.png)
Pending where you are birthing, whether locally or outside of Wagga Wagga, there is a different set of instructions for you to follow
What to do after the birth
Most hospitals are accustomed to placenta encapsulation. That being said, you should mention to your provider and/or midwife well in advance that you plan to utilise your placenta for consumption so it can be handled correctly after the birth and include it in your birth plan.
Placentas for consumption should be treated just as you would fresh, raw meat and should be placed in your cooler as soon as possible within 1-2 hours of birth. However, the placenta cannot be stored in the maternity ward or any hospital fridge.
DO NOT TEXT OR USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO CONTACT ME AFTER DELIVERY
CALL ME ON 0447658323
WHAT TO DO AFTER YOUR PLACENTA HAS BEEN DELIVERED
in WaggaWagga
this applies to you if you are birthing in Wagga Wagga, but live away
In the months leading up to the birth, you will have been provided with a hire cooler and ice bricks by me.
Freeze the ice bricks at your home prior to the birth. When arriving at the maternity unit, place them in the ward freezer until needed.
The ice bricks must be pre frozen prior to arriving at the hospital. Some babies are born quickly and there will not be enough time for them to freeze from scratch whilst there.
DO NOT FORGET TO BRING YOUR COOLER AND FROZEN ICE BRICKS WITH YOU
THIS CAN COMPROMISE YOUR SERVICE, YOUR PLACENTA MAY BE DENIED AND DEEMED UNSAFE FOR CONSUMPTION
(See section 20 "Placenta Handling" in your contract)
1
After delivery, the placenta will need to be double bagged.
Place it in your hire cooler, with the pre frozen ice blocks
WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF BIRTH
The staff at the hospital will bag it for you.
2
3
The cooler must not be re-opened. The placenta needs to be refrigerated within 4 hours after the birth, and should be stored in the cooler the entire time, until I pickup or you deliver it to me.
Outside the 4 hours, it is unsafe for consumption.
4
Phone me when the placenta is birthed on 0447658323 day or night, for me to come and collect from y0ur place of birth in Wagga Wagga. Ensure the placenta is correctly stored as above and in your cooler with ice bricks prior to me arriving.
On the odd occasion a bucket and ice may to be used if the cooler cannot accompany you to the operating theatre. To ensure the placenta is kept cold,
do not let the ice melt, it must be double bagged.
(for what to do in this situation, see section 23.1 "Unplanned/Planned C-Sections/ OT Deliveries" in the contract)
5
If I am unavailable to collect within this timeframe or if I am away, I can provide you with access remotely to where my placenta storage fridge is at my home. It will be set up for the placenta where you will simply pop the bag in there and then head back to the new baby. The person to drop it off does not have to be your partner, it can be your mum, doula, support person etc
PHONE ME FOR INSTRUCTIONS and see “What to Do If I Am Away Or Unable to Collect” below
IF I AM
UNABLE TO
COLLECT
and you are unable to deliver to my placenta fridge, your placenta
MUST BE PLACED IN YOUR FREEZER no more than 48 hours after the birth to ensure it is kept fresh for encapsulation.
WHAT TO DO AFTER YOUR PLACENTA HAS BEEN DELIVERED
if you birth outside of Wagga Wagga
JUNEE COOLAMON TEMORA LOCKHART LEETON YOUNG COOTAMUNDRA THE ROCK TUMUT TUMBARUMBA ADELONG GUNDAGAI BATLOW and SURROUNDS
In the months leading up to your birth, you will need to source a cooler and ice bricks. This is to safely store your placenta in to keep it fresh, cool and non contaminated once it is birthed, and on its travels to me. A small Styrofoam cooler is an option, as is a cooler with a hard exterior. Soft lunch box/drink style coolers are forbidden. Ice bricks can be purchased from dollar stores, gel packs are prohibited. DO NOT USE ICE as it will melt too quickly during its travels. Keep in mind, your cooler will not be posted back to you and disposed of accordingly once it arrives to me.
Alternatively, if you or a family member/friend is visiting Wagga during your pregnancy, feel free to borrow one of the coolers I have for my local placentas, as it will find its way back to me with your placenta in it.
1
Freeze the ice bricks at your home prior to the birth. When arriving at the maternity unit, place them in the ward freezer until needed.
The ice bricks must be pre frozen prior to arriving at the hospital as some babies are born quickly and there will not be enough time for them to freeze from scratch whilst there.
DO NOT FORGET TO BRING YOUR COOLER AND FROZEN ICE BRICKS WITH YOU, THIS CAN COMPROMISE YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR PLACENTA MAY BE DENIED AND UNSAFE FOR CONSUMPTION
2
3
PLACE THE PLACENTA IN THE COOLER WITHIN 1 HOUR AFTER DELIVERY.
It must be triple bagged to prevent leakage, the cooler must not be re-opened and must be kept cold the entire time.
PLACE THE BAGGED PLACENTA IN YOUR HOME FREEZER NO LATER THAN 4 HOURS AFTER BIRTH.
Do not delay this. This step is crucial to ensure the freshness of your placenta, if left to become warm, or not placed in the freezer, it will go off. I can tell if a placenta is not fit for consumption due to poor handling processes. This will cease placenta preparation and you will not be refunded.
You can place it in a smaller container in your freezer, but keep it in the bag.
Have someone scheduled to come collect it from you after delivery and placed in the cooler. The person to take it to your freezer does not have to be your partner, it can be your mum, doula, support person, or friend. Ensure they are happy to follow this guide, as
IF HANDLED IMPROPERLY OR DELAYED, I CANNOT PROCESS YOUR PLACENTA.
Rest assured, as it is triple bagged, there should be no leaks, and no "ick" factor for your friend/family/support person to worry about.
They are performing an honourable service for you.
4
Your placenta can be stored in your freezer for up to 12 months, but it is ideal if you can get it to me for preparation within the week. Frozen placentas take an extra day or two to defrost safely. Turnaround time for placentas outside Wagga is up to 1 week, including postage back to you.
5
6
On the day someone will transport your placenta to me in Wagga Wagga, place the now frozen placenta back into the cooler with frozen ice bricks. Ensure the placenta is still contained safely in its triple bag and the ice bricks are frozen. DO NOT USE ICE.
Send me a courtesy message to let me know in advance when the placenta is due to arrive.
Please phone for my address.
If I am not home when your support person is here to drop it off, I can provide them with access remotely to where my placenta storage fridge is located at my home. It will be set up for the placenta where they will simply take the bag out of the cooler and pop it into the designated placenta fridge.
WHAT TO DO AFTER YOUR PLACENTA HAS BEEN DELIVERED
and I am away or not able to collect
The few weeks surrounding your estimated due date are in my calendar and I am on call for your delivery, however babies are unpredictable when they come! There may be times when I am unavailable at the time of delivery but am still in Wagga and cannot get to the placenta within the 4 hours, or, I am away on holiday (which you would have been informed of upon booking, or well in advance). I am still so happy to carry out your selected placenta services, this just requires a bit more help from your support team to get your placenta to me safe and sound.
Follow the "What to do after the birth" instructions.
Instead of me collecting it, have someone organised/on call to come collect it from you at the hospital.
1
THEY MUST HAVE IT IN MY PLACENTA FRIDGE/FREEZER WITHIN 4 HOURS OF THE BIRTH.
2
Your placenta pick up person will be given access to my designated placenta freezer at my home. You will gain entry while I monitor our CCTV to ensure the process runs smoothly. I live 8 minutes away from the hospital. Please phone for my address.
3
4
Phone me on 0447658323 , day or night where I can give you instructions on where to locate the RING Doorbell. From there I can open my garage remotely.
5
There you will find a station set up with a bluey pad and gloves to take the bag out of the cooler, keep it in the bag, and pop it straight into the
PLACENTA FREEZER if I am away
or in the
PLACENTA FRIDGE if i‘m unavailable at time of delivery, but am back that day
Frozen placentas take an extra day or two to defrost safely. Turnaround time for placentas in Wagga is up to 1 week.