Under the Birch Tree adheres to strict Australian Government Standards regarding Blood-borne pathogen transmission / infection prevention and standards for safe food handling, storage and transport. Your process is carried out in a dedicated placenta specific work space. Equipment and work space is thoroughly sanitised before and after each use. Most of our supplies are disposable one use and all equipment meets food grade standards. Only ONE placenta is processed at a time, if there is more than one in our care it is stored with label attached in our placenta dedicated fridge until the other has finished the process and is removed from the space.
Why choose Under the Birch Tree
Samantha Birch is fully certified with IPEN in theory and practical training for the title of Placenta Remedy Specialist and also the title of IPEN Training Instructor. Working with placentas for many years before official training with IPEN Samantha immediately became their Australian trainer when offered the position, she was the only licensed and certified trainer residing in Australia for many years. Due to unavoidable life circumstances Sam no longer instructs for IPEN, though she is a big supporter and still mentors her many students around the country regularly. In 2019 Sam became the Chairperson of Placenta Services Australia, as the industry is unregulated by the Australian Health Department. PSA offer Regulation of Placenta Services across Australia to a very high standard. Sam is an Executive and Mentor member, Chair and Qld representative.
A small group of Australian women, including Sam, saw a need to keep Australian placenta services professional and safe on a national level and began the establishment of PSA Inc. A world first and world class Incorporation. Placenta Services Australia Incorporated was established to: i. To maintain the integrity of our work in relationship to placenta processing. ii. To create community through sharing of knowledge and experience. iii. To maintain the highest professional standards for practitioners. iv. To provide a viable set of Standards and a Code of Ethics for Australian Placenta Specialists. v. To develop a benefit package for members which includes a members directory and practitioner discounts. vi. To provide a collective voice to negotiate with government and other professional organisations on matters regarding placenta processes. vii. To provide consumers with information allowing them to advocate for their rights in regards to keeping their placenta.
Sam is the Chairperson & QLD representative, National Specialist Mentor and trainer working tirelessly with the other committee members to aid Aussie Placenta Specialists in becoming world leaders in our industry. Australian families already have the benefit of living in one of the safest places in the world to use Placenta Services and we would like to keep it that way. We are currently working with QLD Health to better our industry and gain future national regulation. Sam's vast knowledge, experience and extremely professional service comes highly recommended by our Public and Private Hospitals, Midwives, Obstetricians, Birth workers and many other pregnancy, birth & postpartum Practitioners right here on the Gold Coast and around Australia.
Third Stage Delivery Advice
It is now known that babies are born with 32% of their blood still in the placenta and cord. This extra blood is thick and rich and is very important to the initial development of baby. The baby can access this blood easily by simply leaving the cord be after birth and NOT placing a clamp on it until it ceases to pulse or even better, until the placenta is birthed. The cord will pulse until the transfusion to baby is complete... this is a natural process that takes only a few minutes. Your baby then has all of this thick rich blood to begin life in the best possible way a human baby can. The blood that is filtered through the placenta (and is attached to the mother), is still aiding your baby by oxygenating his/her blood. His natural life support system is active until the cord stops pulsing.PLEASE DO NOT LET THEM CLAMP THE CORD IF BABY IS HAVING TROUBLE! If your baby has not initiated breathing, or had a rough birth, the first reaction hospital staff will want to do is clamp and cut the cord and separate the baby from her life supporting placenta and mother (with in 10-20 seconds from birth at times). This is Less than Ideal, the baby is born attached to her own life support system, cutting it off and removing her from her mothers touch can be detrimental to the babies outcome. Resuscitation should always be done with the cord attached, continuing the support from the placenta and beside the mother so she can touch him. It has been proven that babies do better with skin to skin contact with their mother in almost all situations. There is evidence that a new baby's circulatory system adjusts rapidly to the volume and viscosity increase in their blood system by increasing fluid extravasation and dilation of the blood vessels. Haematocrit makes the blood thicker and stickier and is the natural way to prevent bleeding in new borns, questioning the need for the controversial Vitamin K. It is advisable to research this topic before birth. There are some links below to inform yourself about this simple, vital step and to add it to your birth plan. Is a natural third stage with delayed cord clamping vital for encapsulation? No it is not, but that blood sure is better in your baby than it is down our labratory drain! Delayed cord clamping and a natural third stage allows the placenta to transfuse the blood into the baby leaving it smaller and easier for the mother to expel. The placenta will not have extra drugs in it for you to consume, even though they are not a contradiction, none is better than some. There are no studies on how third stage hormones affect the placenta products, but we do know it is not a good idea to add anything if at all possible.
How to make your Booking
After you've done your research and made an informed decision to encapsulate your placenta and are ready to make a booking, fill out the enquiry form on the contact page and you will be emailed a booking package. With the lodgement of this form a deposit must be made of a minimum of $50 to hold your space. As months fill quicklyit is advisable to do this asap so you keep your position.
Last minute bookings (you are in labour or baby has arrived) are very welcome though do incur a late fee of $20 on top of the total.
Under the Birch Tree encourages families to educate themselves and will happily respond to all of your questions. Fully certified and experienced as a Birth and Postnatal Doula Sam is available to Placenta clients for free birth/parenting advice and referrals. Under the Birch Tree Families are cared for in a Caring, Professional, Safe and Discreet manner.
On call for you around your EDD
PLEASE NOTE: As birth is unpredictable there's always a chance of delay in collection of your placenta or of the delivery of your package. If for unforeseen cicumstances arise and Sam is not available you will be first priority and will be looked after in the best way possible by a trained back up or you will be given instructions to store your placenta. It is your responsibility to ensure these guidelines are upheld for your own safety. Under the Birch Tree has excellent back up specialists that will complete your service exactly as Sam would in her absence. Illness, injury and family matters do happen in life and are at times unavoidable, we hope you can understand.
If you have made a booking and decide not to go ahead or your placenta has gone for testing please remember I am on call for your birth and I am waiting for you so please let me know asap.
Collection of your placenta
Depending on the time of day or night you birth your placenta, it is collected asap, usually with in the hours of 8am and 7pm. Once in the care of Under the Birch Tree the process begins asap. Your package is returned to you roughly the following afternoon. Placenta Remedies & Art including Tinctures, Creams, Balms, Paintings, Photos and Dream Catchers, take much more time and you will need to collect them up to 6 weeks later or arrange the delivery or postage at an additional fee. An information brochure accompanies your capsules and an example dosage is on the jar label. Sam is available to you 100% via phone/text/email should you need ANY advice or have ANY questions while taking your capsules or remedies. Please do!