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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Any of you planning to deliver the placenta naturally?

36 replies

yellowflowers · 11/10/2010 13:07

What's the feeling about this - natural delivery or the injection to make it come faster? I don't really understand the advantages and disadvantages of this.

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Lulumaam · 11/10/2010 13:09

you can only have a physiological 3rd stage if you have not had any drugs or intervention so as the the correct hormones are doing their thing.

there is a margianlly smaller chance of a retianed placenta with a natural 3rd stage, it also m,akes the last part of the birth less hurried

Octaviapink · 11/10/2010 13:31

I'm planning a natural 3rd stage, just because I prefer the minimum intervention, but if after half an hour it's not delivered then I'd go for the injection.

clarabellarocks · 11/10/2010 14:07

I wanted to go for natural third stage until my friend, due to have a baby a few months went for it and had a postpartum haemorrhage and partially retained placenta. I read around it after this and saw that this was the higest reason for maternal death in the third world - natural third stage. (found it in several medical textbooks and journals as my sister is a dr!) Didn't take much for me to decide.

Of course it's completely different doing it here as you have the medical team to back you up if anything goes wrong and you're not stuck in the bush but as my friend saw, she missed out on those first few hours with her baby as she was rushed into theatre.

Sure many will reply to say they did it and they were fine so up to you but I'd get both points of view before making your decision.

littleducks · 11/10/2010 14:14

Lulu- are you sure? is this new guidance? I had dd, 4 yrs ago and did have pethidine (and gas and air) and went on to have a physiological third stage.

With dd the cord wasnt cut until the placenta was delivered between 30-60 min later (all a bit hazy now), ds was delivered by paramedics and so the cord was cut but placenta delivered within 15 min (when midwife had arrived)

WickedWitchSouthWest · 11/10/2010 14:17

Hiya
I had a natural third stage with ds (15 weeks) as the injection is most likely what caused the retained placenta with dd aged 4. I have fast labours and the injection can cause retained placenta in these cases. I had to have MPR and masses of drugs, nearly bled to death. In contrast the placenta was a breeze with ds, couple of pushes and all done :) I'd do it that way again rather than the drugs! the mw's were fab and encouraging and it was all very serene.

Good luck with whatever you decide :)

dinosaur · 11/10/2010 14:18

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

WickedWitchSouthWest · 11/10/2010 14:21

Need to add: I just stayed on the bed feeding ds and having an occasional push and it took 45 mins which is when I decided to go to the loo and it fell out as I stood up so who knows how much quicker it may have come?!

FindingMyMojo · 11/10/2010 14:44

I was so exhausted at the end & just wanted to relax with DD - so I said just give me the injection now please!

EauRouge · 11/10/2010 14:54

I had pethidine too and I was allowed to have a natural third stage (2 years ago). After an hour I was too knackered so I just asked for the injection but I will try for a natural third stage again this time around.

SummerRain · 11/10/2010 15:01

The injection I had with dd caused a partially retained placenta and a post partum haemorrage with me too.... not fun spending your babies first few hours gushing blood and hooked up to drips, or being ill for her first few days as they didn't realise there was a chunk of placenta remaining.

With both boys i opted for physiological third stage and it was lovely.... I got to possessively cuddle the baby while everything went calm and quiet for an hour and it popped out easily of it's own accord.

Definitely the better option for me but be warned, it's quite unusual... the student mw who was present at ds1's had never seen one and apparently all her friends in the year ahead were really jealous as they hadn't either. The mw doing it had only done a handful and certainly wasn't at ease with it. The mw with ds2 was fine and far more patient about it but the doctor dicharging me almost had a seizure when he found out... told me 'You could bleed out and die because you haven't had the medicine'

RedBlueRed · 11/10/2010 18:49

Apologies for very brief hijack...

Ppppsssstt Littleducks you are wanted here!

We need an update!

Thank you.

Sorry again yellowflowers and Co.

preghead · 11/10/2010 18:51

I am and did last time. First birth went tits up so had the injection. Last time natural just gas and air no issues so waited. Came out fine and much more pleasant imo - was just feeding the baby and chilling out and it did it pretty much on it's onw - nice not to have all the pulling and tugging.

greenbeanie · 11/10/2010 18:58

I had a retained placenta with my 1st delivery having had syntometrine. The placenta had separated from the uterus but was trapped as the cervix had shut. This is a none side effect of syntometrine. It lead to a lot of blood loss and needing to have it manually removed which was all rather traumatic.

With my second delivery I decided to have a natural (physiological) 3rd stage, there is a really good booklet on the subject called delivering your placenta by AIMS. Providing you have minimal intervention during your labour and it is as natural as possible there is no reason why you can't deliver your placenta naturally. Syntometrine can also be given at anytime, it doesn't have to be given as the shoulders are delivere, so if you started to bleed or the placenta hasn't separated then there is no reason why you can't have it.

For me the physiological 3rd stage went really well, I used gas and air during the labour but that was it. The placenta took 45 minutes to deliver, putting your baby to the breast helps the uterus to contract, out of a 2.5hr labour. I was just thrilled not to have the trauma that happened the 1st time. I am 37wks with dc3 and planning a physiological 3rd stage again.

BettyButterknife · 11/10/2010 19:05

I delivered the placenta naturally with DS1 - came out in one push 5 minutes or so after DS1 was born. Very easy, quick, no pain etc.

DS2 was induced so I had the injection with him and the placenta was out in exactly the same way.

I think the difference was that with DS1 I asked that they didn't clamp the cord until it had stopped pulsating, to allow the oxygen/blood levels to naturally align where they should (IYSWIM - don't feel very lucid tonight) - I'm sure there is research into the benefits of this. I read a lot of Ina May while I was pregnant which talks about this.

With the injection they clamp almost immediately, before it's stopped pulsating, and give the injection straight away. That seemed to be the major difference. Very different birth experiences, mind you.

MNHQ

OliviaMumsnet · 11/10/2010 19:08

Lulu - what counts as intervention? Does an epis??

SpecialPatrolGroup · 11/10/2010 19:08

I had a natural third stage - no big deal really, was distracted by feeding DD and all was fine. I guess it all depends on the kind of birth you have, if it's possible then I would suggest it's less painful than the injection I experienced with DS (first baby).

Wigeon · 11/10/2010 19:17

I also had a natural third stage - to be honest I don't remember anything about it as I was cuddling the very newborn DD at the time, and my notes record it as being 4 minutes. It certainly wasn't painful, given I can't remember it at all (and I can still remember the pain of labour itself)! I had a normal pregnancy and labour. I am generally of the opinion that I won't take drugs unless medically necessary, and for a normal birth it seemed unnecessary.

There is some useful midwife-approved advice here on the pros and cons of natural vs managed.

ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 11/10/2010 19:20

natural third stage here both times as well,
we had decided that we would see if it happened within a "reasonable" time and if not to go fo rthe injection.

however within a few minutes of them both being born I had another contraction and the placenta's were delivered, fascinateing to look at both times,

Lulumaam · 11/10/2010 20:02

littleducks it is accurate as of approx 4 weeks ago when i double cheked for a client..

oliviaMN in this scenario, intervention is augmentation/induction of labour and drgs other than G&a basically.

also, putting the baby to the breast and letting the baby suckle will help release the placenta if it is taking it's time

it's ideal in a waterbirth scenrio when you are in water and having a hands off birth

luckykitty · 11/10/2010 20:29

Thank you for this thread, the whole 3rd stage bit really bothers me. This is my first child and not only do I have no experience of children in the slightest im also kinda squeamish and the thought of more of my insides coming out really feaks me out, however, Im hoping for a water birth with minimal drugs so I cant figure out what to do for the best!

luckykitty · 11/10/2010 20:30

*freaks

HoneyIatethekidsdragon · 11/10/2010 20:38

I had a vbac waterbirth with my second and had a natural (physiological) 3rd stage. It didn't hurt and was fairly relaxed took a while, the mw would have a look advise another push and that was it. Didn't hurt and was more interested in my baby

luckykitty · 11/10/2010 20:47

thank you.

Wholelottalove · 11/10/2010 20:48

Could you wait for the cord to stop pulsing, then have the injection to speed things along?

I had the injection with DD, seem to recall it was after her head was out. I was told I had 'ragged membranes'. Was not given any treatment for this, but did pass some v large bits (gross, sorry) afterwards. Not sure if that means a physiological 3rd stage might be better for me this time or not.

preghead · 11/10/2010 21:13

luckykitty I really remember this bit as being one of the least bad bits of birth both times, even though it sounds gross, it's not that bad, don't worry!

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