Is placenta encapsulation safe during the COVID-19 outbreak?  What are you doing differently during this time? Will the hospital release my placenta? Can I encapsulate if I’m positive for COVID-19?  These are the most frequently asked questions I have been receiving.   The purpose of this blog post is to answer these questions for not only my current and potential clients but for anyone who has these questions.   I hope it helps clear up any anxieties you have regarding encapsulation and COVID-19.

If you are not my client or in my service area it is important to also contact your local placenta encapsulation professional to confirm their protocols and to check on your local hospital policies. 

Generally, yes.   If neither of us are showing signs of illness than yes, we can proceed with encapsulation.   According to WHO(2020), to date no signs of COVID-19 have been found in cord blood, amniotic fluid or breast milk.   I haven’t been able to find information on if it has or has not been found in placenta tissue.   Coronavirus is inactivated when it is exposed to 133 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes(NHC 2020).   My processing protocols far exceed that temperature so even if it was in placenta tissue the process would destroy it. 

If I am not your placenta encapsulation professional please contact yours to see how they process encapsulations.  

My practices already uphold strict industry sanitation protocols and universal precautions. Everything is disinfected with bleach at a ratio that kills pathogens including Ebola and c. diff, which are two of the hardest pathogens to inactivate(CDC 2019). I also use Clorox Healthcare Hydrogen Peroxide to disinfect surfaces and equipment that can’t be submerged. Both the bleach solution and Clorox Healthcare Hydrogen Peroxide kill human coronavirus. I also wear personal protective equipment.

I’m also implementing contactless pick ups.   This looks different depending on where you give birth and I will give you instructions on what that will look like for you.  

I am also practicing social distancing.   I have a high risk child so I take this very seriously. I am supporting my local Instacart shoppers during this time.  My children do not leave the house except for walks,  I only leave for bleach, pick ups and drop offs. When I do leave I maintain distance and use lots of hand sanitizer since soap and water is not available. 

As of 03/29/2020 I have had no issues with placentas not being released.  Currently for hospital pick ups I’m doing contactless pick ups where the person meeting me at the main entrance will put the cooler through the window and into the plastic box. I spray the cooler with disinfectant and I’m off to encapsulate. 

If you are experiencing an active COVID-19 virus, it is highly unlikely the hospital will release your placenta.     If you had the virus and now are testing negative then you can proceed with your encapsulation after discussing with your midwife or OB. 

Q&A on COVID-19, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding(March 18, 2020)  https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-on-covid-19-pregnancy-childbirth-and-breastfeeding

National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China and National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Diagnosis & Treatment Scheme for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (Trial) 6th Edition. (February 2020). Available online: http://www.nhc.gov.cn/xcs/zhengcwj/202002/8334a8326dd94d329df351d7da8aefc2.shtml 

Q&A on COVID-19, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding(March 18, 2020)  https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-on-covid-19-pregnancy-childbirth-and-breastfeeding