Labour Third Stage2022-07-22T13:35:03+10:00

Labour Third Stage

Labour Third StageThe Labour Third Stage is the period of time immediately following the birth of your baby during which the placenta is delivered along with the membranes. The third stage of labour can either be physiological (natural) or managed (with drugs).

Are you wondering what will happen during the delivery of your baby’s placenta? Do you want to explore the possible benefits of a physiological third stage? Have you heard of lotus birth and wondered what it is?

This section explores the third stage of labour, from both physiological and managed perspectives.

Articles on Labour Third Stage

Placentophagy

Placentophagy, consumption of one’s own placenta, is undergoing a small revival in Western culture. Numerous benefits to maternal health and wellbeing have be purported by placentophagy. These include specific hormones and nutrients which may be derived from ingestion, benefits for nutrition, the prevention of postnatal depression and increased lactation. However research in support of these claims is limited, dated and inconclusive. Further in some cases the validity of the research methodology used is highly questionable, subsequently calling the research

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Leaving Well Alone: A Natural Approach to the Third Stage of Labour

This information was first published in 2000 in the book Lotus Birth, and has been extensively updated and rewritten for 2009 and published in Sarah's book Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering available at www.sarahjbuckley.com Copyright Dr Sarah Buckley, 2000 The medical approach to pregnancy and birth has become so ingrained in our culture. We have forgotten the way of birth of our ancestors. A way that has ensured our survival as a species for millennia. In the rush to supposedly

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Lotus Birth – Leaving Umbilical Cord Uncut

Lotus birth is the practice of leaving the umbilical cord uncut, so that the baby remains attached to his/her placenta until the cord naturally separates at the umbilicus- exactly as a cut cord does- at 3 to 10 days after birth. This prolonged contact can be seen as a time of transition, allowing the baby to slowly and gently let go of his/her attachment to the mother's body. Although we have no written records of cultures that leave

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Placenta Pleasantries and Possibilities – What To Do With Your Placenta

As a homebirth midwife there is always that week in antenatal care where my clients and I discuss what will be done with the placenta. Some choose to freeze it to decide later, some wish to just dispose of it, others feel a connection to their placenta and wish to celebrate and commemorate it and some, like every other mammal on earth, choose to consume it. So when I ask the question, ‘so what do you think you’ll do

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Postpartum Haemorrhage

Significant blood loss after birth is the most common cause of maternal death in the developed world. It is also a major cause of reduced post-natal health. Postpartum haemorrhage refers to the loss of more than 500 ml of blood following a vaginal delivery or 1000 ml of blood following a caesarean. While in some cases, significant blood loss can be attributed to a known and high-risk condition, such as placenta previa, there has been much debate about the

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Encapsulating Placenta

This will guide you on the process of encapsulating the placenta pills. Placenta is rich in iron and protein, is full of oxytocin and oestrogen and packed with other vitamins and minerals. There is anecdotal evidence that suggests that placenta pills assist with recovery after birth. It is believed that placenta pills: Assist the uterus to return to its pre-pregnancy state Replenish depleted iron Reduce postnatal bleeding Regulate hormones Boost energy levels Prevent postnatal depression Assist milk supply Assist

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Are there Consequences of Immediate versus Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping and Cutting at Birth

The most common surgical procedure in the world today – one that every human alive today has undergone – is the clamping and cutting of the umbilical cord at birth. The need for clamping and cutting the cord is not in dispute but how soon after birth this should occur is now being questioned. We’ve long known that immediate umbilical cord clamping and cutting could be harmful. Charles Darwin’s grandfather Erasmus Darwin – a well-known doctor – summarised the

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Risk of Haemorrhage is Higher in Hospital than Home

The debate on which is better for birth – hospital or home – is one that often generates strong and emotive responses. On one side are campaigners demanding that babies’ lives are being put at risk due to ‘ill-informed notions’ that home is safer, or just plain selfishness on the part of mothers. On the other side, we have campaigners demanding the right to choose their place of birth. Contesting the methodology of research which ‘proves’ that homebirth is

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Checking the Placenta

Once a baby is born the midwife or doctor will carefully check the placenta to ensure that no part of the placenta or membranes have remained inside the uterus. If any part of the placenta or membranes has been retained in the uterus, it can cause a postpartum haemorrhage and/or infection. The process of checking the placenta should take place as soon as possible after birth. When a baby is born at full term (37 to 42 weeks) and

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