How To Properly Store A Placenta After Birth?

Storing a placenta after birth usually means one of two things: keeping it for a future placenta encapsulation service, or preserving it as a keepsake through prints or cord keepsakes. For immediate medical purposes, a placenta does not need special storage. For encapsulation, the placenta must be refrigerated promptly and processed within a specific window, usually within 48 hours. For keepsakes, immediate refrigeration is also the first step until you can follow the specific preservation method you have chosen.

Why Would Someone Want To Store A Placenta?

Parents choose to store the placenta for different reasons. The most common reason is placenta encapsulation, where the placenta is steamed, dehydrated, and ground into pills. Some people believe these pills help with postpartum mood, milk supply, and energy recovery. Others choose to store the placenta for a ceremonial burial or to create keepsakes like prints of the placental tree.

It is important to understand that the medical evidence for placenta encapsulation is limited. Some studies suggest potential benefits, but no large, high-quality human trials have confirmed them. The practice is not recommended by major medical organizations. If you are considering it, discuss it with your healthcare provider first.

What Is The Very First Step After Birth?

Time matters immediately after delivery. If you plan to store the placenta for any reason, tell your birth team before you deliver. They need to know not to discard it. The placenta should be placed in a clean, leak-proof container right away.

Do not rinse the placenta with water. Rinsing can wash away surface cells and make later testing or processing more difficult. Place it in the container dry. If a hospital-grade sterile container is not available, a clean plastic food-grade container with a tight lid works.

How To Properly Store A Placenta After Birth: The Refrigeration Rule

Refrigerate the placenta as soon as possible after delivery. The goal is to slow bacterial growth. A placenta left at room temperature begins to break down quickly. Most encapsulation professionals require the placenta to be refrigerated within two hours of birth and processed within 48 hours.

Place the container in the refrigerator, not the freezer, if processing will happen within two days. Freezing changes the tissue structure. It can make the encapsulation process more difficult and may affect the quality of the final product. If you cannot process the placenta within 48 hours, freezing is the backup option, but tell your service provider that the placenta was frozen.

Keep the placenta away from food items in the refrigerator. Place it on a lower shelf in a sealed container to prevent any leakage. Label the container clearly with the date and time of birth.

What If You Are Using A Placenta Encapsulation Service?

Professional encapsulation services typically provide their own storage instructions and containers. Many will give you a cooler with ice packs to bring to the hospital. Follow their specific guidance. If they do not provide a container, use a clean, food-grade plastic container with a secure lid.

Some services offer pick-up from the hospital or your home. Others require you to bring the placenta to them. Confirm the pick-up or drop-off timing before you deliver. The service should be able to tell you exactly how long the placenta can stay refrigerated before they process it.

Ask about their safety protocols. A reputable service follows food safety standards similar to commercial kitchens. They should use proper sanitation, temperature controls, and handling procedures.

Storing The Placenta For Keepsakes And Prints

Placenta prints are made by pressing the placenta onto paper. This is often done within the first few hours after birth while the tissue is still fresh and the blood vessels are visible. If you want a print, the birth team or a specialist usually does this before the placenta is stored.

For cord keepsakes, the umbilical cord is often dried or preserved in resin. Drying must happen slowly to prevent mold. Some people use salt or silica gel to draw out moisture. If you are doing this at home, research the method carefully. Improper drying can lead to bacterial or fungal growth.

If you plan a burial or a ceremony, the placenta can be refrigerated for a few days before the ceremony. Some families choose to freeze the placenta for a later burial date. Freezing is acceptable for burial purposes since tissue quality is less important.

What Are The Risks Of Placenta Storage?

The main risk is bacterial growth. A placenta is organic tissue. It begins to decompose quickly at room temperature. Even with proper refrigeration, bacteria can multiply over time. The longer the placenta sits, the higher the risk of contamination.

Placenta encapsulation carries specific risks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported cases of bacterial infections linked to contaminated placenta pills. In one documented case, a newborn became infected after the mother took placenta pills that contained group B Streptococcus. The processing method did not eliminate the bacteria.

No processing method has been proven to completely sterilize placental tissue. Steaming and dehydrating may reduce bacteria, but they do not guarantee safety. If you have an active infection, fever, or certain medical conditions, encapsulation may not be appropriate.

Hospitals may have their own policies about placenta release. Some hospitals treat the placenta as medical waste and require specific paperwork for release. Others may not allow placenta removal at all. Check with your hospital before delivery to understand their policy.

How Long Can A Placenta Be Stored?

The storage window depends on the purpose. For encapsulation, most professionals recommend processing within 48 hours of birth when refrigerated. Some will accept placentas up to 72 hours old if properly refrigerated, but earlier is better.

For keepsakes, timing depends on the method. Prints must be made while the tissue is fresh. Drying cord tissue takes days to weeks depending on the technique. Resin preservation must be done before the tissue starts to decompose.

For burial, a refrigerated placenta can last several days. A frozen placenta can be stored for months. If you freeze it, use a freezer-safe container and label it clearly. Thaw it in the refrigerator when you are ready for the ceremony.

There is no standard guideline for how long a placenta can remain frozen for encapsulation. No clinical research has established a safe or effective frozen storage duration. If a service accepts frozen placentas, ask about their specific protocol.

What Does The Evidence Say About Placenta Encapsulation?

The evidence is genuinely limited. Some small surveys and anecdotal reports suggest women feel better after taking placenta pills. But no large clinical trials have confirmed these effects. The studies that exist have significant limitations.

One review of the available research concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support the practice. The review noted that no studies have examined the risks and benefits in a rigorous way. Some researchers have called for more investigation, but the practice remains unproven.

There are also potential risks beyond infection. Placenta pills may contain hormones that are not destroyed by the processing method. The levels of these hormones vary widely. No research has established what, if anything, these hormones do when ingested.

If you decide to proceed with encapsulation despite the limited evidence, choose a service that follows strict food safety protocols. Ask about their training, their processing methods, and their handling procedures. Be honest with your healthcare provider about your plans.