Placenta Encapsulation & the CDC's Warning: What You Should Know

There has been a lot going around in the news about placenta encapsulation, and unfortunately, it hasn't been good. Recently, an infant contracted a serious infection days after birth and the CDC has speculated that contaminated placenta capsules might be to blame.

A recent article issues by Global News states that:

"The CDC concedes 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 suggests that in the encapsulation process, the placenta may not have been cooked for long enough to destroy any germs or bacteria.

'Heating at 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."

While there is no way to know what caused the infants illness, we realize the importance of addressing this story with our valued clients to ensure they feel well taken care of. We here at Lake Country Doulas are all trained through the International Placenta and Postpartum Association (IPPA). We process all our placentas at 160 degrees for the entire duration (roughly 14-16 hours or more) until the placenta is completely dehydrated. We take great pride in the preparation of each and every placenta and we seek to maintain the highest standard of quality and excellence with every client we serve.

We are proud to have provided placenta encapsulation to well over 300 families, and we look forward to continuing to work with the wonderful people of this community.

The Association of Placenta Preparation Arts (APPA) has issued a statement regarding this story, so feel free to click here and read it for more details.

We would also be more than happy to speak with you directly, so please email us at lakecountrydoulas@gmail.com with any questions you might have.

Sincerely, 
The Lake Country Doulas Team

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