Why use Under the Birch TreeSamantha Birch
Was fully certified by IPEN Ltd in April 2013 in theory and practical training for the title of Placenta Encapsulation Specialist. Working with placentas for many years before official training with IPEN she immediately became their Australian trainer when offered the position, the only licensed and certified trainer in Australia. Due to unavoidable life circumstances Sam no longer instructs for IPEN, though she is a big supporter and still mentors her students regularly. A group of Australian women, including Sam saw a need to keep Australian services professional and safe on a national level and began the establishment of PSA Inc. 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 QLD representative and National Specialist Mentor working tirelessly with the other committee members to aid Aussie Placenta Specialists to become world leaders in our industry. Australian families already have the benefit of living in one of the safest places in the world to use a Placenta Specialist. Sam has vast knowledge and experience with an extremely professional and safe service that comes highly recommended by Gold Coast Public and Private Hospitals and many Midwives, Obstetricians, Birth workers and many other awesome Practitioners. 
Strict GuidelinesUnder the Birch Tree adheres to strict Australian government guidelines regarding Blood-borne pathogen transmission / infection prevention and standards for safe food handling. Processes are carried out in a dedicated work space. Equipment and work space is thoroughly sanitised before and after each use. Most supplies are disposable / one use and all equipment meets food grade standards.
How to make your BookingAfter you've done your research, made an informed decision to encapsulate your placenta and are ready to make a booking, you will be sent out 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 very quickly it is advisable to do this asap so you keep your position. Last minute bookings are welcome though do incur a 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 advice and referrals. *My children are taking up most of my time right now as I take them through their schooling years at home. I have decided to put my role as Doula on hold until their home education journey is over. I choose to offer all the support I can to Under the Birch Tree Families in a Caring, Professional, Safe and Discreet manner. On call for you around your EDDPLEASE NOTE: As birth is unpredictable there's always a chance of delay in collection of your placenta or of the delivery of your package. You will be first priority and will be looked after in the best way possible by a trained back up or you will store your placenta as per the Care Document in your booking package. 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.
Collection of your placentaDepending 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 Under the Birch Tree has your placenta in our care the process begins asap. Your package is returned back to you roughly the following afternoon. In the case of Placental Remedies including Tinctures, Creams and Balms and Cord Dream Catchers, these 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 bottle 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. Easy Discreet No Stress ServiceUnder the Birch Tree service's are set up to allow you to enjoy the first hours after birth with your new baby stress free and relaxed. Simply send a text when your labour begins if possible, and again when your placenta has been birthed and you've had some time with baby. You will then be advised of an approximate time of collection. Under the Birch Tree uses safe transport protocols for travel with infectious substances as per Australian government and World Health Organisations recommended guidelines.
Please note: We are unable to take your placenta into our care without your signed booking forms, signed release form and full payment. Under the Birch Tree is a very discreet business. Sam does not wear a uniform only a lanyard ID and the collection/delivery vehicle is unmarked so not to spark any unwanted attention from visiting family/friends or your neighbourhood. Birthing Q&ACan I have a Water Birth?
Water Births are not contradictions to Placenta Encapsulation. Under the Birch Tree does ask that if possible please birth the placenta out of the birth pool. If not, please have your midwife remove the placenta from the water as soon as it is birthed to avoid any possible contamination issues. Can I have a Caesarean? Placenta is especially ideal for those who have a C/S birth as the capsules can aid your internal healing and may help with some of the side effects of surgery. note: You will need your midwife to follow our guide lines regarding times and storage. Your partner may take your placenta back to your room fridge or cooler while you are in recovery. Home Birth When birthing at home Under the Birch Tree's service is even easier. Once labour begins send a text if possible. Once your placenta is birthed have it placed directly into the storage bags and container and into the fridge. You are then free to text when you are ready for collection with in 24 hrs of the birth. Public Hospital Birth When birthing at a Public Hospital it is important to remember to keep your placenta with you in your room fridge or in your back up cooler bag with plenty of ice. Check the dial is turned to the coldest setting if using a fridge. Please note that issues sometimes arrise and you may not be able to use the fridge, you must have a back up cooler bag ready and ask for ice. Having ice supplied to you can also be an issue and your partner may need to have someone bring you ice and take the placenta home to a fridge. If you birth at night your placenta will be collected first thing in the morning. Collection hours are 8am - 6pm. Public Hospital Birth Centre When birthing at the Birth Centre it is important to give as much notice as possible to ensure collection is possible before you leave the hospital. If you birth at night and are heading home before morning you will take your placenta with you in a cooler bag with plenty of ice. Place it in the fridge when you arrive home and text in the morning to arrange collection. Please be aware that you may need to pay a travel fee for collection and delivery to your home. Private Hospital Birth Birthing in a Private hospital allows you to have your placenta stored in their dedicated Placenta Fridge in the labour ward. You may also use the fridge in your room to store it in if you prefer it close by. Respecting the life giving placenta"When working with placentas, I believe it is essential to hold positive calming thoughts in mind, to ensure nourishing healthy energy is surrounding it during the processing. Your sacred placenta is handled with gentleness and respect." Sam x 
How many capsules?
Placentas come in many sizes, shapes and thicknesses, It is impossible to know how many capsules one will reap. Under the Birch Tree's smallest amount was 55 and the most was 289 size 0 capsules. There can be large differences in placenta size, however Sam believes our body gives us what we personally need for each baby and postnatal experience. Special Requests If you have any special requests please don't hesitate to ask, there is nothing too silly to ask on this topic, believe me we have heard all the strange ones, and would love to hear some more! Under the Birch tree specialists try their best to accommodate all our Families requests... |
Under the Birch Tree
Now on Instagram! Follow for a picture story of placenta products & services. Birth, Home Education, Kids Stuff, Healthy Lifestyle, Family Life, Home Reno, Organic Gardening, Craft, Ice Hockey and More! @underthebirchtree_ #underthebirchtree #samanthabirch What is Placentophagia?
Placentophagia The consumption of placenta. Modern women are following in the footsteps of our ancestors and reaping possible Postpartum Health help from their placentas. There are many ways to consume your placenta to help enhance your postpartum, with the dry capsule methods of encapsulation being the most popular. Under the Birch Tree offers various methods for you to use your placenta. Fresh Methods & Dry Methods Fresh placenta capsules give you the most from consuming your placenta, the only method for you to access your stem cells! Raw is thought to have the highest nutrient value out of the dry capsules, being only heated to food safety temperatures in the drying stage, giving you a higher percentage of nutrients. Steamed method requires the placenta to be steamed with pure water to food safety temperatures prior to drying reducing the percentage of nutrients. Traditional method (based on Traditional Chinese Style Medicine only and is not in any way Traditional Chinese Medicine). Steamed above Lemon, ginger and chilli before drying. The steamed methods offers a softer release of energy to the mother during her postpartum, ideal for those who suffer from things like anxiety. 
Postnatal Depression
What is postnatal depression?
It is a condition that takes effect mostly after the birth of a baby. It can happen to any woman that has birthed, from any class, culture or age. It also doesn't matter how she births, C/S, vaginal delivery, VBAC, miscarriage, stillbirth, home or hospital birth. It is most common after the first pregnancy but can occur in subsequent pregnancies also. Postnatal depression is mood swings that last more than a week or two and interfere with daily life including looking after the newly born baby. There is no shame in postnatal depression! A larger amount of women may develop the baby blues, a low usually occurring on days 3 - 10 after your baby was born, though can occur during pregnancy, called Antenatal Depression. Many women find they move on from the baby blues on their own and some find they enter a deeper stage called Postnatal depression. (1 in 500 may advance to postnatal psychosis a very sever and extreme illness.) This can develop in the 12 months after baby is born, usually the first weeks or months and can be a fleeting mild depression to a lasting deeper depression. It can be sudden or can come on over time. If you feel like you have moved on from the 'Baby Blues' to PND it is advisable to get professional help as soon as you can for the best possible outcome. Some of the symptoms could be low self-esteem, feelings of inadequacy or guilt, negative thoughts, unusual mood swings, tearfulness, difficulty sleeping or panic attacks. CAN MY PLACENTA HELP ME LESSEN THE CHANCES OF PND? Birth itself is quite a major event for a women's body, a substantial amount of blood is lost, vitamins and minerals take a sudden drop in the woman's system, effecting the brain. There is also the diminished and broken sleep pattern, and sometimes isolation from the usual routine and peers. Placenta offers mothers a replacement in good quality iron which is linked to fatigue, anxiety and depression. It also holds essential hormones designed specifically for the postnatal period that could help with milk supply, well being and B group vitamins that can help stabilise your mood. It also has cortisone that can help with stress levels. Under the Birch Tree makes no claims as to how your placenta will effect you and can only offer annadotal evidence from previous clients and global statistics. Placentas are a natural way to replenish these diminished nutrients and give you a great start to parenting and motherhood, it is in no way a cure or preventative treatment for postnatal depression. PND is a serious condition that must be monitored by a Health Professional. Some other links that can help with depression: -Body Mind and Brain, in Robina Gold Coast. A natural no drug approach with incredible results. -PANDA Post and Antinatal Depression Association -Beyond Blue Australia 
What's in it that's so good?The known list of healing chemicals giving placenta it's healing properties:
Gonadotrophin - precursor to oestrogen, progesterone and testosteone Prolactin - promotes lactation Oxytocin - for pain relief and baby bonding. Is produced during breastfeeding to promote healthy bonding between mother and baby. Interferon - stimulates the immune system to protect against infection. Thyroid stimulating Hormone - boosts energy and aids in recovery of stressful events. Cortisone - releases energy stores and helps with stress. Prostaglandins - anti-inflammatory. Haemoglobin - replenishes iron deficiencies and anaemia Gamma-globulin - boosts immune system and protects against postpartum infection. Urokinase Inhibiting Factor & Factor X111 - stops bleeding and enhances healing of wounds. Growth factors - in the form of cytokins & hormones stimulate cellular growth. They have anti-inflammatory properties, aid blood circulation, wound tissue healing and has an analgesic effect. Placenta Stem Cells - provide the new cells for regeneration of tissue and growth factors enhance their ability to multiply much faster. Vitamins and minerals Iron - essential for absorption of oxygen in the cells needed for repair. Vitamin B6 - promotes the production of red blood cells, aids in normal functioning of the brain. Helps in the making of antibodies, keeping the immune system strong. Vitamins A, D, E, K Vitamins C, B complex 
Placenta Delivery AdviceIt 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 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... a few minutes. Your baby then has all of this thick rich blood to begin life in the best way a human can. This blood that is filtered through the placenta (and is attached to the mother), is still aiding your baby by oxygenating his/her blood. 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 thing the hospital staff will want to do is clamp and cut the cord and separate the baby from his/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 and cutting it off and removing him/her 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 babies 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 my 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. READ UP ON THIS TOPIC IN THE LINKS BELOW VIT K & DCC DCC BUB HUB DCC GENTLE BIRTH "Sam is a walking placenta encyclopedia. Her knowledge is so in depth and well researched. She has an excellent balance |
