As an experienced, triple-certified Placenta Specialist with over a decade of experience, one of the most common questions/concerns that I get from potential Clients centers around being GBS+ and safety regarding Placental consumption.
Has your OBGYN said this to you? “You’re GBS positive, so I don't recommend you keep your Placenta.” “Consuming your Placenta will make you and your Baby sick.”
Many people turn to the advice of their Medical Care Provider first and foremost, before making a decision on whether or not to move forward with Placenta Services.
But, if your Provider doesn't agree with Placenta Encapsulation, or isn’t up-to-date on the most recent information regarding Placenta processing, then it is essential for you to review the evidence-based information so that you can make an informed decision for yourself!
Learn More About GBS Safety!
(415) 652-6886
Call Now
Providing outstanding Placenta Services to
Riverside, San Diego, Orange, & San Bernadino Counties!
The majority of Medical Care Providers base their negative opinion on a single case study that was published in June of 2017 by the CDC.
In this study, the infant developed late-onset neonatal Group B Streptococcus Agalactiae (GBS) infection. The report stated that the mother tested negative at 37 weeks, however the newborn showed signs of infection shortly after birth. A blood culture revealed penicillin-sensitive, clindamycin-intermediate GBS.
The newborn was released after an 11-day course of ampicillin. Five days later, the newborn was readmitted to the hospital for irritability and a blood culture found that the same strain of GBS was present once again in the infant.
During that time, it was brought to the clinician's attention that the mother had Encapsulated her Placenta and was taking her suggested daily dose at the time of the incident. A sample of the Placenta Capsules were cultured and found to yield penicillin-sensitive, clindamycin-sensitive GBS.
Let's first take a deep dive into the Facts that are missing or unknown in this CDC study…
- Except for a culture on the Mother's breast milk (which was negative for GBS at the time of the culture), no further studies were done to rule out any other potential cause such as infected family members.
- No testing was performed at time of labor & delivery to determine whether or not the Mother had developed a GBS overgrowth after her negative test results at 37-weeks.
- This Report represents a single, isolated case. While it should be taken seriously and offers valuable lessons, it does not constitute a comprehensive Study.
- In this Report, many important details were not investigated regarding the Placenta Encapsulation process itself. Was the Encapsulation Specialist properly trained and certified? Was the Placenta handled properly? Was the workspace and equipment/tools cleaned and sanitized properly before use? Was the Specialist aware that the newborn developed an infection shortly after birth? How long, and at what temperature was the Placenta dehydrated? The report only states that the Specialist dehydrated it at temperatures ranging from 115°F to 160°F. The answers to all of these questions play an important role in determining whether the Placenta Pills were to blame for the infant’s illness.
Okay, so let’s go through all of the important information you need to know regarding GBS during pregnancy and how it affects the safety of Placental Consumption:
Group B Streptococcus (Group B Strep) is a type of bacteria often found in the intestines, rectum, or vagina.
Although GBS colonization does not pose a health risk for adults; in pregnant women, it can potentially be passed to the baby during childbirth, regardless of whether it’s a vaginal birth or C-Section, and has the potential to cause serious infections in newborns (like sepsis, pneumonia, or meningitis).
It’s important to understand that GBS colonization can come and go during pregnancy.
Here’s how it works:
GBS is a transient bacterium, meaning it can live in the body without causing symptoms, and then disappear or reappear later. This means that a person who tests positive for GBS early in pregnancy might test negative later — and vice versa.
Because of this, any trained and certified Placenta Specialist should treat every placenta as if it is GBS+!
For my Clients, how do I do this? In several ways…lets break it down:
- These protocols eliminate the risk that GBS bacteria could be transferred from one Client’s Placenta to another, or from myself to my Client’s products.
- Next, the Placenta is always inspected for any signs of infection and then thoroughly rinsed before processing.
- If the Placenta shows any signs of infection, then that is a direct contraindication for Placental consumption! If baby shows any signs of infection within 24 hours of birth, that is also a direct contraindication for Placental consumption! In the 2017 CDC Report, it was noted that the infant showed signs of infection shortly after birth, which means that the Placenta Specialist should have never moved forward with Encapsulation Services!
- In the book, Placenta Power, Dr. Sophia Johnson tested GBS+ Placentas that were rinsed with water for a couple of minutes vs Placentas that were not, and found that the GBS bacteria was no longer present on the surface of the Placentas that were rinsed.
- Lastly, I always dehydrate the Placenta at a temperature of 165F until all pieces of the Placenta have been completely dried throughout. This process typically takes 12-20 hours, depending on the preparation method chosen (Raw Prep Method vs Gentle Prep Method). Additionally, as an added precaution, my Clients can choose the Gentle Preparation Method, which involves steaming the Placenta before dehydration.
- Heat preparation of the Placenta, both through steaming and then dehydration, drastically reduces any bacterial load present.
Learn More About Your Amazing Placenta
placentaencapsulation4me@gmail.com
Email Now!
Providing outstanding Placenta Services to Southern California!
Additional Information
As a precaution, the Hospital’s standard protocol with a GBS+ patient is to administer intravenous antibiotics during labor, thus eradicating all bacteria present, which provides another layer of protection against the colonization of GBS.
There is no concern that GBS bacteria can be transferred through breastmilk or breastfeeding. Microbiologists from University Hospital in Germany have stated that GBS cannot survive the acidic environment of the stomach, and thus cannot be passed into the Mother’s breastmilk. When the CDC tested the Mother’s breast milk during the 2017 Case Study, they did not find the bacteria present in that Mother’s breastmilk.
GBS lives in the gut of everyone and colonization can come and go at any time. In addition, GBS is a surface bacterium, meaning it lives on the surface of tissue and is passed along through direct physical contact. It is important to understand that an infant could potentially be infected by anybody who is in physical contact with the baby.
That is why it is imperative that anyone who is going to touch or handle baby should always wash their hands thoroughly with warm water and soap before doing so. Additionally, as an added precaution, I always advise my Clients to wash their hands after handling their Placenta Products and again before handling baby. Because GBS bacteria has been shown to be effectively eliminated from surfaces by simply washing and rinsing, it is an easy and effective way to keep Baby safe!
Will the Hospital Release my Placenta if I am GBS+?
In California, there are no specific laws prohibiting the release of your Placenta, and a major legal precedent (Swanson v. Sunrise - July 2007) established a patient's right to their Placenta, requiring Hospitals to release it upon signing a Liability Waiver; however, some Hospitals may resist due to infection concerns or poor handling protocols, so clearly communicating your wishes and signing a Release Form (like a "Specimen Release Waiver") is crucial to ensure that the Hospital does not withhold it from you.
Mothers birthing in a Hospital setting should be proactive and informed about their Hospital's policies regarding the Placenta. The medical staff should always be notified before the birth (ideally in writing, such as a Birth Plan) that you are taking your Placenta home with you. Your plan to take your Placenta home with you should be mentioned again upon admission to the Hospital, and verbally stated again to the OB & Nursing Staff overseeing your delivery.
Some Hospitals have policies on Bio-Hazardous materials, requiring a Release of Liability Waiver to be signed, and/or have requirements for how the Placenta must be stored while on Hospital property. It is important to comply to your Hospitals' particular requirements so that you can maintain your rights to your Placenta while on their property.
Occasionally, your OB could determine that the Placenta needs to go to the Pathology department for examination. A Placenta that has been examined is not usually returned to the parents due to cross contamination with other Bio-Hazardous chemicals in the examination facility. Even if the Placenta is returned, it is no longer safe to consume.
If Medical Staff strongly insist that your Placenta be sent to Pathology, you have the right to be fully informed as to the reasons for their recommendation. It is their legal obligation to inform you of why they are recommending the Placenta be examined and to answer as many questions as you have about their recommendation.
If the Hospital insists on taking your Placenta, and, after receiving a full explanation regarding the reasoning behind their recommendation, you choose NOT to allow them to take your Placenta, you have full legal rights to what is called, "Informed Refusal".
Even if you initially agreed, you have the right to change your mind and refuse Placental examination, even if you have already signed a form agreeing to relinquish your Placenta.
You have the right to request and receive a copy of your medical records in order to get a second opinion and to keep your Placenta with you while you do so.
Once you have notified the Hospital (ideally in writing) that you insist on taking your Placenta home with you, any attempts made by Hospital staff to seize your Placenta legally constitutes a "trespass to the person" (assault and/or battery), since the Placenta is in fact, part of your body.
In addition to clearly communicating your plan to take your Placenta home with you, the best method to protect your Placenta from confiscation is to never surrender it in the first place. It is usually much more difficult to get your Placenta back from Hospital staff than it is to never allow access to begin with.
In a Hospital birth, it is imperative to assign someone on the birth team (your partner, a trusted family member or friend, your Doula) the responsibility of properly storing the Placenta so that it is not lost or contaminated.
If your Placenta is being recommended for Examination by Pathology, ask these 3 questions BEFORE making a decision:
- "Can a piece of the Placenta (rather than the entire organ) be tested by Pathology to provide you with the medical knowledge you are seeking?"
- “Would the medical knowledge that you are seeking be able to be obtained by an in-room visual examination of the Placenta or a blood test rather than sending the Placenta to Pathology?”
Always be in close communication with your Placenta Specialist regarding any medical conditions that arise during the last few months of pregnancy, labor, or delivery. Always talk to your Placenta Specialist before allowing the Hospital to dispose of your Placenta, take it to Pathology, or refuse release.
It is recommended that the following Form be Printed and brought with you to the Hospital, just in case there is any issue with the release of your Placenta: Invoking Patient Rights
Safety is our Top Priority at Tree of Life!
Ready to book Services?