Does Placenta Encapsulation Affect Your Breast Milk Supply? The Honest Answer From Someone Who’s Been Doing This Since 2006

If you’ve been down the rabbit hole of researching placenta encapsulation, you’ve probably come across two very different conversations.

On one side: mamas who swear their milk supply went through the roof along with Placenta Encapsulation Specialists who support that claim. On the other: cautionary and sometimes very loud voices warning that progesterone in the placenta might actually interfere with milk coming in.

So which is it?

After encapsulating my first placenta in 2006 and working with thousands of clients since, I want to give you something most websites won’t: the honest, complete, nuanced answer. The one that honors the research, honors the concerns, and honors the real women whose experiences don’t always fit neatly into a yes or no.

I always do my best to be transparent because you deserve real information — not a sales pitch.

First, Let’s Talk About What’s Actually IN Your Placenta Capsules

Some of the known ingredients in placenta include prolactin, which promotes lactation, and oxytocin, which is produced during breastfeeding to facilitate bonding of mother and infant. There’s also gonadotropin — the precursor to estrogen, progesterone and testosterone — as well as iron, and human placental lactogen (hPL).

According to Johnson, Pastuschek, Markert and Gorton (2018), human placental lactogen, as a hormone that stimulates milk production, could help improve postpartum wellbeing and be effective in cases of insufficient lactation. A much higher concentration of hPL is found in raw placenta. A stimulatory effect on milk production and early onset of primary lactogenesis has been reported.

Researchers who analyzed placenta capsules for hormones found 15 hormones that were present across all placentas studied — including progesterone, estradiol, cortisol, aldosterone, and testosterone. How much remains depends on how the placenta was prepared.

So yes — your capsules are hormonally charge to an extent. The question is: what does that mean for your milk supply?

The Research: What We Actually Know

The Evidence That Points Positive

The largest study (and to be transparent it’s not a great study, spoiler every placenta study has flaws on both sides) on placenta capsule ingestion and milk supply, published in 1954, found that 86% of 210 mothers reported a good or very good increase in milk production. This is the Soyková-Pachnerová study out of Charles University, Prague — and while it’s older research, it remains the most substantial study specifically examining placenta and lactation, and its findings are hard to dismiss.

This research narrowed down the variables, examining whether the effective substances on milk supply were the protein of the placenta, the placenta acting as a biogenic stimulator, or the hormones contained within it. The results showed that milk production was not caused merely by protein content. Because of these findings, the focus shifted to the hormonal content of the placenta, which the research suggests could be positively affecting milk production.

In other words — it’s not just about nutrition. The hormonal picture is where things get really interesting.

The Inconclusive Evidence 

To continue to keep it real with you, because the gold standard means telling you everything — not just the good parts.

Research on the subject is still ongoing, and studies have not shown consistent benefits — some research has found no significant effect on milk supply, postpartum mood, or recovery.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study — often cited as the most rigorous research to date — found that maternal consumption of steamed, dehydrated, and encapsulated placenta did not appear to significantly affect postpartum prolactin levels. However — and this is critical — it was a very small pilot study, which significantly limits what conclusions we can actually draw from it.

A handful of studies conducted in the early and mid-twentieth century used processed, orally-administered human placental preparations to evaluate effects on breast milk composition and volume — however, the interpretation of these study results is hampered by their flawed research designs.

The honest truth? The research is not yet where we need it to be. There simply haven’t been enough large-scale, well-designed human studies. That’s not a reason to dismiss the practice — it’s a reason to be informed about where the science currently stands.

The Concern Worth Understanding 

We know that the dominant pregnancy hormone, progesterone, inhibits the dominant lactation hormone, prolactin, from binding to the prolactin receptor sites — thereby inhibiting milk production during pregnancy.

So the concern some practitioners raise is this: if you reintroduce progesterone through capsules, could it slow that process down?

There is no clear answer to the question of how much active hormone remains after the preparation process is completed. Some studies show none is left after the process. If the hormone is degraded during processing, there may not be a negative effect on early milk production. If progesterone remains physiologically active, there is a concern. We also need to take into account a mother’s sensitivity to hormones. A very small amount of progesterone may not affect a typical person but it’s very plausible that it could have a huge affect on someone sensitive to hormones.

This is a legitimate question — and it deserves a legitimate answer, not dismissal.

Here’s What I’ve Seen in 20 Years of Real Life

Research is important. And so is lived experience — especially from thousands of real postpartum mothers.

The vast majority of my clients report that placenta encapsulation either increased their milk supply or had no negative effect. I’ve had mamas light up telling me their supply was, as one unforgettable client put it, “crazy pants.” That certainly isn’t a clinical term — but it’s one I’ll never forget, because that kind of joy matters.

And here’s the part that is harder to say out loud: two of my clients believe their capsules had a negative impact on their supply. I take that seriously. I’m not going to minimize their experience to protect a narrative. Every body is different. Every hormonal landscape postpartum is different. That’s just the truth.

What I tell every client: if you notice any concern with your supply in those early days, you don’t have to throw your capsules away. They can be saved for later in the postpartum period, or when your menstrual cycle returns — and many clients find them enormously beneficial at both of those times. Clients report less hair shedding at 4-6 months postpartum when they take their capsules again.

So — Should You Be Worried?

Here’s my honest professional perspective after twenty years in this field:

The weight of evidence — both research and real-world experience — leans toward placenta encapsulation being neutral to positive for most people when it comes to milk supply. The concern about progesterone is worth understanding, but it is not a reason to make a fear-based decision. It’s a reason to stay informed and pay attention to your own body.

What I’d encourage you to consider:

💜Work with a trained, certified specialist — preparation method matters. The way placenta is processed affects what remains active. This is exactly why certification and training standards exist.

💜Monitor your supply in the early days — your body will tell you what it needs. If something feels off, pause and reassess.

💜 Know that your capsules are flexible — they don’t have to be used in one specific window. Many mothers find tremendous benefit saving them for hormonal shifts later on.

💜Talk to your care provider — especially if you have known risk factors for low supply or a complex hormonal history.

The Bottom Line

The research is promising but incomplete. The anecdotal evidence — from thousands of mothers — is largely positive. The concerns are real but not conclusive. And the most important thing you can do is make an informed decision based on your own body, your own history, and the guidance of a trained professional.

I’ve been doing this work since 2006 because I believe in it. I used placenta encapsulation in my postpartum 3 times because I believe in it. And I believe in telling the truth about it — the glowing “crazy pants” supply stories and the two clients whose experience was different. That’s what the gold standard actually looks like.

Ready to Learn More or Book Your Encapsulation?

If you’re local, I’d love to support you through Placenta Encapsulation Services. If you’re not in my area, I can connect you with a certified specialist near you — because every mama deserves someone trained to the highest standard.

Have questions? Reach out. I genuinely love talking about this. Like LOVE it.