Third stage - placenta

Third stage - placenta 

The delivery of the placenta is the final stage of labour. 

Physiological - This is where you have no medication and your placenta is left to detach naturally. It can take 30 minutes, sometimes up to an hour. Putting your baby to the breast can help stimulate uterine contractions. Getting into an upright position and emptying your bladder may also help. 

Active Management - You may be given an injection in your thigh just as the baby is born to help deliver the placenta. This helps encourage your uterus to contract and your placenta detach. It is used if there are any concerns about bleeding, your uterus is very tired or you have had interventions in labour such as oxytocin. Your LMC will put her hand on your uterus (on the outside of your stomach) and gently pull on the umbilical cord to guide the placenta and membranes out. This is called controlled cord traction (CCT). It’s important to discuss this with your LMC before the baby is born. You will be given the choice of whether you want to keep the placenta or not.