Placenta Encapsulation: Benefits, Risks, Cost, & FAQ

Placenta encapsulation has gained significant popularity in recent years, as more women consider ingesting their placenta after childbirth in the form of capsules.

These "placenta pills" are believed by some to offer benefits like mood enhancement, combating postpartum depression, and speeding up recovery. But how valid are these claims, and is the practice safe?

Let's dive into the benefits, risks, costs, and more to help you determine if placenta encapsulation is worth it.

What Is Placenta Encapsulation?

Placenta encapsulation is the process of dehydrating and pulverizing the placenta into a fine powder, filled into gelatin caps, and ingested by the mother. While this is the most common method of ingestion, the placenta can also be eaten raw, cooked, roasted, and in smoothies and tinctures [*].

In humans, the placenta is truly an astonishing organ — the only organ in the body that serves two masters. It’s fully formed at about 12 weeks gestation and weighs about a pound at delivery. It makes the hormones that sustain the mother’s pregnancy, enables her milk production, and even primes her to care for her baby [*].

As scientists learn more about the benefits of post-natal cord blood and cord tissue in life-saving stem cell transplants and regenerative medicine, it’s natural to ask, is the placenta medical waste or does it have more to give?

What Are the Benefits of Placenta Encapsulation?

While advocates claim a wide range of benefits, scientific evidence supporting these claims is limited. Let’s break down the most common benefits women seek through placenta encapsulation:

1. Improved Mood and Prevention of Postpartum Depression

• The Claim: Placenta encapsulation is believed to reduce the likelihood of experiencing postpartum depression.
• What the Science Says: Although anecdotal evidence is abundant, clinical trials have found no significant difference between women who ingest placenta and those who do not in terms of postpartum mood or depression. Placebo effects may be at play here, but there's no scientific basis to suggest placenta consumption combats postpartum depression [*].

2. Enhanced Energy and Recovery

• The Claim: The nutrients in the placenta help mothers recover faster and boost energy.
• What the Science Says: While the placenta does contain some iron, the amount is generally insufficient to treat postpartum anemia or significantly impact energy levels. Moreover, there’s no evidence that consuming the placenta improves recovery time [*].

3. Increased Milk Production

• The Claim: Some women believe placenta encapsulation helps increase breast milk supply.
• What the Science Says: Estradiol and progesterone in the placenta could interfere with milk production rather than enhance it, particularly in the first month postpartum. This claim lacks strong scientific support and may lead to the opposite of the intended result [*].

What Are the Risks of Placenta Encapsulation?

Though touted as natural and beneficial, placenta encapsulation carries potential risks and side effects that should not be ignored.

1. Infection and Contamination

The placenta is not a sterile organ, and encapsulation can result in contamination. Bacteria, viruses, and environmental toxins like mercury or lead may be present in the placenta [*]. Improper handling or processing can introduce additional health hazards, as seen in cases where mothers transmitted infections, such as Group B Streptococcus, to their infants via contaminated placenta capsules [*].

2. Hormonal Imbalance

Consuming the placenta may lead to hormone fluctuations that are not always beneficial. For example, elevated estrogen levels can reduce milk supply and increase the risk of blood clots postpartum [*].

3. Unknown Long-Term Effects

There is no conclusive research on the long-term effects of placenta encapsulation, especially since the practice remains unregulated. This makes it difficult for healthcare professionals to provide informed guidance on its safety [*].

How Much Does Placenta Encapsulation Cost?

The cost of placenta encapsulation ranges between $200 and $500, depending on the provider and location. Some doulas offer the service as well. While DIY methods may seem tempting, they carry significant risks, especially without a sterile environment. It’s best to avoid attempting encapsulation at home due to these health concerns.

What Is the Placenta Encapsulation Process?

The encapsulation process typically involves the following steps:

1. Collection: After delivery, the placenta is collected and stored in a sterile container, ensuring it is handled according to safety guidelines. The placenta is then transported to a professional placenta encapsulation specialist.
2. Preparation: The placenta is cleaned, and any membranes or umbilical cord remnants are removed.
3. Dehydration: The placenta is either dehydrated raw or steamed with ingredients like ginger or lemon, based on the mother’s preference.
4. Grinding: Once fully dehydrated, the placenta is ground into a fine powder.
5. Encapsulation: The powder is placed into gelatin (vitamin-like) capsules for the mother to consume.

Is Placenta Encapsulation Worth It?

Ultimately, whether placenta encapsulation is worth it depends on your personal preferences and risk tolerance. While some mothers swear by the benefits, the lack of scientific backing and potential risks should be carefully considered.

If you're looking for postpartum support with proven benefits, hiring a postpartum Doula or seeking medical interventions such as lactation support, mental health counseling, or nutritional supplementation may be safer and more effective alternatives.

Placenta Encapsulation FAQ

Do doctors recommend placenta encapsulation?

Most healthcare providers do not recommend placenta encapsulation due to the lack of scientific evidence and potential risks [*].

Why is the CDC against placenta encapsulation?

The CDC advises against placenta encapsulation due to reported cases of bacterial infections being transmitted to newborns through contaminated capsules [*].

Is placenta encapsulation FDA-approved?

No, the FDA has not approved placenta encapsulation as a medical treatment or supplement.

Does insurance cover placenta encapsulation?

In most cases, insurance does not cover the cost of placenta encapsulation.

What are the side effects of placenta encapsulation?

Side effects may include hormonal imbalances, reduced milk supply, infection, and contamination from bacteria or environmental toxins [*].

How many pills do you get from placenta encapsulation?

Typically, you’ll receive between 100 and 200 pills, depending on the size of the placenta and the encapsulation process used [*].

How long does the encapsulated placenta last?

Placenta capsules can last up to a year when stored properly in a cool, dry place [*].

Can I encapsulate my own placenta?

While it's possible to encapsulate your own placenta, it's not recommended due to the risk of contamination without access to a sterile environment.

Is eating the placenta natural?

Historically, humans have not been compelled to eat the placenta after birth, and there is little evidence to suggest this practice has any deep cultural roots. While some advocates point to its natural occurrence in other species, human biology and evolution may explain why it hasn’t been a widespread tradition [*][*].

Is the Placenta Medical Waste?

The answer is yes — and no. There are cord blood banks that offer parents an option to bank their newborn’s placental stem cells for an added cost. MiracleCord doesn’t, and here’s why:

While these stem cells are indeed valuable in regenerative medicine, they are more readily available in the cord tissue, and it is easier to extract them from the cord, where they won’t be contaminated with the mother’s cells.

Cord blood and cord tissue banking have proven clinical benefits in more than 80 FDA-approved stem cell treatments. To learn more about cord blood and cord tissue banking, request MiracleCord’s Free Info Kit.

Final Thoughts

While it’s understandable that some women turn to placentophagy for postpartum relief, it’s important to approach the practice with caution. The placebo effect may contribute to the perceived benefits, but there is no scientific evidence to confirm these claims.

Moreover, consuming the placenta isn’t rooted in any long standing human tradition, and it comes with real risks in an unregulated industry.

For mothers seeking postpartum support, it’s essential to weigh the available information and consider safer, evidence-based alternatives.

About MiracleCord

MiracleCord is a trusted leader in cord blood banking, committed to preserving the valuable stem cells found in umbilical cord blood and cord tissue.

With state-of-the-art facilities and a steadfast commitment to excellence, MiracleCord offers expecting parents the choice to safeguard their family’s health and well-being through innovative stem cell preservation solutions.

Call us today at 888.743.2673 or download our free cord blood banking guide to learn more.

DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE IS NOT INTENDED TO BE USED AS MEDICAL ADVICE.The materials and information contained on the MiracleCord website is provided for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended to, and does not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis, and should not be used as such. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. If you are seeking personal medical advice, you should consult with a licensed physician. Always consult with a qualified health care provider regarding a medical condition.