IPPA Standards of Practice is applied to ensure superior placenta preparation services both in the birthing community and in the professional world. IPPA strives to provide the most comprehensive and complete training, certification and continuing education currently offered. Our students are expected to uphold the Standards of Practice at all times in both their business and personal relationships. IPPA students have integrity, respectful business practices, a desire to serve every type of mother and a passion for learning. IPPA will refer to International Placenta & Postpartum Assosciation as the certifying body.
I. Responsibilities to Clients
A. Privacy & Protection
All information collected or obtained during the exchange of services between a IPPA student and their client is to be held in privacy according to HIPAA standards. Every client will receive a copy of their prenatal form, data collection and forms/waivers. IPPA students may not use a clients personal information for data collection purposes or for distribution without written consent from the client. Selling of information is strongly prohibited for all specialists.
1. IPPA's data collection program is done via assigned client code. No individual names will be used. This is designed to protect our client’s integrity and privacy. The information collected includes weight of placenta throughout the preparation process(es), amount of capsules rendered, means of preparation, prenatal health history, known medical conditions and client feedback.
2. No client information, pictures or videography may be submitted to social media without written consent from the client. This includes birth announcements, pictures of pickup or drop off, pictures of a newborn or the placenta capsules and products
B. Reliability & Competence
IPPA students will adhere to strict reliability standards and competency to properly and safely provide services.
1. IPPA students agree to only book as many clients as they can feasibly provide services to.
2. A student will not overbook or double book clients with scheduled births. If the IPPA student is not available within 10 hours of the mothers birth to provide services, she will transfer care of the client to another trained specialist unless otherwise arranged with the client prior to the birth. The IPPA student will take responsibility for the competence of her back up encapsulator. When a backup is not a possibility, the IPPA student will refer the client to IPPA for shipping or a DIY placenta encapsulation kit.
C. Service Fees
1. IPPA promotes that placenta preparation and postpartum services be available to all mothers regardless of economic status. IPPA students understand that the average price for services ranges from $100.00-450.00 USD. Students can package other preparation techniques, or price each technique individually. IPPA students are also trained on how to offer sliding scale fees and to barter for services per value of the service if needed. Each student has the right to set their own pricing and policies.
2. Contracts for services, pricing and refund policy must be presented and signed at each prenatal visit. Service contracts are designated so that the client understands their responsibilities as well as the flow of services paid for. If the placenta is deemed unsafe for consumption, IPPA students will return the placenta back to the mother for disposal. Students are not able to determine or diagnose any issues from the pregnancy, birth or postpartum that may render the placenta unusable.
D. Training & Competency
1. Every IPPA student has undergone rigorous and in depth training for placenta preparation. This includes physical workshop attendance or a distance training program. Each training option provided a skills demonstration.
2. Students have completed and passed 4 assessments of materials learned and skills acquired. The assessments are designed to measure each specialists competence to provide placenta services.
II. Responsibilities to the Profession
A. Interaction with Colleagues
1. IPPA students place the integrity of the profession and the interests their clients above their own interests and opinions. Students agree to act with integrity and respect. Each student is in charge of maintaining and developing their professional expertise.
2. IPPA students are expected to always interact within the guidelines of the Standards of Practice. Students have a responsibility to expand services in their area and to offer support to women in their community regardless of race, gender or sexual preference.
3. Each student will not impersonate a doctor, midwife or pharmacist unless they have educational background and/or licensure. Each student will obtain a certification in bloodborne pathogens handling, sanitizing protocols and their locational food handling card. These additional certifications are kept current at all times. This education will reduce the risk of cross contamination, sickness and blood borne/food borne illness.
B. Compliance with the Law and Facility Regulations
1. IPPA requires that students follow procedure and policy for facilities in their service area. This includes becoming familiar with local hospitals, obtaining release forms if permitted and preparing their clients. IPPA students may not take possession of a placenta until it has been legally released from facility to client. Each student will maintain the proper required documents for safe and ethical practice at all times.
2. During their training each student has been educated on how to legally advertise services. This includes labeling of placenta capsule bottles, liability and waiver forms as well as explaining to their potential clients that placenta capsules have not been approved by the FDA and are not designed to treat or prevent any physical or mental disease, ailment or symptom.
III. Passion
1. IPPA students have educated themselves on the process of preparing placentas because of a deep rooted passion for postpartum care. Each student understands the need for continuation of mothering the mother after the birth process. While financial gain is part of encapsulating placentas, each student will hold morals and values above all else. Cultural respect and understanding of their clients wishes is extremely important.
2. A copy of IPPA's Standards of Practice must be made available to every potential client.