COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING AND EXPERIENce

I have been serving the Seattle/Tacoma and surrounding areas for over 11 years and have earned a reputation as a trusted and reputable service provider. I follow the OSHA & EPA guidelines for safe handling of blood-borne pathogens and food. Placenta encapsulation is considered a food-handling process, not a sterile medical procedure. I dispose of all disposable equipment and supplies properly, and sanitize all non-disposable equipment before and after every client. This ensures that every aspect of the process adheres to rigorous standards, providing superior safety to clients. You can be confident that your placenta will be handled respectfully, safely, and properly.

Certifications:

Placenta Encapsulation Training and Certification, IPPA – International Placenta & Postpartum Association. Certified in 2013
Advanced Preparation and Postpartum Healing, IPPA – International Placenta & Postpartum Association. Certified in 2013
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Course, Yearly Renewal, 2024
WA State Health Department Food Worker Exam, Biennial Renewal, 2024
Birth Assistant, NW Birth Assistants, 2013
NRP Certified, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019
CPR Certified, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019
Student Herbalist, currently studying under Aviva Romm, MD., Midwife, Herbalist.

PROPER REFRIGERATION AND TRANSPORTATION PROTOCOLS

Proper refrigeration is crucial for the storage and transportation of placentas to prevent bacterial colonization. With over 800 placentas safely transported and encapsulated, I have the experience needed to safely transport your placenta for preparation. I also provide my clients with everything they need for proper storage and handling of their placenta.

I ONLY WORK ON ONE PLACENTA AT A TIME

Your safety is my top priority, I will only work on one placenta at any given time. In the rare event that two of my clients give birth on the same day, I have a few options in place for both clients to choose how they wish to proceed. I will complete the first placenta, disinfect everything, and then begin the second one. I pay close attention to detail and ensure that each client receives the highest level of safety. To maintain my availability, I have decided to limit the number of clients I accept each month. Moreover, I have a team of backup specialists with similar skills and experience who are always on standby. My service doesn't end when I deliver your capsules. You can consult with me at any time, and I will be happy to answer any questions you have about your placenta products.

PREPARATION AREA IS PROPERLY DISINFECTED

I thoroughly disinfect my entire preparation surface with a bleach solution before and after use. The concentration of bleach used exceeds OSHA protocols to prevent cross-contamination. To remove any bleach residue, I do a clean water rinse and then lay down food-safe paper on my workspace as an added barrier.

EQUIPMENT IS PROPERLY DISINFECTED

To prevent cross-contamination, it is essential to disinfect the equipment after every use, as it comes in contact with multiple clients. My protocol includes washing everything with hot soapy water, followed by a rinse. Then, the equipment is fully immersed in a 10% bleach solution for half an hour. A final rinse with clean water is necessary to eliminate any bleach residue. This disinfection process is the standard required by OSHA and the EPA and is designed to kill STIs and blood-borne pathogens. Also, I replace the equipment yearly and prefer to use disposable products whenever possible. If you wish, I can prepare your placenta using your equipment.

gbs+ and placenta encapsulation: Is it safe?

In September 2016 a baby in Oregon became ill with an infection resulting from GBS. The baby was treated with medication but became sick for a second time. The doctors were perplexed and immediately looked for a cause. As the mother was GBS-, outside sources were considered. After they discovered she had encapsulated her placenta, the doctors tested her placenta capsules which were found to be positive with GBS bacterium.

In June 2017, the CDC released a case on placenta encapsulation and Group B Streptococcus (GBS). In this report, the baby became ill, and blood cultures revealed that the baby tested positive for penicillin-sensitive, clindamycin-intermediated GBS. The infant was discharged and returned home after being treated for 11 days. Five days later the infant became ill again, and a second blood culture revealed the same test results. The infant was successfully treated for a second time. The mother tested negative for GBS at 37 weeks of pregnancy. After it was revealed that she consumed her encapsulated placenta, her placenta capsules were tested and were found to be positive for GBS. Despite this, however, the mother’s breast milk tested negative. This leaves the question as to how exactly the infant contracted Group B Strep. The CDC released their case and warned everyone against placenta encapsulation. In an article via Global news, The CDC did concede that “there’s no way of knowing that the placenta pills were the definitive culprit in sparking the baby’s illness (even if GBS showed in samples from the pills). Family members could have given the infection to the baby.” The CDC also suggested that “in the encapsulation process, the placenta may not have been cooked for long enough to destroy any germs or bacteria.”

“Heating at 130F (54C) for 121 minutes is required to reduce Salmonella bacterial counts. In this case, heating for sufficient time at a temperature adequate to decrease GBS bacterial counts might not have been reached,” the report reads.

Since the mother was GBS-, and her breastmilk also tested GBS-, it seems likely that the infant was colonized by family members who passed on the infection unknowingly. It is also possible that the first treatment did not entirely eradicate the infection.

if I test gbs+, can I still encapsulate?

I can confidently answer yes, you can still safely encapsulate your placenta. A thoroughly trained specialist will ensure that your placenta is safely prepared for consumption. They will ensure that the placenta reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, the specialist in the case above utilized a broad range of heating temperatures spanning from 155-160 degrees Fahrenheit. When a client has tested GBS+, the recommended method of preparation is always Steamed & Dehydrated. With this method of preparation, the placenta will be steamed before dehydration, and the internal temperature will be monitored to be sure it has reached 160 degrees and maintains that temperature for the entire duration of the dehydrating process (typically 24 hours), which is the minimum temperature required, according to the food and safety processes to ensure that GBS is eliminated. I take immense pride in providing the highest standard of quality and care for every client I serve.

I have spent countless hours over my last 11+ years as a placenta specialist researching and studying the placenta, and placenta encapsulation.  I have taken multiple training courses over the years and utilize the utmost safety preparation techniques to prevent cross-contamination and follow food safety practices.  I also follow the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard - 29CFR 1910.1030 to prevent the potential transmission of bloodborne diseases.  I have also safely encapsulated over 800 placentas to date, as a solo independent placenta specialist with many clients who were GBS+.