Storage Instructions:
*Its easiest if you remind your care provider that you wish to keep your placenta at one of your prenatal appointments (even better if you ask them to note this on your file).
*It also helps if you can make one of your support people the "placenta person" so you don't have to think about organizing the placenta so soon after birth :)
- Be prepared with a small esky (Kmart sells the perfect one for $15, alternatively Bunnings have the same for more $)
- All hospitals will provide a clean, sealed, labelled container to place your placenta into. (If they don't they will "bag" it for you)
- You will need loose ice to keep your placenta cool, Most hospitals will also provide ice/icepacks, again always best to check this with your provider at an appointment if possible. *Some hospitals are fabulous and will even allow you to store your placenta in the fridge.
- Placenta MUST be on ice or in the fridge within 4 hours of birth, if in doubt about when your placenta can be brought to me, have a support person take it home and freeze it straight away.
- Call or message me once you have given birth and I will be in touch to arrange pick up. - Reminder I cannot pick up in the middle of the night or wee hours of the morning I will respond after 7am.
*I cannot process a placenta that is older then 48 hours (Unless it was handled properly and frozen within hours of birth)
*I cannot process a placenta that is taken to pathology as I cannot guarantee that they treat it in a safe(hygienic) manor, If they want to take your placenta to pathology ask them to take a sample of it in front of you instead.
*I cannot process a placenta if you or baby have had a fever or infection.
There's no need to stress, this is almost always a straight forward process, even when you encounter a care provider who hasn't heard of encapsulation before or thinks it is "different".
Please let me know if you have any questions,
Warm Regards,
Tessa Bobir