Birth of the Normal Placenta During Childbirth

Definition:

The third stage is the time from the complete delivery of the baby to the complete delivery of the seccundines (placenta, cord and membranes).

Overview

The management of the normal third stage is undoubtedly the period of greatest importance to the health and well being of the mother during childbirth. Facilitating and supporting the normal mechanisms of third stage labor will result in a benign course of events. Unfortunately, it is a time when the accoucher is most tempted to interfere unnecessarily. Fatigue, a desire to complete the birth and go on to other activities, and/or a mistaken belief that blood loss will be reduced by active intervention may all result in an urge to hurry the process. The certified nurse-midwife, whose model of practice is one of support and facilitation of normal processes, only intervening when medically indicated, will resist the urge to complete the normal birth of the placenta before natural processes occur. The benefit to be obtained will be a more comfortable mother a continued peaceful completion of the birth experience an enhanced appreciation of the marvelous mechanisms at work to smoothly empty the uterus of its final contents and most importantly avoidance of occurances which may lead to increased trauma, bleeding and/or infection. click on the links below to continue: Introduction Normal Physiology of the third stage Anatomy and Variations of the normal placenta Procedures for the birth of the normal placenta End Note

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