Tag: options for third stage

What you really need to know about birthing your placenta:

1. What happens during the third stage (the birth of the placenta)?
2. What are your options?
3. What does NICE recommend?
4. What can you do with your placenta afterwards?

What happens during the third stage?

After your baby is born, your uterus keeps contracting. Your placenta starts to detach from the inside of your uterus and is then born through the birth canal. An upright position can help your placenta come out. Nipple stimulation, skin-to-skin contact with your baby or loved ones, some aromatherapy and a calm environment all support the process too. Your midwife will monitor your blood loss and keep you and your baby warm. You may feel the urge to push once the placenta has separated and moved down into your vagina.

What are your options?

After a vaginal birth, you have two options. You can wait for your placenta to be born on its own – a “physiological third stage” – or choose a “managed (active) third stage”, where you’re given an injection to help the placenta come out more quickly and reduce the risk of heavy bleeding. (After a caesarean birth, the placenta is removed during the operation.)

What does NICE recommend?

The NICE intrapartum care guideline recommends that you’re offered a managed third stage, because it reduces the risk of heavy bleeding. If you’re at low risk and would prefer a physiological third stage, you can choose this – discuss the benefits and risks with your midwife and include your preference in your birth plan.

What can you do with your placenta afterwards?

You can leave your placenta with your midwife, who will dispose of it safely. Some parents choose to keep their placenta – to make art, a smoothie, or to have it encapsulated, for example. If you’re interested, research the topic and look for local providers; local doulas can usually recommend someone.