Birthing the placenta: What you really need to know.

What you really need to know about birthing your placenta:

1. What happens during the third stage (birth of the placenta)?
2. What are your options?
3. What are the NICE guideline recommendations?
4. What can I do with my placenta after birthing it?

What happens during the third stage?

Giving birth to your placenta involves your uterus/womb to continue to contract. Your placenta will begin to detach from the inside of your uterus/womb and be born through the birth canal. It is beneficial for the birthing process to choose an upright position to encourage your placenta to come out. Nipple stimulation, skin-to-skin contact with your baby or loved ones, some aromatherapy and a calm environment are also supportive of the birthing process. Your midwife will monitor your blood loss and keep you and your baby warm. You may feel the urge to push your placenta out once it has separated and moved down to your vagina.

What are your options?

During a vaginal birth, you’ll have two options. Either wait for your placenta to be born on it’s own account also known as “physiological third stage” or you can opt for the “managed third stage” where you’ll receive a drug to encourage the birth of the placenta to happen more quickly.

What are the NICE Guideline recommendations?

The NICE guidelines recommend a managed third stage.

What can I do with my placenta after birthing it?

You can leave your placenta with your midwife and they will safely dispose of it. Some parents choose to keep their placenta and turn it into a smoothie, art, encapsulate it etc. If this is of interest for you, research the topic and and check for local service providers. Your local doula(s) will usually be able to recommend someone.