Delivery of the placenta

[GetInLoserWereGoingShopping]

Hi girls,

I have my 34 week midwife appointment today where I am talking through my birth plan.

Im really stuck on my preference for delivery of the placenta, whether to have the injection to speed up delivery or to wait for it to naturally come away.

Whats everyones experiences with delivery of the placenta?

xx

I gave birth a week ago and mine came away naturally just a few minutes after the birth. I waited for the cord to stop pulsing before we cut it, (probably about ten mins ish) and as soon as that was done, the midwife suggested we check the placenta as she thought it had come away. She very, VERY gently pulled the cord (but without really using any pressure) and I did one small push and out it case.

This is my first baby so I’ve no experience of doing it any other way but hope that helps x

I had the injection the first two times but chose to deliver naturally the third time due to my placenta retaining in the second delivery and me hemorrhaging and needing it manually removing- grim.

Delivering it naturally was more of a pain in the arse. The injection means the pain ends and it does literally just slide out (or it did with my first) but without it, you continue to have strong contractions and the urge to push until it is ‘born’. It is like giving birth twice.

That’s my experience anyway.

It took 40 minutes following DC3 delivery for the placenta to come away and I had to push it out, I was shattered.

First time the placenta came out before I could have the injection. Second time I said no to the injection as I thought it would come easily again, but after half an hour it still hadnt come so I opted for the injection.

My first birth was a c-section so they removed it during the operation. With my second I had the injection (3 years ago and there wasn't even a discussion with me, I'm not sure if things have now changed) and I didn't feel it come out and I wasn't even made aware what was going on. I had my baby in my arms and the midwives did the rest!

Meant to say after half an hour I was obviously exhausted and just wanted the birth bit to be over!

Had the injection, was a long induction so no choice, barely noticed it, if the doctor hadn't waved it at me I'd have forgotten all about it.

I didn't bother. You bleed more at the time but the length of bleeding afterwards is less without the injection.

I didn't have any pain, as soon as dc were born contractions stopped and we just waited for the placenta to arrive. It doesn't hurt and feels like giving birth to a jellyfish

I wanted to do it all naturally in my first birth, but after 40 minutes they were getting stressy. I had nothing to push with. As soon as they put the tourniquet on my arm it delivered itself without any effort.
Must have been spontaneous with the second as I can’t remember !

I had the injection both times, and expect I will do so again. The placenta came out a few minutes after the baby, and I barely noticed.

I had the injection, was exhausted by that time. But they did ask beforehand once LO had arrived, you can change your mind at any point, so maybe see how you feel?

First two had the injection. Third was a surprise home birth with paramedics, didn't have the injection as waiting for midwife who had claimed she was 10 min away so paramedics waited with us, she turned up an hour later, I'd retailed my placenta and it was all a bit dangerous luckily ones she arrived and gave me the injection it delivered fine.

Oh and I was never asked if I wanted the injection until the baby was born, so you don’t have to make a decision now. Even if you decide not to now you can change your mind, they will ask you when the time comes.
I said no after the birth then changed my mind half an hour later.

I realise this doesn’t answer your question but made me realise I have no idea what I did with DS1 and am due DS2 imminently! Better ask my midwife. I have a funny feeling I got the injection but not sure

I wanted everything to be as natural as possible, but ended up having a long induction and was advised to get the injection - I did and it was fine.
You don’t have to decide now, your midwife can advise you after birth depending how things go.

If you have a long Labour sometimes I think they advise the injection to reduce the risk of hemorrhage, they actually gave me it twice in fairly quick succession to help everything contract down quicker.

First time I was induced and had no choice but have the injection, it was fine (but I wished we could have waited until the cord emptied).

Second time was natural and I was very happy with the process, probably took 15 mins after baby was born.

You can always decide at the time (ie wait 20 mins and if you want it all to be finished can ask for the injection then).

I had the injection with both children but the placenta didn't want to budge, so I had two manual removals (relatively unusual I think). It seemed to be assumed you'd have the injection.

I've never had the injection, and never felt any particular desire to push, maybe just a little and then it all flobbered out. Easy.

I had the injection first time and threw up for an hour afterwards, so the next time (Home birth) I opted to do it naturally. It took ages which was boring and really, coughing whilst standing over a bucket is not the glamorous fun it sounds. However, I still preferred not throwing up and had minimal lochia as a result.

I didn't get a choice, had an assisted delivery and the have to give you the injection after that (increased risk of cervix closure resulting in it getting stuck) but even after 3 injections it wouldn't budge so had it surgically removed. I was very pissed off but that's another story!

Had the injection both times, didn't notice/feel a thing tbh!