Frequently Asked Questions & How It Works

Everything you need to know about placenta encapsulation, tinctures, keepsakes, hospital logistics, and working with Maria at Nurtured Madre.

Safety, Shelf Life, & When It's NOT Usable

  • Your safety is my absolute highest priority. I adhere to strict, medical-grade sanitation guidelines:

    • OSHA & Bloodborne Pathogens Compliant: Certified in safe handling of bodily fluids and biological materials.

    • Rigorous Equipment Sterilization: All non-disposable tools, workspaces, and equipment are thoroughly washed, sanitized, and sterilized before and after every single client.

    • Strictly One-at-a-Time Processing: Only one placenta is ever processed in my workspace at any given time to eliminate any possibility of cross-contamination.

  • Yes, absolutely. Having a C-section, an epidural, or medical inductions does not prevent you from safely encapsulating your placenta. In fact, many C-section mamas find that capsules help tremendously with their physical recovery and energy replenishment.

  • Testing positive for GBS does not mean you cannot encapsulate. I utilize the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) method, which involves thoroughly cleaning the placenta and steaming it at high temperatures (220°F) for a precise duration. Common bacteria cannot survive these temperatures, ensuring a safe, sterile final product.

      • Refrigerated only (on ice or in the fridge): Must be processed within 2 to 3 days max.

      • Frozen: If you freeze it immediately after birth in a double Ziploc bag or airtight container, it will stay fresh and usable for up to 5 years (safely stored in the back of the deep freezer). Just allow an extra day to thaw out well before processing.

  • The only conditions that make a placenta entirely unsafe or unusable for encapsulation are:

    • Positive HIV status.

    • Exposure to pathology chemicals/fixatives (such as formalin).

    • Improper storage (left out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours without ice/refrigeration).

Keepsakes & Art Options (For All Mamas)

  • Keepsakes-Only Package: If consuming capsules isn't for you, you can still honor your birth story! I offer specialized packages dedicated entirely to preserving your placenta into heirloom-quality art and keepsakes without consumption.

    • Gold-Dipped Resin Cords: Your baby's umbilical cord is artfully shaped using wire forms, dipped in rich gold paint, and sealed in durable UV-cured resin armor to preserve it forever.

    • Natural Placenta Art Prints: Unique prints created using safe, natural elements like beet powder, turmeric, or spirulina. I also paint custom watercolors that emulate the placenta as I photograph it, and I will hand-draw your baby's birth month flowers directly onto the art piece for free upon request!

  • Yes, absolutely! If you share your Instagram handle and give permission in your Client Intake Form, I will tag you and share behind-the-scenes glimpses of your placenta being transformed.

The Benefits of Placenta Encapsulation & Remedies

    • Higher Energy Levels: Replenish lost iron stores and combat heavy postpartum fatigue.

    • Balanced Mood & Hormones: Gently stabilize hormones to help reduce the risk of the "baby blues" and postpartum mood shifts.

    • Increased Milk Supply: Support a bountiful, well-established breastfeeding journey.

    • Faster Physical Recovery: Encourage uterine shrinking, reduce postpartum bleeding, and support overall tissue healing.

    • Enhanced Bonding & Calm: Oxytocin and stress-reducing hormones help foster a deeper sense of well-being and infant bonding.

  • Minerals in the Placenta

    • Iron: Found in significant, measurable amounts crucial for recovery and red blood cell support.

    • Selenium: Present as a trace element with antioxidant properties.

    • Sodium: High concentrations exist in placental tissue.

    • Calcium: Important mineral found in trace-to-moderate quantities.

    • Potassium: Found in high amounts in dried and fresh tissue analyses.

    • Phosphorus: Detected in significant quantities.

    • Magnesium: Present in trace amounts.

    • Zinc: Present as a trace element.

    • Copper: Found in trace amounts.

    • Manganese: Found in small trace levels.

    Vitamins in the Placenta

    • Vitamin A: Contains measurable units of Vitamin A (retinol/carotenoids).

    • Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Present in total and free forms.

    • Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Detected in both free and bound forms.

    • Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): Identified in tissue analysis.

    • Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Present in the B-complex profile.

    • Vitamin B7 (Biotin): Found as firmly and loosely bound biotin.

    • Vitamin B9 (Folate/Folic Acid): Detected in nutritional profiles.

    • Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin): Present in significant B-vitamin concentrations.

    • Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): Reported in preliminary nutritional breakdowns.

    • Vitamin K: Listed among the vitamins identified in tissue.

      (Pub Med Central)

Where to Start & What To Do

    • Step 1: Reserve Your Due Date

      • Secure your spot on my calendar ahead of time using your estimated due date. I keep my schedule flexible and only accept a limited number of clients per month to ensure dedicated care.

    • Step 2: Safe Storage & Hospital Prep (You Handle the Hand-Off)

      • You handle the initial storage yourself! Pack a small cooler or double Ziploc bags with your name clearly labeled and plenty of ice.

      • Crucial Warning: If your hospital sends the placenta to pathology for testing, it becomes contaminated with chemical fixatives (like formalin) and is no longer usable for consumption. Inform your care team ahead of time that you will be keeping it.

    • Step 3: Notify Me When Baby Arrives

      • Send me a simple text message once baby is born to let me know! If it's late at night, I will do my best to answer as soon as possible. We can coordinate the finer details of your service once you are rested and settled after the birth event itself.

    • Step 4: Delivery & Processing Options

      • You have flexible options for getting your placenta to me:

        1. Drop it off at my home studio for processing to save on fees. A trusted adult (like a partner or family member) can easily deliver it for you.

        2. Request a pickup at your location for a travel fee.

        3. Hospital Pickup: If you require a hospital pickup, you must list my name as an authorized pickup person on your hospital paperwork: Maria Hernandez, Maria Elena & Co. (If your hospital makes an issue of releasing it, you can reference your legal rights here).

Hospital & Legal Logistics

  • YES, your placenta belongs entirely to you! In most cases, hospitals will release it to you to take home. If you run into any resistance from hospital staff, you can reference your legal rights and patient guidelines regarding placenta release here.

  • Right after delivery, request that your hospital staff place your placenta into a clean, leak-proof container (your hospital should provide one, or you can bring a small cooler or 2 gallon-sized ziplocs [with your full name]). Place it on ice in a small cooler or the room refrigerator as soon as possible. A nurse can also place it somewhere cold for you or bring yo ice. It must be kept chilled or frozen until it is handed over to me. It can stay frozen for about 5 years, if done properly.

  • Do not worry at all! Due dates are always estimates and only less than 5% of babies actually agree to them. When you book with Nurtured Madre, your spot is held in a flexible window around your due date. Just keep me updated if your provider schedules an induction or if labor starts early.

  • If your placenta is sent to the hospital pathology department for any testing, it is no longer usable for encapsulation or consumption due to chemical exposure (such as formalin). Please inform your care team ahead of time if you plan to keep your placenta so it avoids pathology.

Capsules, Tinctures, & Custom Herbal Blends

    • Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): The placenta is gently steamed with warming herbs (like ginger and/or lemon) before being dehydrated and encapsulated. It is designed to be warming, comforting, and deeply supportive of postpartum energy and digestion.

    • Raw Prep: The placenta is dehydrated raw at low temperatures to preserve maximum active enzymes and hormones, then ground into capsules.

    • Capsules: Prepared using your choice of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) or Raw method.

    • Custom Herbal Blends: You can choose to add customized herbal blends to your capsules according to your specific postpartum needs.

      • A Note from Maria: Listen to your body and your intuition, not fear. Explore the specific intentions behind your options in the Intake & Service Document.

    • Placenta Tinctures (The Ultimate Long-Term Investment):

      • What it is: A powerful liquid extract made from a small piece of your raw placenta steeped in high-proof alcohol over several weeks.

      • Shelf Life & Value: Unlike capsules which are consumed in the early months, a properly stored tincture lasts indefinitely (many years).

      • Why you may need it: It acts as a powerful energetic and hormonal anchor long after your capsules are gone. Mamas use their tincture during times of high stress, intense fatigue, weaning, emotional transitions, or future hormonal shifts like perimenopause.

  • On average, a placenta yields between 80 to 140 capsules (depending on the size of the organ).

    • Typical schedule: Most mamas start with 2 capsules, 3 times a day for the first week to support initial hormone balancing and milk production, then taper down as their body adjusts. Full dosage guidelines are included with your finished kit!

  • When stored properly in a cool, dark, dry place (away from humidity and direct sunlight, like a pantry or bedroom closet—not the refrigerator or freezer once dried), your dried capsules remain potent and viable for a long time.