Will My South Jersey Hospital “Let Me” Keep My Placenta?
Key Takeaways:
The word "let" has no place in pregnancy, birth, or postpartum; your body, your placenta, and your decisions are yours alone.
Hospitals may have policies about placenta release, but you are legally entitled to your placenta in all 50 states.
Plan ahead by discussing your placenta preferences with your provider and checking your hospital's policy.
If necessary, be prepared to advocate for yourself and bring the proper storage supplies for your placenta.
One of the first and most important things any mom needs to learn—and then embody with every cell—is that the word "let" has no place in the pregnancy, birth, or postpartum space. It implies permission, as if someone else has authority over your body, your baby, or your placenta, which they obviously do not. The idea that you’d need anyone to “let” you keep something that came out of your own body is completely absurd. Your placenta is yours as much as your baby is, and no hospital, provider, or policy gets to dictate otherwise.
And of course I don’t blame you for asking. You’ve been told since you were little that your body is not your own. “Don’t be rude! Give Uncle Dude a hug.”
Patriarchy and colonialism have trained us to think that we need someone else’s approval or permission to make decisions about our bodies. We’ve been conditioned to believe that our bodies belong to other people—doctors, husbands, or some higher authority, whether it be God or the government. So when you ask "Will they let me?" it's because you've been taught to doubt your own authority.
This kind of language— “They wouldn’t let me eat or drink during labor,” or “I wasn’t allowed to go beyond 41 weeks,” or “I had to have multiple ultrasounds.” —are all signs of a system where mostly women and birthing individuals have been conditioned to believe that we are passive participants in the birth process instead of the autonomous, intelligent, decision-making mammals that we are. This isn’t school and we don’t need a hall pass.
So when it comes to your placenta, no, the hospital doesn’t “let” you keep it. You keep it. It’s yours. Legally, in all 50 states, your placenta is your property. So instead of asking whether you’re allowed—we ask, “Will my hospital or care provider make things unnecessarily complicated because they have a biased opinion about placenta encapsulation and/or a God-complex?”
That said, most hospitals in South Jersey and the Philadelphia area make the process super simple, and in most cases, the worst you’ll have to deal with is an eye-roll. I call these hospitals “placenta-friendly.” After years of doing this work, I’ve got a solid sense of which hospitals will support you with a smile, which ones eye-roll, and which might give you a harder time.
So, while the answer to “Will my hospital or care provider make things unnecessarily complicated because they have a biased opinion about placenta encapsulation and/or a God-complex?” is legally yes, the reality depends on your hospital’s policy, your provider, and how prepared you are to advocate for yourself.
Here’s what you need to know so you can take your placenta home without unnecessary stress.
Why Do Hospitals Have Rules About Placenta Release?
Hospitals typically have policies around placenta release because placentas are classified as medical waste or biohazard material. Releasing them requires proper documentation and handling to protect everyone involved. Most hospitals will have you sign a waiver or provide advance notice before release.
Some hospitals donate placentas for research or even sell them—yep, you heard that right. I used to doubt this was true, until one day I met a man who used to drive the trucks that picked up those placentas and he gave me an ear full. But anyway, while it’s rare, some policies deny placenta release because of “research studies” or other internal protocols. Thankfully, hospitals like this are few and far between.
How to Ensure You Can Keep Your Placenta
Here’s how to plan ahead and avoid any placenta-related drama:
1. Talk to Your Provider Early
Bring up your placenta plans with your ob, or midwife at your pregnancy check-ups. Let them know you’re keeping it and have them note it in your medical records. If you want to share your reasons, go for it—but you don’t have to. Whether it’s cultural, religious, or because you want placenta pills, it’s really none of their business. But, if you really like your provider or don’t care what people think, it can lead to a fun discussion. Many people just don’t know much about placenta encapsulation. And I mean I’ll be 100% honest—when one of my doula clients first asked me if I could encapsulate her placenta, my first thought (and probably words) were, WTF? If your care provider really cares, they’ll listen to your concerns and your reasons for wanting to do this. They’ll want to learn more, not just guess or play it safe. If they care, they’ll make sure they know what they’re talking about before steering you away from something that can’t harm you, but can only help.
2. Check Your Hospital’s Policy
Every hospital has its own placenta release rules. Some require advance notice, a signed release form, or specific handling procedures (like making sure the placenta leaves the hospital before you’re transferred to your postpartum room—wild, but it happens).
If your hospital has a rule like this, just have your partner bring the placenta in the cooler to your car and have them head out every so often and replenish the ice. Or you can have a friend or loved one take it to your home for storage in the fridge. But definitely do not do what some of my clients have done and sneak the cooler bag with you into your mom and baby room. Definitely do not do that. I would never encourage you to break the rules.
Call the hospital ahead of time or ask your provider to clarify their policy.
3. Be Ready to Advocate for Yourself
If your hospital has restrictions, know your rights and just be prepared to calmly defend them—ideally before labor, because no one needs to be dealing with such silliness while giving birth.
4. Bring Proper Storage Supplies
To take your placenta home, you’ll need a cooler with a couple of gallon-sized zip-closed bags. Some hospitals might provide storage bags or containers, but it’s best to come prepared. If you’re working with me, you’ll get a cooler bag complete with biohazard bags, zip-closed bags, a chux pad, and instructions. It even includes a card that says, “Hands off my placenta—it’s mine, and the law agrees.” Not in those words exactly, but you get it. This placenta transport kit is shipped to your home at the beginning of the month before your due date so that you can tuck it safely away in your birth bag and check it off your to-do list.
5. Confirm Post-Birth Handling
After you give birth, remind the staff that you’re keeping your placenta. Mention it anytime there’s a shift change—they’re used to tossing placentas out with the trash, so gentle reminders help. Put your partner or doula in charge of placenta duty to keep things smooth.
You’ll want to get your placenta on ice within the first couple of hours after birth, and replenish the ice as needed. Get it to a fridge as soon as possible if you plan to encapsulate, or stick it in your freezer until you decide what to do with it. Some folks like to plant it with a new tree in their yard as a way to honor their baby’s birth.
Placenta-Friendly Hospitals in South Jersey
Here are some of the hospitals I frequent that I consider to be “placenta friendly.” Don’t worry, this is not an exhaustive list. Most hospitals in our area won’t give you a hard time.
Midwifery Birth & Wellness Center, at Virtua Voorhees
Virtua Hospital, Voorhees
Virtua Memorial, Mt. Holly
Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes, Camden
Inspira Mullica Hill
Jefferson Washington Township
Atlanticare, Galloway
Shore Medical, Somers Point
And here are a few hospitals with more annoying policies. Note: enforcement is random—sometimes it seems it’s less about the rules and more about who’s on shift that day.
Cooper Hospital, Camden
Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia
Lankenau Medical Center, Penn Wynne, PA
Tip: Call your hospital ahead of time and ask to speak with Labor and Delivery staff or Patient Relations for the most accurate info.
What If the Hospital Refuses to Release Your Placenta?
If your delivery is traumatic or there’s concern about abnormalities, the hospital might want to send the placenta to pathology. Even then, you can say no. It is always your choice.
Know Your Rights
State laws govern placenta release, and no state has a law against it. So while some hospitals might resist, you still have the right to advocate for yourself. If your hospital refuses:
Ask for clarification and written documentation of their policy.
Request a written refusal from the hospital.
Consult with a legal advocate or patient advocate if necessary.
If You’re Considering Placenta Encapsulation, You’re Already Ahead of the Game
If you’re in New Jersey, Philly, or Delaware, I’m happy to share what I know about your hospital’s policy—just shoot me a message anytime!
Deciding to keep your placenta—whether for encapsulation, a ritual, or just because you know it’s yours—shows that you’re prioritizing your postpartum recovery. And if you’re considering encapsulation, it probably means you’re looking for every possible way to support yourself during one of the most intense seasons of life. That’s a big deal.
Postpartum is no joke, and taking proactive steps like this is all about setting yourself up for the best possible experience. You’re doing what you can to avoid postpartum anxiety and depression and make sure you feel as good as possible while navigating this wild ride.
If you want to go even deeper in preparing for postpartum, take the Postpartum Anxiety Risk Assessment. It’s a quick way to see your potential risk factors and get personalized tips for minimizing them. Because every mom deserves to feel supported, empowered, and ready to thrive—starting with you.
