A ? for those of you (or whose clients) took the placenta home from the hospital
One of my clients would like to take her placenta home to bury and plant a tree over. She is having a hospital birth. Has anyone taken their placenta from the hospital? She is also planning on donating cord blood, as North Carolina has a cord blood blank. I told her to definantly put it in her birth plan, and tell her caregiver. Has anyone had any issues arise from doing this? What is the best container to put it in? Should we just have a cooler with ice ready, that the placenta can "chill out" in until someone from her family can put it in the freezer? Should we be prepared for a "fight" getting the placenta?
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"If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals". ~J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Around here it can be difficult, depending on the hospital, because placentas fall into the "medical waste" category, which is considered hazardous waste. Hospitals are pretty strictly regulated about how they dispose of medical waste (as they should be, really). Sadly, some dentists won't even let kids take home pulled teeth for the tooth fairy because they could be fined!
I'd do some research into what the laws are in your area on medical waste and help your client walk in knowing her rights. I would recommend a tupperware-like container (sturdy one) and a cooler of ice, as well as someone arranged to come pick it up ASAP after birth.
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I also wonder if there is a waiting period between the birth and the time that they will allow it to leave the hospital. I say this b/c I know that our hospital keeps the placentas for at least 24 hours to make sure mom's bleeding slows the way it should. If it does not, then they have the placenta saved so that they can look it over again to try and determine if the bleeding is the result of any retained placental material. KWIM? Good question, though. I know we have one CBE that teaches in her classes that it is "yours" and "you can do whatever you want with it." While I agree 100%, that doesn't mean that all the doc's and nurses agree!....sadly...
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Well I had no problem taking home the placentas for both my girls.
Basically- my midwife new that I was before hand, and we reminded the nurse once it was birthed so she just put it in double bags and tied it. My mother took it to my house in a cooler that day and put straight into the freezer.
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Hi Becky!
I don't have too much info on that, but I know there has been issues with hosp not letting the parents take placenta home (bio-hazard danger I think they call it). But I am sure she can consult that with her Dr/CNM before hand. That way you guys have an idea on what kind of "fight" you will need to be ready for.
Remember that for donating/banking cord blood there is NO need to clamp "early" (at least before it has stopped pulsating).
There is a great article in the last issue of Compleat Mother (http://www.compleatmother.com/) on cord clamping to donate/bank its blood. Unfortunately I only recieve the paper subscription (they offer digital subs too) so I can't "forward"it to you. Maybe somebody in the forum?
Anyways, here are some of the websites they suggested: http://www.parentsguidecordblood.org/ http://www.cordclamp.com/
My best friend took her placenta home... but she had to "steal" it. The midwives told her that hospital policy is to keep the placenta in case something happens and it would be hard to get it after that. So, she had a container and while everyone was busy her mom (the grandma) took the placenta in a container and took it home before anyone could notice it was missing.
The midwives explained that the nurses would just think another nurse took care of it
Becky,
Is she going to the midwives in High Point by any chance?
If she talks to her care providers ahead of time, if they are "fine" with it, they will usually help casually give it to them.
An ice cream bucket in a cooler with ice works well until someone can get home to a freezer.
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Laura, AAHCC, CLD, CLD-T
CAPPA Labor Doula and Labor Doula Trainer, Bradley teacher
but my favorite job is...
Homeschooling Mother to my wonderful, crazy kids!
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Please go to www.placentabenefits.info and you will find a wealth of knowledge. She is a friend of mine and she will answer any questions for you and if you are having problems getting the placenta released she will help you.
As for taking it home...a clean foodgrade container and then in the fridge until it goes home.
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12/5/1998
24/9/2004
