#mombassadorchat Today we have a special chat with doula and placenta encapsulation expert @arivera64 👶🏽 Ask her any…

I'm happy to participate!

Doula comes from the greek word doule or female slave. A doula provides nonmedical assistance to a woman during her pregancy, birth, and postpartum. (Interesting fact-There are also abortion doulas and death doulas)

Question...how long are frozen capsules good for? Do they expire?@arivera64,

@aydans.mommy placenta capsules should be consumed within 12 months. Unless they have been prepared TCM (traditional chinese medicine) style thise can last indefinitely.

What is the benefit of placenta encapulation? @arivera64

If your capsules are about to expire, you can turn them into a tincture. @aydans.mommy

They can do this at the hospital?

Omy to dr appt to ask about placenta possibility capsules

@mommywifelifestyle some of the main benefits include: establishing a healthy milk supply, balancing hormones, restoring the bodys iron, helping with pain relief

The label says up 2 years so that kinda answers the question. I stopped taking them but I would like to start taking them again. Should I leave them frozen and just start taking them again? And how many should I start taking again?

@sevinsmommy Placenta encapsulatuon isn't offered at the hospital. You would have to hire someone or process yourself

@arivera64,

@Kimgonzalez27 the placenta is cut into slices and dehydrated in a machine or in an oven. Once fully dried, it is poulverized into powder form and put into capsules

I had a doula for my delivery in November

@aydans.mommy leave them frozen because once you take them out they may get some condensation and get ruined. I'd start with the same dosage first recommended to you by your encapsulator just as if you were starting fresh.

After my delivery. She did.not follow thru as far as checking on me and baby

Is that normal

@scecil71 cool. I hope it was a great experience

Wait what is this post about? I'm confused

@scecil71 no that's not normal. Most doulas will do one follow up within the first 6 weeks.

Where can I find someone to do this? Is this something I can just google search to find in my area or are there specific resources to look

@arivera64, I finally caught up with her abs she told me because my labor was so long she wouldn't do it

@jenaye777 I'm answering questions about my role as a doula and placenta encapsulation specialist

I was induced 2 weeks early and In labor 44 hours

@knhxbonita19 yes you can google it. If you have a hard time you can message me and I'll connect with my group to see if i can find someone in your area for you. There is also the option to freeze and ship your placenta and i could do it.

@scecil71 that's a poor excuse. I'm sorry.

@scecil71 some doulas like myself have a clause in their contract stating if labor is longer than X amount of hours then we charge an additional fee. While we understand we can't predict how long labor may take, if we are at a birth for 2 to 3 days, we need to be compensated. However that's not a reason not to do a follow up. Even as a placenta specialist we a re trained to follow up with the client

@arivera64, what is "tincture"

Is a doula and a midwife the same person @arivera64

@annieboursiquot a tincture is when you put part of the placenta into a glass bottle with 100 proof alcohol. It's apotent way to consume the placenta and never expires if stored correctly

@smilingwithmyawesome4kids no. The doula is not certified to perform medical tasks. The midwife is licensed to actually deliver the baby, listen to the heartbeat, etc

I was always curious Thank you @arivera64

You're welcome @smilingwithmyawesome4kids

What do you like about being a doula @arivera64

@beebaby some of the main benefits include: establishing a healthy milk supply, balancing hormones, restoring the bodys iron, helping with pain relief

@smilingwithmyawesome4kids i love everything about being a doula. It's really a special job. To be asked to be a part of one of the biggest moments in a womans life is an honor. You have to really gain someones trust. Getting to share my knowledge and empowering women is important to me.

@beebaby the dosage in capsules is usually 3 capsules a few times per day and then drop the dose over time, slowly weaning yourself down until they're done. You can google and search for specialists in your area.

@arivera64, Thank you.

That's awesome @arivera64

What made you want to be a doula @arivera64

Im so lost

@smilingwithmyawesome4kids i always wanted to deliver babies. Then i learned about doulas. I liked the idea of attending births without having such a strict schedule. I could start my own business more easily and take as many or as little clients as i choose

That's amazing @arivera64

Thank you @smilingwithmyawesome4kids

@sweetpea6 do you have questions?

Does saving the placenta help you breastfed longer @arivera64

@smilingwithmyawesome4kids it's no guarantee but it can because it helps you establish a good supply early on and continues providing hormones as long as you're taking it

Are you just a doula or do you have different jobs?

What is a placenta encapsulation specialist tho?

As @kitcatmeow8383, had asked does the hospital save t for you and if so do they keep it cold or is it ok to not be cold I mean how do you store it until you are released from the hospital and if they won't help you store it what do you need to do?!

Next baby I'm going to do this

Sorry guys. I was getting my boys from school. I'm back. Picking up where i left off @kitcatmeow8383 no the hospital usually will not store it for you. It can stay room temp 4hrs max, on ice for about 8hrs, refrigerator for 3 days, frozen for a year. You can look up how to mail breastmilk and follow the same guidlines roughly. Pack it real well with ice packs in a Styrofoam cooler and ship it priority. I usually charge 250 but anybody shipping long distance i discount the amount you spend to ship which I'd imagine wouldn't be more than $25

@lindoodle00 I'm just a doula and placenta encapsulation specialist.

@ashcos i answered your question for you in combination with @kitcatmeow8383 question 😉 hope that helps

@jenaye777 a placenta encapsulation specialist is someone trained in safely preparing the placenta to be consumed by the mother postpartum.

@camryns.mommy16 good for you!

Awesome thank you. I am just trying to think I was in the hospital For 2 days with my son and they don't store it so my fiancé would have to go home and put it in the freezer for me then come back to the hospital.

@arivera64, I had my son early at 35w3d due to pre-e. But wasn't diagnosed until in labor since I had no previous signs. Worried I'll have it again with this baby but wondering if the placenta is still viable and could be encapsulated if I were to be diagnosed with pre-e?

Yes. @ashcos my hospital required it to be removed immediately. My husband had to take it home literally about an hr after i gave birth. Luckily i lived literally 90 seconds from the hospital lol

@bhcsmomma2014 as long as there doesn't end up being a diagnosed infection like you spike a severe fever, you can still encapsulate.

@arivera64, great that's good to know!

Haha yah we live about 35 mins from the hospital. Not to bad but he has to let our dogs out to pee anyway so it won't be that huge of a deal!

Oh yeah good @ashcos

@bhcsmomma2014 😉

And thanks so much this information is great. Maybe my next baby I will do this as long as my SIL who is a doctor doesn't create an issue cuz my fiancé will absolutely take her side lol

Oh boy @ashcos just keep it to yourself. Good thing is that whether they like it or not, the choice is yours

Did you go to school for it? If so where? I'd love to get into it

I've only found one place that provided training bit they didn't answer questions for me or even answer the phone

At my birthing center I had the option of doing this but instead i threw my placenta away. Now that I'm having breastfeeding issues due to hormones I really wish I would have done it.

I can say having a water birth and a doula was one of the best decisions I ever made. My labor was 19 hours and my doula and 2 midwives along with my fiancée all took amazing care of me. Even with all the pain I honestly felt so pampered throughout my labor. Doulas are the best!

@lindoodle00 i trained thru IPPA. I'm actually in the process of building my courses to create my own training program so i can train other people!

That's awesome @goldilocksn4bears

Is it to late for me to vet a doulas @arivera64 I'm 36 weeks pregnant never heard of this but it sounds interesting.

I'm also a high risk Pregnancy does that Matter ? @arivera64

@kaykay1220 some doulas will take on late clients. Some may charge more for last minute. Some may charge you the same rate as they would have if you hired them early on. It's difficult but not impossible. Being high risk doesn't matter.

OK great thank you going too look into one now @arivera64

@arivera64, how much does it cost to capsule your placenta?

The cost depends on your area and how common it is etc @justinx2 but usually between $200-$400

@arivera64 thank you!

Yw @justinx2

How easy is it to become a doula, what all do you have to do to become one?

@firstbaby_girl, @arivera64,

@firstbaby_girl to be a doula you must take a training program. Each program has its own requirements