Waiting for the cord to stop pulsing before you cut it

[nappyaddict]

Can you still have syntometrine to deliver the placenta afterwards?

Yes.

You can have syntometrine at any point as long as the cord has been cut.

Personally I delivered the placenta prior to cutting hte cord. I had syntometrine on standby as I had had a previous retained placenta.

I didn't know you were pg - congrats

I'm not lol, I was asking for a friend.

SMS - are there any benefits to delivery the placenta before cutting the cord? Doesn't the cord stopped pulsing before the placenta is delivered?

Oh I have been thinking about this recently, is there any scientific benefits of doing this btw......Would love to know the facts..but hurry as I am due on Tuesday

all the blood and nutrients in the cord blood go to the baby which is a benefit, also, as long as the cord is pulsing and the placenta in in situ, the baby is getting oxygen.

so lumamama why are they in such a hurry to cut it

And if I put it on my birth plan, will they oblige?

because if you are going to have the injection the placenta is going to come pretty quick, and it seems to have just become taken for granted? injection and cutting the cord are just how it is

however if you have had any pain relief other than tens/G&A or have an augmented labour you can't have a physiological 3rd stage

oh right

last time I had epidural, and the syntomytrine injection, and this time I still want an epidural, so are you saying I can't leave the cord to stop pulsating unless I have a natural 3rd stage?

i don;t think you can wait if you have had an epidural, but i might be wrong

it might be you can wait for it to stop pulsing but you would have to have the injection to deliver the placenta?

hmmmmm

best to check with MW for that i think

Ok thanks alot, I will ask her if I get to see her this week

put in your birth plan you would prefer to have the cord stop pulsing etc and if it is possible am sure it won;t be an issue..

In terms of benefits

The blood that is in the placenta is intended for baby. Nature intended baby to have it. I think the risk of jaundice may be lower but I may be imagining that one as I can't find the info on that one ATM.

Bleeding for the mother tends to be less in teh following weeks.

The risks of retained placenta are lower.

WRT delivering hte placenta first - I dunno. I hadn't intended to do it this way - it is just the way it happened. I think the cord had stopped pulsating - but not long before placenta was delivered. But of a blur TBH. WRT to "actively" delivering the placenta I was really worried that I would have to start to push again and that it would be hard but TBBH it just slipped out of its own accord.

I thought risk of jaundice was higher.
But the baby has better iron stores.
I waited 4 pulsing to finish w/ 3 of mine.

It makes sense that the risk of Jaundice is higher.

And haveing just looked in more detail you are right - there is an increased risk of Jaundice - but my DD3 had no hint of Jaundice what so ever though so it is only a risk.

What are the benefits of naturally delivering the placenta as opposed to having syntometrine?

Well excusing the benefits of delayed cord clamping which is a given:

Reduced lochia for mother the longer it is left. Although there is a small increase in risk of PPH

Reduced risk of retained placenta

Not having hte placenta yanked out of you has got to be one.

Not having a needle stuck in your buttock

I was induced (the works).
I had an epidural.

I asked for them to wait for the cord to stop pulsing before cutting it. They said yes, fine, and said it was fairly standard practice to do so.

I had the injection to deliver the placenta.

I asked in my birth plan all 3 times for the cord to stop pulsating before cutting, all 3 times it was ignored

Obviously I was too exhausted, busy, passed out to care, but afterwards made me

Can you wait for the placenta to be delivered naturally if you have an epidural?

Don't think so NA

I didn't think you can have a natural third stage if you have had any intraventions - including epidural. But based on what Lawks' experience maybe things have changed.

Ah yes Lawks had syntometrine so probably not.