PLACENTA TRANSPORT AND DELIVERY DISCLAIMER
1. Our Commitment to Respect and Care
Opening to Life operates from a foundation of respect for both the mother and the placenta. Your placenta is precious and irreplaceable, and it is treated as such from the moment it is entrusted into my care.
This policy outlines how placentas are collected, transported, handled, and returned to you as encapsulated placenta medicine.
2. Collection & Delivery Methods
Opening to Life offers the following placenta collection options within Melbourne and (where feasible) surrounding regions of Victoria:
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Standard Turnaround – Third-Party Transport (e.g. Uber / Courier) | A transport service is booked promptly to collect your placenta and deliver it directly to Opening to Life for processing. Ideal for urgent collection. Included in Price. |
| Self Delivery | You or your nominated support person deliver the placenta personally to Opening to Life. |
| Specialist Courier – Business Hours (+$60 surcharge) | A professional courier is engaged for hospital or home pickup Monday–Friday during standard business hours. |
If you are outside of Melbourne metro or require alternative arrangements, please contact Opening to Life in advance to assess feasibility.
3. Transport Liability & Risk Acknowledgement
While every effort is made to ensure safe and timely transfer, Opening to Life cannot accept liability for any loss, delay, or damage that occurs once your placenta is in transit with a third-party transport provider or self-appointed delivery support person.
By choosing third-party transport or coordinating self-delivery, you acknowledge that:
- Transport is undertaken at your own risk, and
- Opening to Life is not responsible for courier mishandling, delays, traffic incidents, incorrect addresses, or failed pickup/drop-off attempts.
4. Client Responsibilities
To ensure safe processing of your placenta, you agree to:
- Store the placenta correctly (sealed and chilled on ice or refrigerated within 30 minutes of birth, or frozen if delivery will exceed 24 hours).
- Label clearly with your name and contact details.
- Provide accurate pickup location and access instructions.
- Confirm that no infections, medications, or complications are present that would make encapsulation unsafe (e.g. maternal fever, bacterial infection, delayed refrigeration).
5. Unsuitable or Unsafe Placentas
If upon receiving the placenta it is found to be:
- improperly stored or delayed beyond safe temperature limits,
- contaminated or medically unsuitable for encapsulation, or
- visibly compromised (e.g. discolouration, ruptured packaging),
Opening to Life reserves the right to decline encapsulation in the interest of your health and safety.
If encapsulation cannot proceed:
- You will be notified immediately.
- You may choose to collect your placenta for personal disposal, or
- Grant permission for Opening to Life to dispose of it respectfully in accordance with local guidelines.
No refunds are available once collection or delivery has taken place, due to time and handling involved.
6. Agreement
By proceeding with booking and submitting your order, you confirm that:
- You have read and understood this Placenta Transport & Delivery Policy.
- You accept responsibility for your chosen transport method.
- You agree not to hold Opening to Life liable for any transport-related issues or placenta unsuitability beyond their control.
7. Questions or Special Arrangements?
If you require regional Victoria pickup, hospital-specific coordination, or have medical considerations you’d like to discuss, please reach out directly: