Consistently blogging for your birth business will help your ranking on Google, show potential clients that you are still actively in business, and that you are an expert on birth in your area.

There are no magic formulas to blogging consistently. You decide what that means to you depending on how comfortable you are with writing and how much time you have to devote to your blog. Many experts will recommend working towards at least one blog post a week. If you follow that schedule, you'll have over two years of blog post ideas listed ​below. 

Many of these ideas could be written in many different ways or could be expanded into multiple blog posts giving you even more options. For example "Pregnancy week by week" could be one long blog post, 10 blog posts by month, or 40-42 separate blog posts.

I hope this list gives you more ideas than you'll ever need! If you are looking for blog post ideas specific to your placenta encapsulation business, check out this Pinterest post ​​with 25 ideas for blogging specifically about your placenta encapsulation business.

1. Creating a maternity wardrobe for working moms
2. Creating a maternity wardrobe for moms with toddlers
3. Creating a maternity capsule wardrobe
4. Wardrobe for showing off your baby bump
5. Wardrobe for hiding your baby bump
6. Creating a gender neutral baby wardrobe
7. How to dress when you don't want to wear maternity clothes
8. Hacks for stretching your wardrobe when you are pregnant
9. Stylist and comfortable shoes for pregnancy
10. Postpartum capsule wardrobe
11. Returning to work when you can't wear your pre-pregnancy clothes and what to do
12. Cute onesies for stylin' babies
13. 10 items you need for baby to wear
14. Maternity coats 
15. ​The best baby socks
16. ​Maternity photo shoot ideas​

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1. Dealing with diaper rash
2. The best diaper rash cream
3. Homemade diaper rash ointment recipe
4. My favorite diaper wipes
5. Homemade diaper wipes
6. What is cradle cap and what to do about it
7. Swaddling
8. Bathtime tips for baby
9. ​Baby poop guide
10. Tips for helping baby sleep
11. ​What to do when baby has a cold
12. ​Teething tips
13. Babyproofing
14. Tummy time
15. Tips for photographing your baby​

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I hope this ideas help you create an amazing blog for your birth business. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Send an email to placentatrainingcompany@gmail.com to let me see your blog posts.

You've been hired. Now what? 

Sometimes clients hire us early in the pregnancy. They need to know that we are still in business and ready to provide placenta services to them when they give birth. Make your after hire/pre-service follow up plan to reasure your clients that they have hired a professional.

​ Some clients may get concerned and reach out to you if they have not received any communication after the hire.

Here is a sample plan:

• Confirm reciept of payment/contract from client and ask any clarifying questions.
• Send detailed information packet.
• "Looking forward to working with you" card mailed at 30 weeks
• Mail cooler to clients at 36 weeks.
• Check in email to confirm receipt of cooler after delivery date. 
• Check in at 38 weeks with short direction email of what to do when the baby comes in case they don't read/have lost the detailed direction sheet.

I do not recommend repeatedly contacting the client between 38 weeks and delivery.  The client may be getting multiple emails and phone calls from concerned friends and family asking if the baby is here yet. Don't be one more person the client needs to tell, "I HAVE NOT HAD THE BABY YET!" 

The client has had a baby. You have encapsulated the placenta and the client has the capsules. Now what?

Following up with clients after they have thier capsules boosts client satisfaction. Sometimes people are nervous about taking the capsules. It sounded like a great idea, but now the "EWWW factor" has set in. They may not remember how or when to take them. They could have a potential problem or question about the capsules. Don't be afraid to reach out and check in via their preferred communication method. Your clients will feel valued and potentially boost your future business from referrals. 

Here's a sample plan:

• Check in 2-4 days after the service is complete.
• Check in two weeks after the service is complete.
• Email six weeks after service is complete. This is a perfect time to ask for a testimonal.
• Send a six month birthday card.
• ​Send a one year birthday card.

This can be a controversial topic. While providing a cooler is not a requirement, it is one additional step in providing excellent customer service to your clients.

I do provide a new cooler to every client for transport of thier placenta. If the client is birthing anywhere outside of the home, the placenta needs to be transported. The client knows the cooler is clean and new when it's shipped from a supplier like Amazon. Providing a cooler also helps maintain food handling safety by keeping the placenta at a correct temperature until it can be refrigerated or processed.

One word last word of advice on providing coolers for your clients:  Make sure the placenta and the container from the hospital or birth center will fit inside the cooler. ​If you have a small soft sided cooler that is only large enough for a placenta inside a baggie, then make sure someone knows how to place the placenta inside the baggie. If the placenta and container can't fit and there are no additional instructions, it's a waste of money and makes you look less professional than not supplying the cooler.

This is one of my favorite tricks of the trade!

I wipe the outside of each filled capsule with a dry sterile gauze. The process takes about 5-10 minutes of my time, but it invaluable to client satisfaction.  

The number one complaint from clients who were otherwise happy with their experience was "The capsules taste bad." I researched the problem. Supplements, in capsule form, do not have a taste. The reasons that supplements are placed inside capsules are ease of consumption, a way to measure the consumption, and a way to avoid the taste of the contents. Some people will choose to use flavored capsules to help hide the taste. While this is an option, I prefer not to add additional flavorings, chemicals, or ingredients to the capsules.

In filling the capsules, either with a capsule machine or by hand, small amounts of placenta powder come in contact with the outside of the capsule. Clients report that since I have started wiping down the capsules, the "bad taste" complaint is nearly eliminated. 

​

While it's not a requirement, most encapsulators use some kind of liner on the dehydrator trays to make clean up easier and to reduce sticking.  

​Here's a run down on choosing the correct liner.

​What is freezer paper? According to Reynolds Kitchens (a maker of all three types of papers discussed), Freezer Paper is ideal for wrapping foods for freezing and also for general household purposes. 

The thick paper gives the product strength and durability. One side of the paper is plastic-coated and provides a barrier to air and moisture. This protects the quality, flavor and nutrition of foods during freezing. The other side is a durable paper which can be written on. This means it’s easy to write on the contents and pack date before freezing foods.

Freezer paper is not acceptable because the plastic-coating can melt in the dehydrator. If the plastic-coated side is face up, the plastic can melt on the placenta strips. If the plastic-coated side is face down, it will leave plastic residue on your dehydrator potentially breaking it. 

The only acceptable option would be for using it strictly for the cord keepsake ​that will not be consumed, though there is still potential for damaging your equipment with melted plastic residue.

Reynolds Kitchen says wax paper is ideal for making candy or dipping strawberries, cookies or pretzels in chocolate. Foods lift right off the surface without leaving a mess behind on your bakeware or countertop. For gift giving or freezing, layer candies or baked cookies between wax paper sheets.

Wax paper is not heat-resistant and can not be used in a dehydrator. The wax can melt causing it to stick to the placenta pieces and the dehydrator.

Do you remember making crafts as a small child? You would shred broken crayons between two layers of wax paper then either iron it or stick it in the oven for a few minutes. The crayon would melt and the wax paper would fuse together creating the masterpiece.

Wax paper is an all around no for your dehydrator.

J​ust in case you want more information, here's Martha Stewart discussing parchment vs wax paper. She just doesn't know about placentas.

​Watch more more "The Details Matter" posts in this series.

 What a better way to honor pregnancy, birth, and a new baby than returning the placenta to the earth especially when it is planted with a living and growing tree.

• Honoring the birth
• Creating a living memory
• Alternatives to consuming the placenta
• Special gift to the child

Read about  options for the placenta or placenta jewelry.

Placentas had three main functions in ancient times. In some cultures the placenta was seen as the baby's spirit guide helping the child navigate the birth and then returning and connecting after death.  Placenta burial was also considered as a sacred connector of the child to his birth place or heritage. It was also to bestow blessing or protection for the child's future. An item representing the future calling, was often buried with the placenta. 

Other cultures included trees into the burial ceremonies. 

Read more about Celtic birth tree calendar here.

Fruit trees:  nurturing, feeding, growth, energy
Oak trees: power and courage
Elm trees:  intuition and inner strength
Maple trees:  balance and promise
Cherry trees: good fortune when in bloom/ love and romance
Birch trees: new beginnings
Cedar trees: healing and cleansing
Palm trees: peace and flexibility without breaking

 While the symbolism of trees is meaningful, there are also climate issues surrounding tree planting. ​Check tree planting guides for trees that flourish in your climate.  

Are you going to be living in the area long term?  Is it a special area to you that you will visit frequently? If you do not own the land, check with the owners or proper authorities before planting your tree.

Moveable options include large planters with smaller trees/bushes, so the placenta tree can be transported with a move. 

If you are having a home birth, then there is no additional work in obtaining your placenta. You can plan to bury your placenta when having a hospital birth as well. Discuss the desire to bring the placenta home after the birth with the health care provider.

Providers and hospitals have different policies surrounding placenta release​. Many hospitals now will simply release it immediately. Others require ​signing a waiver stating that the hospital is not held responsible and that the placenta is a blood borne pathogen...meaning it contains blood that could contain infectious microorganisms that cause disease. Some hospitals request that the placenta be held until you and baby are released from the hospital and some require that the placenta be removed immediately.

Bring a container and cooler for the placenta. Occasionally, hospitals do not provide a sealed container. A few gallon sized ziplock baggies can be used if no container is available. Place the placenta (and container) inside a cooler with ice so that it remains fresh until it is home.

Freeze the placenta unless it will be buried within the first week after birth. You may need to wait 6 months or longer to plant your placenta based on climate.  It can remain safely frozen long term. Some people wish to wait until a special time in the baby's life such as baby's first birthday, when baby starts eating solid food, the end of the breastfeeding relationship or it could be based on a return to fertility after the first postpartum menstrual cycle.

Place the placenta into a biodegradable container prior to burial.  Options can include a woven basket, wooden box, unfired clay pot, or a cloth bag that can be decorated. Remove the placenta from any plastic containers prior to burial.

Choose the location and type of tree. ​Research specific planting directions for your climate and tree variety. Most will need to be buried 12 inches into the ground depending on type of tree, soil type and size of the tree.  Bury the placenta  4-6 inches lower than the placenta and place soil between the placenta and tree, so that the placenta has time to decompose before the roots reach the placenta.  To use a large urn or pot, place 6-8 inches of soil in the pot, then the placenta, then, 4-6 inches of soil, then the tree.

Care for the newly planted tree according to tree planting guidelines.

Ceremonies can easily be included in the process. They can be as simple as re-telling the birth story and thanking the placenta for supporting life. They can be elaborate and include poems, stories, and planting additional items as symbols. Decorating the placenta container can be a family activity.

​Pictures of the child and tree yearly create a special keepsake.

For more information on placenta history and information follow Placenta Training Company's Pinterest boards.

Sometimes the encapsulator is in the client's home alone and just does the actual encapsulation and clean up.

Sometimes the encapsulator is there with a friend or relative of the client. They may or may not have questions or want to be aware of any of the process. You can answer any questions they may have about the process and do your job.

Sometimes you are there with the client and the client wants no additional information or support.  

Sometimes you are the front line of support for your placenta encapsulation client. They have questions and you are the professional available in their home to talk to about  the birth experience. The encapsulator may be the only professional clients have the opportunity to speak with during those first few days.  The client may wish to share a birth story. Maybe they had an amazing, beautiful birth and they have no one to share that with because all their friends and family don't see the importance and tell the client things like "What do you want, a medal?!" or "Don't you know how dangerous that was?!" Those clients want someone to be happy with them. Someone to discuss all the amazing details of the birth without being squeemish. 

You can be that person and it's amazing.

Sometimes they had a scary or traumatic birth and want to discuss it with someone that understands the birth process.  The client may want to hear something other than, "At least you have a healthy baby." While it's true they may have a healthy baby, they also have valid feelings about their birth.  

You can listen and affirm the feelings they have are real and valid. You may be able to offer resources for therapists or support groups.

Sometimes the client has actual questions about postpartum life.
"What does healing look like for umbilical cords or.....the perineum?
" How can I set up my home so I don't have to walk up and down the stairs 20 times a day for the first few weeks?"
" How do I tell if the baby is hungry or sleepy?"
" What if I feel sad?"
" What if I feel like I don't even know this new little person in my home?"
" What if all I want to do is hold the baby and cry?"

You can listen and offer guidance, support, resources, and a judgement free zone for clients to talk. You aren't expected to be an expert in every single field. You can be an expert in helping them find the information they need.

Interested in taking a placenta encapsulation training in your area? Placenta Training Company is happy to offer your community the opportunity to learn this valuable service. You will be able to create bonds with other students, help your community experience the benefit of placenta encapsulation, and have the opportunity to earn your training for free and receive other perks as well. 


Each PTC training is special.  Travel and lodging can vary greatly between cities and even time of year.  We will personally determine your minimums and goals based on expenses for travel and lodging near your training location from Chicago (or trainer's location).  The average minimum to hold a training is between 4-6 paid students. The goal number is double the minimum plus one additional student. PTC currently travels in the United States. Please contact PTC to inquire about international training options.

Once the host agrees to the terms and pays a $100 retainer, the training will be added to the Placenta Training Company online calendar and will be promoted on social media.The host can immediately begin promoting the training and students will be able to register.

 When ONE student registers and completes full payment, PTC will start paid advertising in your location.  Hosts will receive a surprise perks package in the mail.

When the minimum* number of students is met the host will receive the $100 deposit back and host's training will be free. 

When training hits goal* (double the minimum plus one) host will receive a supplies perk which includes a dehydrator, capsule machine, grinder, and knife.

Host responsibilities:
Provide location for training with access to kitchen, running water, sink, at least 2-3 feet of counter space (or table close to sink), outlet where placenta in the dehydrator can run SAFELY overnight.  Usually this is the host's home. On rare occasions we have had trainings at a workplace. PTC is not responsible for any rental fees for space.

 One placenta for training purposes. PTC will assist with suggestions for obtaining the placenta. 

 Transportation assistance for trainer to and from airport, hotel, training location if requested. Assistance in attaining meals. The host is NOT responsible for paying the trainer's travel fees. 

Participate in promoting and advertising training to local and surrounding areas. We will discuss options and offer tips for promoting the training in your area.

Provide pictures for PTC social media as requested by trainer.

*Only full price, paid in full students count towards minimum and goal numbers.

Deb P.
www.PlacentaTrainingCompany.com

1.  People love visual content now.

2.  Pins keep attracting customers and sales month after month creating "evergreen content" for you.

3.  Pinterest acts like a giant display ad for free.

4.  After the initial set up, there is a low time commitment to maintain your Pinterest account.

5.  Content is consistently spread through new communities and by re-pinning.

6.  Pinterest has one of the easiest learning curves of the common social media platforms.

7.  Pinterest works well for several niches and placenta encapsulation is a great niche in your birth business.

8. Each individual pin you create is searchable on Google.

9.  Pinterest itself is a commonly used search engine.

10.  Pinterest actively leads consumers away from itself to the actual source document.

Do you already have a birth business and will just be adding placenta encapsulation? Your options are to roll the placenta business into your established birth business or have it as a separate entity?  Most people prefer to operate just one business, but there are a few reasons why you may want to keep your businesses separate.  If you think a large referral base will be other doulas/CBE's then you may want to have a separate business just for placenta encapsulation.

Using your own name:
Many people start out with just their own name with birth or placenta services after it. The upsides are that it's uniquely you and can encompass several services well. The downsides are that people need to remember your name to find you. If your name could have several spellings (Sara vs Sarah) or if your name is hard to pronounce and remember, your potential clients may have a harder time finding you.

Location based names:
These are business names that have a connection to your location. It can be a city, neighborhood, or geographical location in your area. It can also be a nickname or popular landmark for your area. The upside of these names are that people may search for "Chicago area placenta encapsulator" or "Doula in north west Indiana" and your business can appear easier in searches because it has the actual term searched. Potential clients also immediately know they are in your service area with a location based business name. The downside, though, can be that in a larger city there may be several people using location based names making it harder to stand out or the names could be already taken.

Names that are meaningful to you:
These are names with special meanings to you. These can be anything from trait you admire to your favorite flower. The upside AND downside is that these names show your personality which may either attract or repel potential clients. 

​In the end, just choose a name. Don't let picking your placenta business name keep you from starting your business. 

Get trained:
Decide on a training that fits your needs. There are lots of options out there now for learning about placenta encapsulation from straight mentorship to online to in person.

 Read about why Placenta Training Company may be the perfect fit here.

Choose a business name:
Choosing a business name can seem challenging, but it's very hard to do any other marketing if you don't have a business name. If you already have a birth or doula business, is placenta encapsulation going to be included in that business or will it be a separate entity?

Set up a bank account:
It's always in your best interest to have a separate bank account for your business. Placing business funds into your personal account make keeping records much more challenging. Shop around for banks that do not require a high minimum balance.

Get legal in your area:
Decide what kind of business you will have. You can be a sole proprietor, a partnership, or any variation of a corporation. Choose which works for you. They all have pros and cons.  Every single location is different, so research the laws in your area for starting a business. Depending on your type of business, this can be as simple as registering your business name with the county. 

Get a website:
While having a website isn't a requirement for business, it's super important.  You can create a very easy and basic website with a website builder like Weebly or Square Space that requires no advanced skills. A website gives potential clients a place to "see" you online and provides some basic information. A website also gives you a platform to market your new business. 

 Market yourself:
Marketing yourself is just getting your information in front of others. Basic suggestions include: utilizing social media, having a website/blog, holding informational workshops and talks, and attending networking events. Watch for PTC's blog series on marketing your placenta business on a shoestring budget coming up soon.

BONUS TIP! Don't get overwhelmed:
Take it one step at a time. You don't need to do EVERYTHING at once. Start with the basics and expand from there. Keep in mind that starting a new business is a process. At first, you'll do a lot of work with little results, but the more you keep your efforts consistent, the sooner you'll start to see results.

Before you say, "EWWW NO!!" and click away, check out some of Placenta Training Company's favorite artists. They all create many offerings from necklaces, beads, earrings, bracelets, pendants and more. The artists all have their own style and you'll be sure to find something you will treasure.

Not only do most of these artists make placenta jewelry, but also any other DNA small samples such as breastmilk, locks of hair and ashes from loved ones (pet or person). Some also do flowers, fabric, and sand from special locations.

As with any other the other ingredients, these small items can become sentimental, heirloom pieces that hold a special place in your heart. They can be a physical remembrance of a pregnancy or other event. That very special time in your life when you and your child were one. A way to honor that bond that once was.

Plus, they are all amazingly beautiful jewelry that you can only share that special meaning with someone should you choose to do so.

www.HollyDay.co offers a large assortment of pieces in the memory collection. Her items are an inexpensive yet beautiful option.

www.HeartandHeirloom.com is a Chicagoland local. These pieces are completely handmade.

www.Lelaitdemamanjewelry.com offers a wonderful corded bracelet that I love along with several other designs.

www.sacredlegacyarts.com offers truly heirloom quality fine artisan jewelry that will be passed down generation to generation.

After seeing all the options is this something you may choose to do?  If you are a placenta professional would you add this service?
​ Let us know!

Photo credit: Le Lait De Maman Jewelry.