Is cord traction done in most NHS hospitals?

[rainbow1982]

I'm due to have my first baby in 7 weeks and have been thinking a lot about a birth plan. Originally I said I was very flexible so wouldn't be writing one, for example I'm reading lots of hypnobirthing stuff but have no idea if I'll be warrior or wimp so I'm not ruling out pain relief, I don't feel it necessary to put that pressure on myself as I've never experienced it before!

However as it gets closer I'm feeling more passionate about certain things, for example I really only want delayed cord clamping and was told by a friend this is best practice in most hospitals now anyway, is this the case?

Also, I absolutely don't want injections and cord traction to deliver the placenta and would prefer to try and wait for it to come away, for various reasons I'm worried about excessive bleeding. I'm giving birth at St Mary's Manchester, does anyone know what happens with this?

Sorry if I sound a bit clueless but I feel a little stranded as I'm not having midwife appointments etc anymore, just doctors appointments at the Mavis clinic at the hospital so am a bit lost.

Why aren’t you having midwife appointments anymore? It should be every 2 weeks from 34 weeks no? Do you have a number you can contact the midwives on even if you’re not seeing them?
Otherwise assuming all is well then you can request those things no problem - anything different and they will discuss with you anyway for example when I had my second the placenta was taking a while to deliver so the midwife encouraged me to try a few things to get it out as over a certain amount of time they will want to do assisted delivery.

The injection and/or traction are optional, and personal preference up to a point.
They will very strongly recommend the injection if they're concerned about bloodloss. It is understood to reduce bloodloss, although whether more is lost overall over the following days/weeks is debateable, but it reduces the amount measured in terms of pph etc. They also can't do as much to stop the bleeding of its still attached.
They will recommended the injection of you don't deliver the placenta within the hour, I forget why that is though.

I didn't particularly want injection/traction but ended up with both twice. First was to avoid hospital transfer due to blood loss (no concerns just couldn't measure it). Second was a fast labour, went into shock and not a single contraction after baby was out (nearly 2h later it definitely wasn't coming out on its own).

Delayed clamping is normal unless baby needs rushed of for special care / resus etc. But no harm asking to be sure.

Have you been told about vit k? That's worth having in the plan.