Placenta Delivery?

AuntieSarah wrote: Why do you say it's a much better start for bubs to deliver it naturally? (Genuinely curious - I didn't know it was).

The third stage of labour is when you deliver your baby's placenta and membranes. Whether you have your baby at home or in hospital, you can choose how you do this. The choice is between a managed or a physiological (natural) third stage.

A managed third stage involves an injection in your thigh as your baby is being born, as soon as his first shoulder is delivered. After the birth, the cord is clamped and cut immediately. The injection then causes the uterus to contract strongly and the placenta to come away, so that it is delivered quickly. You do not have to push or do anything with a managed third stage, as the midwife waits until your uterus contracts, and then pulls gently on the cord to deliver the placenta.

The advantage of this method is that it is over quickly, usually in five to 10 minutes, and in most cases within 15 to 20 minutes. There is little blood loss and a lower risk of you experiencing heavy bleeding. The disadvantage is that one of the drugs used, ergometrine, may make you feel or be sick, or give you a headache. However, many maternity units now use a single drug, oxytocin, which is less likely to cause these side effects than syntometrine (a mixture of oxytocin and ergometrine).

A physiological or natural third stage means waiting for the placenta to be delivered naturally. This usually takes about 20 minutes to happen but may take up to an hour. Breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact with your baby will help your uterus to start contracting and help the third stage along.

You also need to actively help the delivery of the placenta by pushing, preferably in an upright position, perhaps squatting or kneeling and leaning forward onto a support. Cord clamping is delayed until the cord has stopped pulsating. This means that your baby gets more oxygenated blood from the placenta.

I had the jab. It worked great. The placenta came out a couple of minutes after the baby. I didn't even notice. I had a complicated labour and birth though so it's lucky i had it. I lost 2 litres of blood and tore twice, as well as other things. I'll be having it this time too even though I'm planning a drug free birth.

I've had the injection with all mine tho with the last 3 i didn't have a choice as i'm a high bleeding risk, but i would of choosed the injection if i had a choice.

Hmmm reading the above post about the managed 3rd stage " A managed third stage involves an injection in your thigh as your baby is being born, as soon as his first shoulder is delivered. After the birth, the cord is clamped and cut immediately. The injection then causes the uterus to contract strongly and the placenta to come away, so that it is delivered quickly. You do not have to push or do anything with a managed third stage, as the midwife waits until your uterus contracts, and then pulls gently on the cord to deliver the placenta."
I had the injection after bubs was born and had to push it out with sme help from the Dr.

I was going to the naturally but after an hour there was still no placenta and no urge to push or anything happening so we did the jab. I think I"d try to do it naturally next time but if I had the jab no biggy.

Seems like heaps are having the jab. Im still not convinced thou.

Also remember reading in info from Midwife that when bubs lungs expand for the first time there is extra blood needed to fill in an area (all new to me this...) just seems like its the best option. But if its a tricky birth then of course I will go with the safest option.

Thanks for all your input

My mw gave me no choice but you know what I didn't care lol She gave it to me cos of how long I had been pushing. T the end of the day I had DD and was focused on her

I had the jab with DS1 but not with DS2. With DS1 I just did as I was told and because it was 'normal' I allowed it even though I wasn't 'at risk'.

When I got pregnant again I had a whole new plan, alot more information and I knew that I wanted to do EVERYTHING as naturally as possible, right down to the planned home water birth. I knew that I could opt to have the jab if I needed it but can't take it back once it's done. I wanted delayed cord clamping because I wanted to him to get as much of the goodness that he could get. We spent plenty of time skin to skin in the pool and I handed DS2 off to DP to 'deliver' the placenta about 25 minutes after he was born; with a squat and a push it was out.

I think the 'risks' of not doing so didn't outweigh the 'benefits' of doing it so we didn't.

hmm im starting to remember the reasons why we decided not to have the jab last time (even though i ended up having it). Its amazing the information you forget after a year

I think the plan this time will be same as last time. Waterbirth and then a physiological third stage while i cuddle baby. It is a very good point that you can always have the injection 5-10mins after birth or whenever if it is decided it is needed.

interesting what you said hippymama about it sometimes causing bleeding. Now that i am actually thinking back i remember my midwife saying that sometimes having the injection can actually make this worse as they have to help pull the placenta out which means a greater risk or some of it being left behind - this is what i remember anyway.

Inlove28 wrote: AuntieSarah wrote: Why do you say it's a much better start for bubs to deliver it naturally? (Genuinely curious - I didn't know it was). he advantage of this method is that it is over quickly, usually in five to 10 minutes, and in most cases within 15 to 20 minutes. There is little blood loss and a lower risk of you experiencing heavy bleeding. The disadvantage is that one of the drugs used, ergometrine, may make you feel or be sick, or give you a headache. However, many maternity units now use a single drug, oxytocin, which is less likely to cause these side effects than syntometrine (a mixture of oxytocin and ergometrine).

I decided beforehand I wanted the jab as I had read about the risk of bleeding heavily and that scared me. I would get the jab next time too.

Like the other girls, it was over so quickly and they got down to stitching me up while I could hold my beautiful son.

Good luck on your decision.

I am reserving judgment until I have actually given birth to our baby.

There are so many variables, and it will depend on lots of things, as to whether I have it or not.

Like everything else you have to "decide" on your birth plan, it could change for reasons beyond your control, and I don't want to be disappointed if things have to change.

Keeping an open mind and a flexible plan.....