New moms looking for a natural boost after delivering their baby may want to consider a service now available in the Bow Valley.
Through her business, Natural Mama-Placenta Encapsulation Services, Christine Wickins, a Canmore resident and registered nurse who works at the Calgary Children’s Hospital, takes the placenta, processes it and returns it in capsules to moms looking to take advantage of naturally-occurring hormones.
The process, known as placentophagy, is becoming more common in cities across Canada and the U.S. and takes advantage of the high level of hormones found within the placenta to help mothers increase iron levels and energy, augment milk production and, perhaps most importantly, decrease the risk of getting post-partum depression.
“Low iron can lead to fatigue and fatigue is one of the major indicators or precursors for developing post-partum depression. Ingesting the capsules can help with the iron and that can help with the fatigue and that can lead to a decreased chance of getting postpartum depression,” Wickins said.
Wickins can speak from experience. She used a similar service in Calgary after requiring a blood transfusion to raise her hemoglobin and iron levels following the birth of her second child.
“You can take iron supplements, which I did, but it is more of a natural form rather than taking a manufactured iron source (but) having those capsules at home helped me to bounce back quicker had I not taken them,” she said. “It helps you to recover faster after the baby.”
The practice is common in Chinese medicine.
Wickins is also able to make tinctures and salves. The salves, she said, can be used for bum cream for babies, nipple cream and to treat scars from a C-section.
New moms have to request their doctor or midwife save the placenta, which immediately needs to be put into a fridge or freezer.
Wickins said she picks up the placenta as soon as she can, processing and then returning the capsules within 48 hours.
She steams the placenta and then dehydrates it. Once dry, she grinds it into powder, which fills roughly 90 to 150 gel capsules.
“It is most beneficial in the first three days after having a baby. That is when hormone levels are dropping the most; in the first three to five days. If you can get it to them before that hormone crash, supposedly you should be able to help decrease the chance of getting post-partum depression,” she said.
Researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) published a study in the journal, Ecology, Food and Nutrition in March after surveying 189 mothers who ingested their placenta and found that 96 per cent of women had a “positive” or “very positive” experience.
For more information, or to contact Wickins, search for Natural Mama-Placenta Encapsulation Services on Facebook or call 403-609-8216.
Iron Goat Pub earns Certificate of Excellence
The Iron Goat Pub and Grill has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award. The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Only the top-performing 10 per cent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award.
To qualify for a Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travellers on TripAdvisor, and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months.
“The Iron Goat is pleased to receive a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence,” said general manager Michael Hay. “We strive to exceed each and every guest’s expectations, each and every visit and offer our customers a memorable experience, and this accolade is evidence that our hard work is translating into positive reviews on TripAdvisor.”
Econo Lodge Canmore hits TripAdvisor’s top 10 per cent
The Econo Lodge Canmore won two accolades from hotel and travel heavyweights Choice Hotels Canada and tripadvisor.com. Not only is the Econo Lodge Canmore in the top 10 per cent of all Choice Hotels Canada properties for 2013 but is also in the top 10 per cent of businesses listed on tripadvisor.com.
“As a general manager, I can’t tell you how proud I am of my team for all of their tireless work in making this property the perennial favorite of our travellers world-wide — whether they are coming to ski, snowboard, hike or just to relax in the mountains, our amazing guests are not only ecstatic when they leave, they have taken the time to tell the world what they think of the Econo Lodge Canmore; simply put they love it and we love them for saying it,” Jason Hamilton said.
Hamilton added that the hotel business is not an easy one. To ensure guest return, hotels, like the Econo Lodge, must maintain standards that exceed guests’ expectations.
