Afterbirth

[sharond101]

What are everyones thoughts on delivering afterbirth? Naturally or with injection? I am getting conflicting advice. First I am told it's unnecessary if I skin to skin with baby on breast immediately and that it can make you sick and cause problems to baby if he/she gets stuck in there so best without. On the other hand someone said it can reduce bleeding and stops the need for surgery if it doesn't come out quick enough on it's own accord.

With DC1 I had planned to deliver it naturally after my waterbirth but it wasn't happening, had the injection and everything was straightforward but my bp went up significantly meaning I had to stay in for observation, I was later told this could have been due to the injection. After DC2, everything was very quick and delivered on its own. Far less bleeding and a much quicker recovery and home in under 2 hours. Personally, I would plan to deliver it naturally but like everything else childbirth related, do whatever is needed at the time. Good luck!x

Dd I had tge injection, never thought about it.

Ds I wanted a natural third stage however die to tge way my labour went it wasn't possible so injection again.

Didn't cause any problems.

I wasn't advised about the skin to skin helping it to come away, just that I could have the injection if I wanted and that they advised it. I was given the injection after I delivered the baby, and the afterbirth quite quickly after that.

Do you mean it can cause problems if the baby gets stuck during delivery? If so check with your MW when they give the injection, as mine was definitly after I delivered. I have only the one DD so can't compare having the injection vs not, but from my experience the afterbirth was delivered quickly, and placenta intact and caused no bad side effects.

Btw tge injection is given immediately/as the baby comes out so can't effect iyswim

I've had both. With my first 2 I had the injection and though the placenta came away almost immediately, I bled LOTS. With third, I had a waterbirth and had planned to get out to deliver the placenta, and have the injection as conversely, I had been told that the injection can stop heavier bleeding from happening. In the event, I stayed in the pool, delivered the placenta naturally after 30 minutes or so, and had no noticeable bleeding as it came out. My blood loss after that birth was far far less than the first 2, though it could be coincidence.

I just wished there was some way of not delivering placenta at all Is it only me or is placenta one of the most repulsive things on the planet?

It looked to me like a tapeworm invading a piece of liver ....ugh..... i am amazed Roman Polanski didn't make a film about it.

A natural 3rd stage delays cord cutting which means more blood gets to the baby and therefore their iron levels remain higher for the 1st 6 months of life before they start weaning. I had a natural 3rd stage and took only 5 mins to deliver the placenta. If it does take ages you can have the injection anyway. I was told if it takes a long time you will be offered the injection again. Hope this helps.

I have had "delayed" I.e natural cord clamping - waiting until the cord has stopped pulsating so that the baby gets all of the blood intended for it. Then clamp and cut. The placenta came out shortly afterwards. My MW reckon 18 minutes is the norm.

I've also had the synto injection twice (once after natural 3rd stage) and tbh it gives me a whacking headache and makes me feel light headed and juddery. And the recorded blood loss was more. Not that anecdote makes data

I was all for a natural delivery. I wanted the cord to stop pulsing before they clamped too. Which they duely did. However, despite this, massage and eventually the injections directly in to the cord, nada after 50mins...so ended up with a spinal and physical extraction. Did mean they did a very thorough job on my episiotomy stitches and had a fish about for any other tears. I am now considered a "high risk" Mummy because of this (I think, I also had what might have been a reaction to the spinal, but we're not sure).

The injection is meant to help prevent heavy bleeding.

I went for "natural" - delayed clamping, tried breastfeeding, squatting to push out the placenta (all I managed to push out was a wee onto the floor ) and after about 45 minutes I asked for the injection. The MWs took over from there and had me lie back while they pushed/pulled the placenta out. All fine.
Will go for delayed but managed 3rd stage this time (29 weeks preg).

With DS I wanted to let the cord stop pulsing before clamping and no injection. As it happened his cord was incredibly short and I couldn't get him past my navel (not much good for breastfeeding), so MW clamped and cut the cord so that he could have his first feed. After about 20 mins placenta hadn't arrived, and I wasn't feeling any urge to push it out. We discussed having the jab then, but then MW pointed out that it was nearly out and got me to push while she gently tugged on the cord.

DD had a much longer cord so was able to wait until cord had stopped pulsing fully, had first feed still attached. No injection and placenta was out within an hour of birth.

DD1 I had planned to have the injection but MW suggested giving it a try without and (same as Rhinestone above) it came out easily so no problem.

DD2 I had planned not to have the injection but it was an incredibly fast birth (she arrived less than 5 mins after we reached hosp) and also a v short cord. I remember saying 'I want a natural 3rd stage' as soon as she was born (hmm) but the MW had already given me the injection without me realising and the placenta came away more or less instantly.

No difference to me either time in terms of how I felt but would have preferred to let the cord stop pulsing if possible.

I really wanted a natural third stage but after over an hour of pulling, bleeding, v worried DH, threats of transfer to hospital for surgery and painful attempted catheterisation we gave up and I had the injection. 10 mins later it was over. Next time I will have the jab!

Never thought about a natural 3rd stage - injection seemed a good idea and tbh I was so overwhelmed falling in love with my new baby that I didn't care about the placenta and was just sort of pleased to be finished.

Hi there.

I am planning a natural 3rd stage - or at least until the cord has stopped pulsating (don't want it clamped until then). I am expecting a bit of a fight (in Switzerland and my hospital has a policy of managed 3rd stage, although I do ave my own midwife who will accompany me throughout, so hopefully won't be an issue).

I am also thinking about core blood donation, but not to the detriment of my baby getting the best from the cord before clamping. Does anyone know the procedure for retrieving core blood - can it be done after the cord has stopped pulsating?

Tinwe, no wonder you bled. A psychological 3rd stage should have no-one touching you or the cord. Pulling it gives great risk of pph.

Thanks for the info Star, wish I'd known that beforehand. They did leave me for a good while, then had me standing up (for gravity to assist), plus skin to skin... the works! Then it became a bit of an issue and they seemed to throw everything at the problem. I can honestly say the worst part of the whole birth was the v painful attempted catheterising by two midwives...