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Childbirth

Third stage - experiences of delivering naturally?

32 replies

Miaou · 21/07/2005 20:32

Had a quick look through the archives but couldn't find anything.

My hospital has a policy of natural delivery of the placenta - fine by me, but what can I expect? Is it harder/more painful/no different? Is is hard work?

Just curious really, not over-worried about it.

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flowerfairy · 21/07/2005 20:41

As in no injection to make the placenta come out more quickly?

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Miaou · 21/07/2005 20:52

Yes, that's the ticket flowerfairy.

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spidermama · 21/07/2005 20:56

I've delivered all four of mine without any jab. The jab just makes it quicker really. My first two took almost an hour. I just sat there feeding and it was fine.

Breastfeeding makes the uterus contract so if you can get your gorgeous little slippery thing (Ahhhh! memories flooding back) onto your breast straight away, it'll help.

I found my 4 placentas really pretty much slithered out with no pushing. Slight bearing down .... but NOTHING compared with what has gone before. Ahem!

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spidermama · 21/07/2005 20:57

I'd better say, before I get jumped on, the jab can be useful if, for any reason, the placenta's not coming off cleanly. It probably will, but in case it doesn't the syntometrine helps stop any bleeding.

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MrsWednesday · 21/07/2005 20:58

I had to deliver the placenta naturally and it wasn't too bad at all. It came out about 3/4 hour after DS was born, had to stand up to push it out and there was no pain and not much effort required really (in comparison to giving birth at least). Standing up was probably the hardest part as my legs had gone.

Good luck with everything.

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Miaou · 21/07/2005 20:58

Ah well, that's good to know spidermama.

Anyone else? I suppose I should have put "physiological delivery" rather than natural, as it seems to suggest that having an injection is unnatural (rather a loaded statement!)

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spidermama · 21/07/2005 21:02

Best to cover your back in my experience Miaou! Well done.

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colinsmommy · 21/07/2005 21:03

Mine came out about 25 min after Colin was born. The contractions were nothing at all like those during labor, and it came out really easily, which was great after almost 3 hours of pushing. And I had a huge one, too, I guess. The dr. said it was about the biggest one she'd ever seen, and it must have been, because other medical staff were coming in my room just to look at it.

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spidermama · 21/07/2005 21:09

You have to remember your cervix and your birth canal are already wide open. Also the placenta is soft and floppy unlike baby's big boney head.

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flowerfairy · 21/07/2005 21:11

I'm very impressed with you all. Respect ladies.

I got the impression from all the magazines & books i'd read that the injection was the "norm", because all the mw were too busy to wait around for you to deliver the placenta.

Good luck,miaou

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Socci · 21/07/2005 21:15

Message withdrawn

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chicagomum · 21/07/2005 21:19

thats very interesting socci as i also had haemorrhaging after having the injection (which may i add was given without my consent so miaou make surethe mw is given your birthing plan and knows your wishes)

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Socci · 21/07/2005 21:23

Message withdrawn

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chicagomum · 21/07/2005 21:26

i thought the injection was not only to help the placenta deliver quicker, but also aided in the blood vessels in the exposed site to stop bleeding more quickly or did i get that all wrong?

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hewlettsdaughter · 21/07/2005 21:30

I had a homebirth and tried for natural delivery of the placenta. An hour or so after the birth of my dd there was no sign so I had the injection. Another hour, still no sign, and I was nearly carted off to hospital! Fortunately it came out in the end with some help from the midwife (is it called cord traction?)

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spidermama · 21/07/2005 21:37

Yes 'cord traction' is pulling the cord.

By the way, the third time round I said I wanted to deliver the placenta BEFORE cutting the cord. It was really nice to see the baby attached.

This is a bit disgusting but ......I read about some women (can't remember where or when but I'm sure you Mumsnet boffins will know) who carry the placenta around until the cord rots and drops off naturally.

Eeeeeeeyoooo! Imagine the smell.

I should point out I'm not advocating this practise but rather feel it my duty to distance myself from it.

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hewlettsdaughter · 21/07/2005 21:41

I hadn't heard of delivering the placenta before cutting the cord spidermama - that's interesting!

Re the pain, Miaou, it wasn't painful (although I was feeling a bit weak after the birth and it took rather longer than I'd have liked!)

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suedonim · 21/07/2005 21:46

I requested a physiological third stage with dd2 as I hate that injection (who says you don't notice it??) and the stomach massaging that seems to accompany it. I can't really remember how long third stage took but I think it was about half an hour or so and it was much more comfy.

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Lonelymum · 21/07/2005 21:49

Gosh Spidermama, I am astonished to read your placentas took almost an hour to deliver. I just went with the jab because I had no reason not to with No 1, and my placenta still didn't come out for ages, so with subsequent births, I felt the jab was needed. But I wasn't waiting an hour so maybe I should have just left it!

One birth, I forget which, I had the m/w pulling on the cord as she was concerned that I hadn't delivered yet!

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Miaou · 21/07/2005 22:10

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'm fortunate that in my hospital it is their "policy" to have a physiological third stage, so you would request the injection, rather than request not to have it. They handle less than one birth per week though, so making things quicker is not really an issue!

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franke · 21/07/2005 22:23

I had a phys. 3rd stage and it didn't take long at all, probably not even 30 mins. I think it is recommended that you have baby with you and no other distractions as this facilitates the release of hormones required to deliver the placenta. I may have remembered that incorrectly, but that is how I understood it (I think Michel Odent wrote something about it). But agree with everyone here about going for the jab if it is recommended at some point eg if you've been waiting a while - maybe discuss it with your midwife beforehand.

By the way I was just semi-reclining on the bed when mine came out. It was no effort and actually felt quite a soothing.

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Heathcliffscathy · 21/07/2005 22:26

right. gulp. we still have our placenta in the freezer nearly two years on. (waiting to bury it somewhere wonderful).

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Miaou · 21/07/2005 22:31

"I think it is recommended that you have baby with you" - anyone try to take it off me and they'll know about it! I am planning to b/f straightaway as I was told that helps.

Am also planning to give birth in the pool but will have to get out to deliver placenta.

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franke · 21/07/2005 22:39

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spidermama · 21/07/2005 23:54

Skin to skin contact with the baby also helps with delivery of placenta.

Yes, LM, I think an hour is on the long side. I wasn't at all bothered because I was so happy after the birth feeding and cuddling my baby.

I seem to remember picking up a slight note of tension from the mw though, which is understandable because it's her job to see the whole thing through. My wf was independent and it might be wise to bear in mind that the NHS ones possibly work under more time contraints.

My 3rd and 4th placentas pretty much plopped out themsleves within half an hour.

They;re planted under various trees and bushes in the garden.