Welcome to my postpartum services information page!
I am passionate about “mothering the mother” and currently offer several services to postpartum women in Larnaca and Araddipou, Cyprus, including placenta encapsulation and related placenta services, and traditional Moroccan postpartum packages. Please read on if this might be of interest to you!
What is placenta encapsulation?
Placenta encapsulation is a process in which a women’s placenta is dried, ground into a powder, and placed into capsules for ingestion through swallowing (similar to taking a vitamin supplement). Placentophagy, or the ingesting of one’s placenta, is growing in popularity among modern women around the world. In fact, using the placenta to benefit the new mother’s health has a history of thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Nearly all mammals have been observed to ingest their placentas after birthing, both in the natural environment and in cases of domestication (e.g., feline and canine pets). Although the exact reasons for placentophagy are currently not known, researchers suspect that there may be a chemical advantage for this behavior, positively affecting hormone levels or even the immune system of the mother.
What are the perceived benefits?
There are numerous potential reasons for considering placentophagy, including:
- Capsules contain iron, and may help to prevent iron-deficiency anemia
- Placenta is theorized to help prevent or lessen post partum fatigue (PPF), which is linked to postpartum depression (PPD)
- Placenta has been shown to cause an increase in lactation (milk supply)
- Capsules contain hormones such as estrogens and progesterone, levels of which dramatically drop immediately after childbirth. It is theorized that ingesting the capsules may help lessen the physical and emotional effects of dropping hormone levels in the early days postpartum.
How is the placenta processed into capsules?
As soon as possible after birth, the placenta is prepared and steamed with organic oils and herbs, dehydrated (safely dried) and ground and encapsulated to make ingestion easy for the new mother. Please note: I do not offer the “raw” method of placenta encapsulation for health and safety reasons.
Is this safe for all involved parties?
I take the utmost precautions while processing my clients’ placentas, both for the protection of the client and myself/my family. All items which make contact with the placenta are either disposable (and therefore properly discarded after use), or are stainless steel and are sterilized through soaking and washing with boiling water and bleach and/or Dettol hospital-grade disinfectant, followed by a cycle in an electric dishwasher. I take precautions for my work area and myself through the use of disposable items including worktop liners, gloves, face masks, hair nets and aprons. I strongly prefer to perform the service of encapsulation in your own space (i.e., in the client’s own home).
I only process one placenta at any given time, and prefer to work in the client’s own home kitchen, so it is guaranteed that there is no risk or worry of ‘mixing up’ placentas or capsules from multiple clients, or of cross-contamination.
Within 24 hours prior to beginning work on a client’s placenta, I will undergo a Covid-19 rapid test and only proceed with services if the test is negative. I have been double-vaccinated with the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine and the Moderna booster (May 2021, July 2021, January 2022). I have also been fully-vaccinated for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B.
What does the package include and what is the cost?
When booked at least one week (7 days) in advance of the due date or scheduled birth date, my standard placenta encapsulation package for €250 includes the following for clients living in Larnaca or Araddipou:
- Email correspondence prior to due date to discuss your due date and planned birthing location, procedures for the mother and the hospital, if applicable, and expectations and concerns of the birth mother and partner
- Two days of processing the placenta at the birth mother’s residence in Larnaca or Aradippou, or at my own residence, if preferred
- Choice of vegan (gelatin-free) or standard gelatin capsules (both options are sterile and non-toxic)
- Instruction sheet describing suggested use and dosage
- Final product of capsules in a glass jar and other items, if applicable, delivered to the birth mother’s residence with explanation of dosage, etc.
Other placenta-related items are also available as ‘add-on’ services for the following charges:
- Placenta tincture (elixir) to be used orally after capsules are finished (contains alcohol) – €45
- Placenta salve (emollient) to be used for eczema, wound healing, and rashes – €45
- Placenta “body butter” moisturizing cream – €45
- Imprint of placenta and umbilical cord on heavy-duty, acid-free watercolor paper – €30
- Framed umbilical cord keepsake (cord is formed into a rough ‘heart’ shape and dehydrated) – €35
What if I just want a printing of my placenta but not the capsules or other services?
I am happy to make a printing of your placenta and umbilical cord on heavy-duty watercolor paper, and can either discard your placenta or return it to you (some clients like to bury it or dispose of it themselves). The cost for this service is €50.
Are last minute or after-the-birth services available?
When booked less than one week (7 days) in advance of the due date or scheduled birth date, a surcharge of €25 will apply in addition to my standard service prices listed above. Please make every effort to arrange your encapsulation and/or other services as far in advance as possible.
If you are contacting me for the first time after your birth has already taken place, please be advised that I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide encapsulation for you, due to uncertainties surrounding how the placenta has been kept after the birth and due to scheduling of any other clients who have already booked services in advance. I urge clients to please book in advance of their births so that I can best be of service.
Where did you learn how to encapsulate placentas?
Following the birth of my son in October of 2012, my husband Kevin and I encapsulated my placenta without much direction or advice. I soon decided to study proper encapsulation techniques and enrolled in PBI’s online course, successfully completing all of my course modules and final assessment exam, leading to the designation of Placenta Encapsulation Specialist (PES). I began encapsulating placentas in Bangkok, Thailand at the end of 2012 for interested new mothers, including those who have traveled from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to give birth in Bangkok’s private hospitals. I later began encapsulating in the Middle East, before moving to Cyprus in 2019.
I do not employ the use of assistants or interns, and so I will be personally handling and processing every client’s placenta, in order to ensure proper encapsulation and safety measures. I have taken and passed both a bloodborne pathogen course for placenta encapsulators (most recent course completed 20 July 2021 with a score of 100%) and a food safety handlers course from the U.S.
Moroccan Postpartum Package
I am proud to offer a unique postpartum package to pamper all mothers – whether recently postpartum or further along in their life of motherhood, based on traditional Moroccan care, which I learned from native midwives on a professional training course in 2018. The package includes a session of “closing the bones” which involves a hand-woven cloth which is wrapped and pulled around the body in succession from head to toe, a “womb steam” with organic herbs, organic green tea, and your choice of either organic Moroccan savory postpartum soup or one dozen organic baked lactation cookies (both choices are vegan and gluten-free). Package cost is €135 and available in Larnaca and Aradippou, only. Additional information can be provided upon request!
How do I book these services?
In order to place me on-call and to secure placenta encapsulation for your birth, or for any questions regarding placenta services or other postpartum services for the new mother, please contact me via email to info@jennifermsrobertson.com for further details and to arrange for your preferred services.
