters
There’s no “right” reason. The point is—it’s yours. Whatever reason you have is nobody else’s business. No one gets to decide what happens to your placenta but you.
What is placenta Encapsulation?
Placenta encapsulation is the process of preparing the placenta after birth, dehydrating it, grounding it into a powder, and placing that powder into ick-free capsules.
Some parents choose this because they hope it may provide:
Postpartum energy
Mood and emotional balance
Speed postpartum recovery
Milk supply support
Research on postpartum placenta consumption is still limited, and results are mixed. Some people report huge benefits and swear by their placenta pills. Others feel more “meh” about it. Hardly anyone regrets it.
Encapsulation is about choice, not promises.
SAFETY
Placenta encapsulation is not appropriate in every situation.
Encapsulation may NOT be recommended if any of these were present:
A uterine infection or chorioamnionitis
Heavy toxins due to smoking, drinking, or illegal drug use during pregnany
HIV/AIDS
Placenta that was not stored properly after birth and/or was treated with chemicals
A trained encapsulation specialist should review your birth details and help you decide if processing is appropriate.
Safety and sanitation practices matter.
HOSPITAL LOGISTICS
Keeping your placenta at a hospital birth is usually stress-free and straightforward.
Here’s how it typically works:
Let your nurses and provider know you plan to keep your placenta and they’ll have you sign a release form
Bring a small cooler with ice packs
After birth, store your placenta in the cooler, on ice
It should be refrigerated or processed within a safe time frame
Your birth team may ask you to sign a simple release form. This is routine.
Other Options
Encapsulation is only one option. Other possibilities include:
Burial or planting
Placenta art prints
Cord keepsakes
Tinctures
Salves or balms
Donating
You can also just take it home, stick it in your freezer, and decide later.
CHOOSE A SAFE PROVIDER
If you are considering encapsulation, here are good questions to ask:
What training have you completed and do you have any certifications?
How many encapsulations have you completed?
What safety protocols do you follow?
Where is the placenta processed?
How do you prevent cross-contamination?
Do you screen for situations where encapsulation isn’t recommended?
You deserve clear, confident answers that help you feel comfortable with making your decision.
Need Some Help deciding?
If you decide placenta encapsulation feels right for you, I provide professional, safety-focused placenta services in South & Central New Jersey, the Jersey Shore, Philadelphia, and parts of Delaware.
I’m happy to answer questions — whether you choose to work with me or not.
Want Even More info?
I work with all sorts of parents. Some hear about placenta pills from their bestie, and they’re ready to book. And some are still in the WTF phase. But I’ve found that placenta-eating moms are usually thirsty for info. So here’s more.
Think You might go for it?
Click below to learn about the specifics of working with me.