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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Anyone had a physiological third stage??

74 replies

karmamother · 29/10/2005 16:07

I'm planning to have a physiological third stage & I'd love to hear from other mums who've had positive (& negative) experiences. Also, how long did it take to deliver your placenta?

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Miaou · 30/10/2005 20:37

I had a physiological third stage that didn't go to plan. I delivered in the local midwife-led unit but, three hours after delivery, my placenta still hadn't appeared. Because there were no emergency facilities near to hand the midwives were unable to tug on the cord, so I had to be transferred to the city hospital (2 hours away!) where they were able to pull on the cord whilst I pushed. Again, very little blood. I was so besotted with my gorgeous ds that I didn't really care

princesspeahead · 30/10/2005 20:38

hi ruble - I stayed in there for about an hour, just cuddling ds etc, and then got a bit cold and waterlogged so got out, wrapped myself in towels, and just sat in a low armchair/nursing chair in the bedroom, on the seat of which we had put a bin bag and then towels on top to protect. It was fine really. Knew the placenta was coming when I had some sort of afterpain contractions and after 2 or 3 of those, out it plopped, as spidermama says! Midwife gave it a quick check and all was fine. Took almost 2 hrs in total.

Miaou · 30/10/2005 20:45

btw my placenta was absolutely massive, don't know if that was part of the reason.

princesspeahead · 30/10/2005 20:48

apparently mine was v big too, maybe it takes longer if it is big?

why do I feel that sentence needs a "fnnarrrr fnaaaaaarrrr" at the end ?

Miaou · 30/10/2005 20:50

hehehe pph I thought that too - mucky minds, you an' me

piffle · 30/10/2005 20:53

I took an hour with 1st birth was offered the jab but refused, placenta came out beautifully - if you b/f staright after birth if you are able it provides the uterus with enough ooomph to contract to expel the placenta IMHE
dd was much quicker, about 30 mins, but she came out and sat on my boobs for about 29 mins and then out came the placenta....
I figured I had a lovely quick labour, painkiller free natural delivery - I'd take my chances on getting the placenta out naturally too

motherinferior · 30/10/2005 21:02

Size isn't everything, you know

Have to say that having planned a physiological third stage I wasn't remotely gutted that I didn't have one - by that point I was too high on hormones, gas and air and the crazed joy of a finished labour...

princesspeahead · 30/10/2005 21:07

MI, I thought it was only men that believe that old chestnut? Having been out (briefly!) with the - (ahem) - smallest bloke in England I can assure you it most certainly DOES...

beartime · 30/10/2005 21:14

One possible negative my DH brought up was that the midwives would have to stay longer! And another that I read about was that it was dull and boring waiting around for it. Can anyone comment on those?

motherinferior · 30/10/2005 21:20

You have distractions, beartime

PPH, I couldn't possibly comment. Speaking as a former slapper, and all.

princesspeahead · 30/10/2005 21:35

it isn't dull and boring! it is the first hour or two of your child's life, how could that be dull and boring??!

and the midwife will stay around at least that long anyway, they do have to observe you for a couple of hours after labour anyway to make sure you don't throw a huge haemorrage, monitor your temps and bp etc etc etc.

princesspeahead · 30/10/2005 21:36

beartime · 30/10/2005 21:39

I don't know - just quoting what some other people said! I s'pose if you prepare yourself for sitting there waiting for it to come out then it'd be fine cos you'd have a baby to play with!

sweetkitty · 31/10/2005 17:25

I have asked the midwife for a physiological third stage this time rather than the injection as I had this last time and had an awful time delivering the placenta. At one point I was suspended over a chair with a bed pan under me, cord and clamp dangling hoping that gravity might have done the trick. (sorry if TMI) next it was we'll put in a catheter maybe it's because your bladders full but nothing. MW said she would try one last time but they were talking about a manual extraction at this point but luckily out it came. Was quite upsetting at the time considering I had DD on just G&A didn't want to go to surgery.

Mentioned this to MW this time and all she said was syntometrin prevents haemorrhage (!!??) mears said that they have an hour to deliver the placenta after syntometrin and after that they need a manual extraction.

Am still a bit scared about going an natrel but figure women have been having babies for years without syntometrin.

kate100 · 31/10/2005 18:14

I did for my second, as I had palpitations after my first which can be a side effect and I hadn't had any other drugs to that point so didn't see a need to have any for the last bit, I'm not opposed to drugs, but I didn't need any. It was quicker than with the injection, only about 10 minutes and I didn't have any bleeding. Make sure you say you want it, as the midwife had the injection out and was about to give it before my DH stopped her.

grannygoose · 31/10/2005 18:29

This has all been very helpful as I would also like to do the third stage without drugs. Thanks for all the posts.

Now I just need the co-operation of baby who is 9 days late today. Dreaded induction on friday which will scupper all plans (apart from having babe of course)

Original poster

karmamother · 31/10/2005 19:15

Thanks to all you wonderful ladies. Lots of helpful stuff here. Beartime, re the boring bit, have you looked at the link to Odent by Franke last Sat morning. It described the wonderful bonding that occurs in the first hour which can be interrupted if the cord is cut.
Fingers crossed, grannygoose, for a spontaneous onset of labour.
Tessasmum, I think busyalexsmummy is wanting a natural third stage too, is she due before us?

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beartime · 31/10/2005 20:42

Yes I read the whole thing, but he's a guy isn't he?!! I guess people have different experiences though. Ideally I would really like a natural third stage, but I think I've decided not to now. That's because I was reading that PPH has been the main cause of maternal death in childbirth thru history and the main way that they've managed to decrease it is thru the injection. And I know that people have had PPH with the injection too, and haven't had it when it's been natural, but I would kick myself if I found myself in heaven leaving DH all by himself all because of not having the injection. Sorry I hope I haven't put you off, I would like to go the natural way really, just playing it safe for DH's sake.

beartime · 31/10/2005 20:44

Re-reading my message, didn't mean to diss Odent - I think he is probably right about all that actually.

Original poster

karmamother · 31/10/2005 21:41

Thats ok, beartime. That's what's so good about mn, you can learn from other mum's experiences. I used to be a MW & we were taught about perinatal maternal morbidity & mortality which, tbh, ended up up scaring the ass off us. Things have greatly improved over the last 20 years since it was realised that these small community maternity hospitals, miles away from acute services, were contributing to the problem. They've all been closed down & services transferred to hospitals where there is access to emergency care. This is not to be confused with birthing centres which have strict criteria for who delivers there.
It's all about keeping it in context but I fully understand your feelings. You do feel vulnerable at a time like this & you're aware that you're putting your life in someone elses hands. But its very empowering if you've researched a bit before you go in. As Mears said, it makes her job easier.

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beartime · 31/10/2005 23:34

So since you learned about all that stuff, has the injection given after birth really decreased maternal mortality, or is that a load of hogwash?!

Original poster

karmamother · 01/11/2005 09:19

Beartime, statistics change all the time in obstetrics so I'm sure Mears can give us the most up to date figures.
Did you know that the injection has 2 parts...the syntocinon causes a uterine contraction which helps the placenta to separate & also to close off the bleeding vessels. The ergometrine actually closes your cervix which can lead to a retained placenta if it hasn't separated before then. A retained placenta usually needs a general anaesthetic to remove it, certainly not what you want when you're enjoying your baby's first moments in the world.
If this is a concern to you, discuss it with your mw & you may be able to have the injection without the ergometrine.

Just realised, haven't answered your Q. Yes, active management has undoubtedly reduced post-partum haemorrhage. This doesn't mean you shouldn't have a drug-free one as your MW will advise you whether its safe for you or not.

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beartime · 01/11/2005 09:24

Thanks for the info. So what is the point of the ergometrine then? There must be positives which outweigh that or they wouldn't use it would they?

Harrizeb · 01/11/2005 09:25

Hi I did at a hospital birth. Placenta took about 20 mins to deliver, a couple of contractions not particularly painful and was out very easily. I did loose a lot of blood - very usual for me though.

I had that so that they would leave DS attached and let the cord stop pulsing and the blood equalise between him and me before clamping the cord, but they didn't do that bit and I am still angry about it now!! This is supposed to help with jaundice as it makes sure that the baby has nearer the right amount of blood in its body rather than too much or not quite enough.

You can still have a physiological delivery and then once the cord has been clamped and cut can then have the injection if you wanted.

Hope it goes well

H xx

Original poster

karmamother · 01/11/2005 10:08

I think the ergometrine is just an additional thing, like belt & braces. If you have pre-eclampsia then they only give you syntocinon for the 3rd stage anyway as the ergometrine can put your BP up even higher, which is not advised. So, its not really essential.

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