The Encapsulation Climate

As with anything, the more mainstream and common something becomes the more it is questioned and criticized.   This holds true for placenta encapsulation as well.      These last 6 months have really shown that.    Year after year, my clients increase but in 2017 something else increased.    The amount of placentas being sent to pathology.    Prior years 1% of placentas were sent to pathology and for good reason.     There was never one sent that I questioned.    This year it rose to 9 %!    More than 3/4s of those happened in the last half of the year!      Very few needed to go to pathology.

Parents , just because they want to send your placenta to pathology doesn’t mean you have to agree to it.    I know putting up a fight is the last thing you want postpartum but if encapsulation is important and you are being told your placenta is going to pathology ask why.

Reasons your placenta does not need to go to pathology:

Meconium.

GBS positive (this is not the same as having a GBS infection)

Trisomy 21

IUGR

Postdate Placenta

Calcification

Reasons your placenta should go to pathology:

GBS infection

Chorioamionitis

Fetal demise (please contact me.    We can see if we can work out something with pathology so I can preserve the         cord and make a print for you.)

Full abruption if it was caused by infection or unknown reasons.

This list is not limited so if you are not sure please talk to your provider and with me.