What was this after delivery, pushing on tummy?

[dontlaugh]

Had dc3 6 weeks ago. Fab birth, easy and calm delivery. I elected to not have syntocinon to deliver placenta and had physiological 3rd stage. No issues and no excessive bleeding. The midwife mentioned the next part would be painful but I have no memory of any explanation of what she was about to do - she very very vogourously leant on my uterus, and pushed it down intemittently. The top had fallen off the g and a so I couldn't use that and I do recall saying it's ok, just do what you have to but the pain was worse than birth.I don't feel bad about this at all for a few reasons - she was lovely in general, the birth was great, lots of blood came out as a result of this and bleeding has now stopped for me (a first for me, usually I bleed for minimum 10 weeks). Anyway, can anyone tell me what was done? What was the reason for it? Was it because I didn't have injection? Thanks.

that's fundal pressure. she was pressing down to ensure that the placenta was coming away properly and that your uterus was shrinking up quickly enough/stopping its main bit of bleeding ASAP. they do it to prevent a big bleed later on.

afaik it's a common procedure. i was induced on synto, and had the same thing happen. it's not due to you not having the synto.

Since you had asked for a physiological third stage, I'm not sure why your MW used fundal pressure. Fundal pressure is used to aid a quicker delivery of the placenta, which is more pertinent if syntocinon has been given, since the uterus shrinks back very quickly and the placenta NEEDS to be out before that happens.

Fundal pressure is a practice associated with a managed third stage, not physiological. I'm a but to be honest.

Since everything went well for you, it might not matter so much, but if you want a phys. 3rd stage for future births it might be worth specifying in your birth plan (if you write one) that you don't want cord traction or fundal pressure/massage, and would like the placenta to turn up in its own time.

Sorry should have added - I believe a certain amount of feeling your abdomen is standard during a phys. 3rd stage - just so the MW can tell if things are happening as they should, but the vigour applied in your case seems more to do with aiding the delivery of the placenta, which as I said isn't really part of a true phys. 3rd stage.

Thanks Badgerina, the placenta had been delivered when this took place - all that came out was blood, and I assume she was trying to make sure the uterus was back in shape. Placenta came out less than 5 minutes after baby so there was no concern about delivering that. Then the pressing started.
This was beyond feeling to check uterus, her body weight was being used as the force behind the pressing, hence the ouch factor.
I was a bit too, but having said that am so glad I am no longer bleeding, as am used to very long bleeding after births and I can only assume it was because she cleaned out the blood so efficiently. I am not cross about it at all, just curious.
There will be no future births

I wonder whether you were bleeding a bit more than she was happy with and that your uterus wasn't as well-contracted as it should have been. She might have been trying to stimulate it to contract by rubbing it firmly and/or trying to expel any clots to allow it to contact down more firmly.

Try googling Postpartum fundal massage for more info.

A very large looking clot (well, looked large to me!) did come out and there was a pool of blood on the bed after the "massage" (what a misnomer). Maybe that was it. I did google Mrs and there only seemed to be info on delivering the placenta, rather than post placenta massage, if that makes sense. Thought the midwife would have mentioned if uterus not contracting, or maybe she felt it was manageable without worrying anyone. Anyhoo, won't worry about it any more, just curiosity really.

Maybe request your delivery notes through PALS?

Sounds like she was 'rubbing up a contraction' as you were bleeding heavier than they liked. If this is the case she should have explained to you after wards. You do have to 'rub' hard to make the uterus contract after delivery.
I user tO be a midwife I stopped practising about 18 months ago now.

Thanks everyone, that makes sense. no mention of bleeding but maybe there was.
Why did you stop Daisy? (nosey)