Frequently Asked Questions

• With “Raw” preparation the placenta is gently rinsed, trimmed of the amniotic sac and umbilical cord, thinly sliced, and dehydrated until completely dried throughout. This prep-method renders a more iron-rich product and higher capsule yield. Clients report feeling a boost of energy when taking these capsules. This Prep Method is also more beneficial for postpartum anemia. Do not start taking your Raw capsules until after your milk has come in!

• With “Gentle” preparation the placenta is rinsed, trimmed, gently steamed with fresh lemon, ginger, & dried cayenne peppers (unless notified of a food allergy/aversion to these), thinly sliced, and dehydrated until completely dried throughout. This is the traditional Chinese method that follows the belief that heat encourages blood circulation, and in turn facilitates healing. The placenta is a “tonifying” organ which means it holds heat and energy IN. Because the placenta must be kept very cold for preservation it is believed that it should be steamed with warming herbs to incorporate heat back into the organ.  This prep-method renders a slightly lower capsule yield but offers great healing benefits. This type of prep method is ideal for anyone with: 1) a history of anxiety, sleep issues, or caffeine sensitivity, 2) pregnancy-induced hypertension (high blood pressure), 3) pregnancy-induced toxemia, 4) preeclampsia, 5) eclampsia, or 6) HELLP syndrome

• Clients often refer to their Placenta Capsules as their "happy pills"!  Unless otherwise requested, or medically contraindicated, half & half preparation is standard so that you can enjoy the benefits of both!

• Tinctures can help with energy, stress, hormonal stabilization, & milk supply.  A tincture must be left to infuse for at least 6wks before use, but can be left longer, and indefinitely, if stored properly.  Your tincture can be used as soon as you run out of your placenta pills if you feel you still need support, or later if you experience a drop in your milk supply, or need hormonal support when your Periods return.  Because the placenta is rich in estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone tinctures are especially helpful later in life during perimenopause & menopause!  Even more amazing is that any biological female relative (Mother, Sister, Daughter) can use the tincture for hormonal support during puberty, menstrual cycles, their postpartum recovery, or menopause, and benefit from it as well!! Tree of Life provides 1 FREE tincture with your Order, but Clients often like to get 1 or 2 extra to have later on, or to gift to a family member who needs support.

💜 Tree of Life offers 1 free Raw Tincture with every order 💜

• Raw placenta is used in fresh Smoothies and is an excellent way to get maximum emotional and physical benefits.  Placenta in it's raw form is always the most potent way to consume it.  So, if you are a Smoothie lover then you're in luck!  

• The 1st smoothie option: Two 16oz made-to-order raw Placenta Smoothies!  For Home Births & Birth Center clients the smoothies are made at the time of Placenta pick-up so that you can experience maximum and immediate benefits while you wait for your Capsules and other Products to be ready.  For Hospital Birth clients, the Smoothies are dropped off along with your other Placenta products.

• The 2nd smoothie option: Placenta smoothie cubes are made during the processing of your Placenta and dropped off with your Capsules or Powder and other Placenta Products.  These are made by blending pieces of raw placenta with the smoothie base of your choice and frozen into convenient, individually wrapped cubes.  Just add 2-4  cubes to your daily Smoothie (dosage is dependent on how you are feeling physically & emotionally and how well you are healing/recovering).

• The 3rd smoothie option: pieces of raw Placenta cut into portion-size pieces, individually frozen and wrapped.  Simply add 1 or 2 pieces to your daily smoothie!

• The Herbal Healing Butters are completely natural and made with nourishing and healing butters, oils, dried herbs, essential oils (optional), and dehydrated placenta powder (optional)! These Healing Butters have amazing healing & restorative properties and make excellent first aid creams for minor burns, cuts, and scrapes.  But more than that, these salves are extremely soothing and healing for cracked nipples, diaper rash, and ideal for your C-Section or episiotomy wound!  

• The Estrogen in the placenta powder helps stimulate hyaluronic acid production that enables the skin to retain cellular moisture.  It also reduces the size of oil glands and helps tighten the skin’s structure, including pores.  Androgens, also found in the placenta, increase cell rejuvenation and increase collagen production. 

• Available with or without dehydrated placenta powder!  Even without placenta powder, this herbal healing salve is amazing!!

• When making placenta capsules using the Gentle Prep/Traditional Chinese method, the placenta is steamed with fresh lemon, fresh ginger, and dried cayenne peppers.  During the steaming process these 3 ingredients infuse with the placenta.  The steam water also infuses with these ingredients and the placenta, creating a nutrient-rich "broth" that can be added to soups, stews, or bone broth.  The broth is frozen into cubes and delivered along with your capsules.  The Chinese traditionally believe that childbirth depletes the body's "qi" (vital energy) and "yang" (warm, active energy), leaving the Mother vulnerable to "cold" and "wind" and she must avoid any coldness to enter her body while recovering from childbirth.  Warmth promotes blood circulation and healing so it is important to keep the new Mother warm.  The Chinese practice a tradition called "Mother Warming", or "Sitting the Month", in which the new Mother stays in bed for the first month after childbirth. Warm drinks and foods are traditionally given to the postpartum Mother to help facilitate healing.  Placenta broth can provide healing properties from the infusion of your placenta and the warming herbs (ginger & cayenne peppers), and the warmth of the broth itself!

• A placenta print is a beautiful, artistic keepsake of the "tree of life" that sustained your baby for the past 9 months!

• You have the option to choose a natural print using only the blood from the placenta to create the color of the print, choose a print made with food-safe dyes to create the color of the print, or choose a print made with all natural powders (turmeric, spirulina, & beet root) to create the color of the print

• Placenta Encapsulation is safe when proper handling and cleaning/disinfecting protocol is followed. Encapsulation should only be performed by someone who has been thoroughly trained in bloodborne pathogens safety, safe food handling, and proper encapsulation processing. Proper disinfection practices are crucial to ensure safe processing and prevent cross-contamination.

• The placenta should never be left out at room-temperature for longer than 4hrs!…the placenta should be refrigerated or placed into a cooler with fresh ice immediately upon delivery.

• If the placenta is taken to Pathology it will no longer be safe for encapsulation. Read about your Placenta rights in a Hospital setting HERE

• During labor/delivery, if you come down with a fever of 100.4 or higher, and maintain that temp for at least 1hr, your placenta may no longer be safe for consumption.  If baby has a temperature of 100.4 or above your placenta may no longer be safe for consumption.  Fever can be an indication of infection.

• Possible side effects can include mild headache, too much energy or insomnia/restlessness, or oversupply of breastmilk. Usually a simple dosage-adjustment is all that is needed to alleviate these effects.  If, after decreasing dosage, still experiencing feelings of anxiety and/or restlessness, it might be helpful to try ONLY taking your "Gentle Prep Method" capsules to see if that helps. 

• Certain medical conditions (even sudden ones that arise during labor & delivery) can affect whether you can safely consume placenta products, what type of processing should be used during encapsulation, and how much and/or how often your placenta products should be taken...therefore it is important that you communicate any and all medical conditions to your Placenta Specialist.

• Notify your placenta specialist if you have any of the following during pregnancy, labor, or delivery: Gestational Diabetes (or Type 1 or 2 Diabetes); GBS (Group B Streptococcus); PUPPS; Cholestasis; any STIs (sexually transmitted infections) including, but not limited to, HIV or Hep B or C; any high-blood pressure conditions like pregnancy-induced Hypertension or Toxemia, Preeclampsia, Eclampsia, or HELLP Syndrome.

• Notify your Placenta Specialist if your baby has any of the following genetic disorders: sickle-cell, tay-sachs, or thalassemia.

• You can enjoy the benefits of encapsulation even if you have HIV, Hepatitis, or have tested positive for GBS! 

• Please be sure to notify Lauren if you are positive for Hep B or C, HIV, or GBS

• Always notify your placenta specialist if you have any active sexually transmitted infections at time of delivery! Placenta consumption is NOT safe if there is an ACTIVE STD outbreak at time of delivery.  If delivering via C-section there is no concern.  

• GBS - What to know: Group B Streptococcus is found in 10-30% of pregnant women!  It is extremely common.  The Group B Strep bacteria comes and goes naturally in people of all ages off and on throughout their lifetime.  A positive test at 37 weeks does NOT necessarily mean that you will be positive at time of delivery.  Just as a negative test at 37 weeks does NOT necessarily mean that you will still be GBS negative at time of delivery.  Because GBS can be very dangerous for newborns, the Hospital will give you antibiotics during labor & delivery as a precaution if you tested positive for Group B Strep at 37 weeks.  Placental consumption is safe as long as you and/or baby has no signs of infection at time of birth or within the first 24 hrs (fever of 100.4 or above is indicative of an infection) and placenta has no signs of infection (determined by your placenta specialist). Group B Streptococcus cannot be passed through the GI tract and cannot be transmitted through breastmilk so there is no risk to your baby through breastfeeding or pumping.  Instead, GBS is a surface infection, which means it is primarily transmitted through skin contact.  For this reason, always wash your hands thoroughly after handling your placenta products and before touching baby, even if you tested negative for GBS.  Better to be safe! As an additional safety measure, your placenta is always dehydrated at a temperature high enough to kill GBS.

• Meconium is baby's 1st poop, and sometimes it will occur while you are in labor, before the baby is born.
• If this happens it is still safe to consume your placenta!
• Meconium is not the same as feces. It coats the intestines and is made up of amniotic fluid and cells that have been ingested by the baby during pregnancy. It has the same bacterial content as the amniotic fluid.

• To get started, read through all of the Placenta Service Options, and then complete the Order Form

• Once you have submitted the Order Form and completed your payment (through Venmo or PayPal), or set up a payment plan via PayPal, Lauren will text you to confirm all of your order details.  Once payment is made, your place on our placenta calendar is secured!

• Text Lauren when you go into labor and have your designated "placenta person" stay in contact for placenta pick-up.

• Lauren will pick up your placenta from the Hospital/Birthing Center/Home as soon after delivery as possible, depending on her schedule that day and her pick-up/delivery hours.  

💜 Tree of Life proudly serves all of Riverside County, San Diego County, Orange County, & San Bernardino County! 💜

• If two 16oz Placenta Smoothies were ordered, they are made immediately at time of placenta pick-up (for Birth Center & Homebirth clients) and left with you to enjoy during the first 48hrs postpartum.  For Hospital clients, smoothies are made-to-order and dropped off along with your other placenta products.

•  Processing time, from Placenta pick-up to Product drop-off, depends on what placenta products you ordered and can range between 24-72hrs. Once your products are ready, Lauren personally delivers everything, goes over safety & dosage instructions and answers any questions you may have.

• For the most part, most medical conditions and/or medications that were safe during pregnancy don’t pose any dangers for placenta consumption.

• However, there are some medical conditions that may require modifications in the way the placenta should be processed and/or in dosage instructions. And in rare cases, placenta consumption is not a safe option.  

• Most medications that are taken safely during pregnancy do not pose a risk for safe encapsulation.

• Always share any and all medical conditions, health concerns, and/or medications with your placenta specialist!

• Every placenta is unique in it's size, density, and blood-volume.  Your capsule yield is determined by these factors as well as the Prep method that you choose.  Raw Prep method will result in a slightly higher capsule yield.  Gentle Prep method results in a slightly lower capsule yield. Placentas that are on the smaller side can yield an average of 100 capsules, while placentas that are on the larger side can yield an average of 200 capsules!

• If you take your pills daily, as instructed, they should last between 4-8wks depending on your total number of capsules. Remember that Tinctures, Smoothies, and Salves (if using placenta powder) all use a portion of your placenta and thus, take away from your total capsule yield.  

• Capsules should be stored in a dark, cool, dry place. Safest place to store your capsules in your Freezer! They are good for 1 yr if stored in the Freezer.

• Yes, at Tree of Life, we believe that every woman should have access to the amazing healing benefits that her placenta can provide!  
• When you pay via PayPal you can choose to make your payment in monthly installments!

• $50 Discount applied to all Orders (optional)

  • Does NOT include placenta pick-up
  • Does NOT include product delivery
  • You must have a designated person who can deliver the placenta to Lauren & pick up your placenta products in Menifee, CA (92584)

• In most cases, yes!  Read this article to learn more: "Know Your Placenta Rights in a Hospital Setting"

• Some Hospitals may automatically withhold your placenta in certain circumstances, such as: 1) preterm delivery, 2) infection in either you or baby, or 3) if you are HIV or HEP +

• If you plan to keep your placenta for encapsulation, all of the Hospitals in southern California will require you to sign a Hospital Consent/Release Form upon admittance.  Otherwise, each Hospital has slightly different rules when it comes to keeping your placenta.  Find your specific Hospital below to read about their particular protocol regarding the placenta...

https://www.swhranchosprings.com/services/maternity?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv_m-BhC4ARIsAIqNeBvLE1kwk3NjsVV-M7YJ7rzEOcSE285ZiOUirNcF6e2xEHG6akNZRB0aAtqhEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Phone: (951) 696-6000

Address: 25500 Medical Center Dr, Murrieta, CA 92562

☸ This Hospital’s Placenta Protocol:

1. Discuss your Placenta Encapsulation plans with your OB & add to your Birth Plan (if applicable)
2. Notify Hospital Staff of your plans to keep your placenta upon admittance 
3. Bring a Cooler (the hospital will provide ice)
4. Sign the Hospital’s Consent/Release Form

https://murrieta.lluh.org/services/womens-health/mother-baby

Phone: (951) 290-4000

Address: 28062 Baxter Rd, Murrieta, CA 92563

☸ This Hospital’s Placenta Protocol:

1. Discuss your Placenta Encapsulation plans with your OB & add to your Birth Plan (if applicable)
2. Notify Hospital Staff of your plans to keep your placenta upon admittance 
3. Bring a Cooler (the hospital will provide ice)
4. Sign the Hospital’s Consent/Release Form

https://lluch.org/mother-baby/our-services/labor-delivery

Phone: (909) 558-4000

Address: 11234 Anderson St, Loma Linda, CA 92354

☸ This Hospital’s Placenta Protocol:

1. Discuss your Placenta Encapsulation plans with your OB & add to your Birth Plan (if applicable)
2. Notify Hospital Staff of your plans to keep your placenta upon admittance
3. Bring a Cooler (the hospital will provide ice)
4. Sign the Hospital’s Consent/Release Form

https://www.swhcoronaregional.com/services/obstetrics

Phone: (951) 737-4343

Address: 800 S Main St, Corona, CA 92882

☸ This Hospital’s Placenta Protocol:

1. Discuss your Placenta Encapsulation plans with your OB & add to your Birth Plan (if applicable)
2. Notify Hospital Staff of your plans to keep your placenta upon admittance
3. Bring a Cooler (the hospital will provide ice)
4. Sign the Hospital’s Consent/Release Form
5. Placenta must leave the Hospital within 1hr of delivery (if they force you to remove the placenta from the premises before your Specialist can arrive for pick-up, you may keep the Cooler in your car, checking on it periodically for ice replenishment if needed...or you may take it home if you live close to the Hospital)

https://riversidecommunityhospital.com/specialties/labor-and-delivery

Phone: (951) 788-3000

Address: 4445 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA 92501

☸ This Hospital’s Placenta Protocol:

1. Discuss your Placenta Encapsulation plans with your OB & add to your Birth Plan (if applicable)
2. Notify Hospital Staff of your plans to keep your placenta upon admittance
3. Bring a Cooler (the hospital will provide ice)
4. Sign the Hospital’s Consent/Release Form

https://www.ruhealth.org/services/womens-health

Phone: (951) 486-4000

Address: 26520 Cactus Ave, Moreno Valley, CA 92555

☸ This Hospital’s Placenta Protocol:

1. Discuss your Placenta Encapsulation plans with your OB & add to your Birth Plan (if applicable)
2. Notify Hospital Staff of your plans to keep your placenta upon admittance
3. Sign the Hospital’s Consent/Release Form
4. Bring a Cooler (the hospital will provide ice)
5. Placenta must leave the Hospital within 2hrs of delivery (if they force you to remove the placenta from the premises before your Specialist can arrive for pick-up, you may keep the Cooler in your car, checking on it periodically for ice replenishment if needed...or you may take it home if you live close to the Hospital)

https://www.ahmchealth.com/dhr/getpage.php?name=Womens_and_Childrens_Services&sub=Our%20Services

Phone: (951) 688-2211  

Address: 3865 Jackson St, Riverside, CA 92503

☸ This Hospital’s Placenta Protocol:

1. Discuss your Placenta Encapsulation plans with your OB & add to your Birth Plan (if applicable)
2. Notify Hospital Staff of your plans to keep your placenta upon admittance
3. Bring a Cooler (the hospital will provide ice)
4. Sign the Hospital’s Consent/Release Form
5. Placenta must leave the Hospital within 1hr of delivery (if they force you to remove the placenta from the premises before your Specialist can arrive for pick-up, you may keep the Cooler in your car, checking on it periodically for ice replenishment if needed...or you may take it home if you live close to the Hospital)

https://www.providence.org/locations/socal/mission-hospital-mission-viejo/birth-center

Phone: (949) 365-2141

Address: 27700 Medical Center Rd, Mission Viejo, CA 92691 (Tower 1, 2nd Floor)

☸ This Hospital’s Placenta Protocol:

1. Discuss your Placenta Encapsulation plans with your OB & add to your Birth Plan (if applicable)
2. Notify Hospital Staff of your plans to keep your placenta upon admittance
3. Sign the Hospital’s Consent/Release Form
4. Bring a Cooler (the hospital will provide ice)
5. Placenta must leave the Hospital within 1hr of delivery (if they force you to remove the placenta from the premises before your Specialist can arrive for pick-up, you may keep the Cooler in your car, checking on it periodically for ice replenishment if needed...or you may take it home if you live close to the Hospital)

https://www.redlandshospital.org/services/pregnancy-birth-care/

Phone: (909) 335-5500

Address: 350 Terracina Blvd, Redlands, CA 92373

☸ This Hospital’s Placenta Protocol:

1. Discuss your Placenta Encapsulation plans with your OB & add to your Birth Plan (if applicable)
2. Notify Hospital Staff of your plans to keep your placenta upon admittance
3. Sign the Hospital’s Consent/Release Form
4. Bring a Cooler (the hospital will provide ice)
5. This Hospital may place your placenta on a 24hr hold (please make sure that they DO NOT take it to Pathology)

https://www.dignityhealth.org/socal/locations/stbernardinemedical/services/family-birth-center

Phone: (909) 883-8711

Address: 2101 N Waterman Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92404

☸ This Hospital’s Placenta Protocol:

1. Discuss your Placenta Encapsulation plans with your OB & add to your Birth Plan (if applicable)
2. Notify Hospital Staff of your plans to keep your placenta upon admittance
3. Bring a Cooler (the hospital will provide ice)
4. Sign the Hospital’s Consent/Release Form
5. Placenta must leave the Hospital within 2hrs of delivery (if they force you to remove the placenta from the premises before your Specialist can arrive for pick-up, you may keep the Cooler in your car, checking on it periodically for ice replenishment if needed...or you may take it home if you live close to the Hospital)
6. If you need the Hospital to store your placenta for any reason they will store it in their freezer (Note: frozen placentas take about 48hrs to thaw enough for processing)

https://www.dignityhealth.org/socal/locations/san-bernardino/services/family-birth-center

Phone: (909) 887-6333

Address: 1805 Medical Center Dr, San Bernardino, CA 92411

☸ This Hospital’s Placenta Protocol:

1. Discuss your Placenta Encapsulation plans with your OB & add to your Birth Plan (if applicable)
2. Notify Hospital Staff of your plans to keep your placenta upon admittance
3. Bring a Cooler (the hospital will provide ice)
4. Sign the Hospital’s Consent/Release Form

https://www.arrowheadregional.org/services/ob-gyn/

Phone: (909) 580-1000

Address: 400 N Pepper Ave, Colton, CA 92324

☸ This Hospital’s Placenta Protocol:

1. Discuss your Placenta Encapsulation plans with your OB & add to your Birth Plan (if applicable)
2. Notify Hospital Staff of your plans to keep your placenta upon admittance
3. Bring a Cooler (the hospital will provide ice)
4. Sign the Hospital’s Consent/Release Form
5. Placenta must leave the Hospital within 2hrs of delivery (if they force you to remove the placenta from the premises before your Specialist can arrive for pick-up, you may keep the Cooler in your car, checking on it periodically for ice replenishment if needed...or you may take it home if you live close to the Hospital)

https://www.ucihealth.org/medical-services/maternity

Phone: (714) 456-7890

Address: 101 The City Dr S, Orange, CA 92868

☸ This Hospital’s Placenta Protocol:

1. Discuss your Placenta Encapsulation plans with your OB & add to your Birth Plan (if applicable)
2. Notify Hospital Staff of your plans to keep your placenta upon admittance
3. Bring a Cooler (the hospital will provide ice)
4. Sign the Hospital’s Consent/Release Form

https://www.palomarhealth.org/womens-services/escondido-birth-center/

Phone: (442) 281-5000

Address: 2185 Citracado Parkwy, Escondido, CA 92029

☸ This Hospital’s Placenta Protocol:

1. Discuss your Placenta Encapsulation plans with your OB & add to your Birth Plan (if applicable)
2. Notify Hospital Staff of your plans to keep your placenta upon admittance
3. Bring a Cooler (the hospital will provide ice)
4. Sign the Hospital’s Consent/Release Form

https://www.desertcarenetwork.com/services/women-and-infants?utm_source=gmb-desert-regional-medical-center&utm_medium=google-local&utm_campaign=gmb_listings_mgmt

Phone: (760) 323-6511

Address: 1150 N Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262

☸ This Hospital’s Placenta Protocol:

1. Discuss your Placenta Encapsulation plans with your OB & add to your Birth Plan (if applicable)
2. Notify Hospital Staff of your plans to keep your placenta upon admittance
3. Bring a Cooler (the hospital will provide ice)
4. Sign the Hospital’s Consent/Release Form
5. Placenta must leave the Hospital within 1hr of delivery (if they force you to remove the placenta from the premises before your Specialist can arrive for pick-up, you may keep the Cooler in your car, checking on it periodically for ice replenishment if needed...or you may take it home if you live close to the Hospital)

https://www.memorialcare.org/services/maternity-care

Phone: (949) 837-4500

Address: 24451 Health Center Dr, Laguna Hills, CA 92653

☸ This Hospital’s Placenta Protocol:

1. Discuss your Placenta Encapsulation plans with your OB & add to your Birth Plan (if applicable)
2. Notify Hospital Staff of your plans to keep your placenta upon admittance
3. Bring a Cooler (the hospital will provide ice)
4. Sign the Hospital’s Consent/Release Form
5. Your placenta will be kept in the Hospital's fridge until you get discharged OR your Specialist is ready to come pick it up (please make sure that your placenta is NOT taken to Pathology)

https://www.hoag.org/specialties-services/womens-health/conditions/pregnancy/

Phone: (949) 517-3223

Address: 16200 Sand Canyon Ave, Irvine, CA 92618

☸ This Hospital’s Placenta Protocol:

1. Discuss your Placenta Encapsulation plans with your OB & add to your Birth Plan (if applicable)
2. Notify Hospital Staff of your plans to keep your placenta upon admittance
3. Bring a Cooler (the hospital will provide ice)
4. Sign the Hospital’s Consent/Release Form
5. Placenta must leave the Hospital within 2hrs of delivery (if they force you to remove the placenta from the premises before your Specialist can arrive for pick-up, you may keep the Cooler in your car, checking on it periodically for ice replenishment if needed...or you may take it home if you live close to the Hospital)