Rushing Placental Birth and Other Strange Things They Do

4/10/2023

There's this rush to get the placenta out and a bunch of strange things midwives and physicians do to "assist" the process.

The portion of time after the birth of your baby to the time you birth your placenta can safely last anywhere from minutes to hours.

Some strange things midwives and physicians do during that timeframe include:

Sitting women on a hard chair.

I believe the idea is gravity and something silly about pooling blood.

You can birth your placenta in ANY position that is *comfortable* for YOU.

Giving a synthetic hormone (IV or injection) that is linked to postpartum mood disorders.

Pitocin is a tool to utilize when medically necessary but following straightforward birth, it's usually not. Pitocin increases the risk of postpartum mood disorders by 32%.

Pushing around aggressively on women's abdomens also known as “fundal/uterine massage”.

The largest study on this topic found NO benefits to uterine massage when pitocin is used. There is also NO research that looks at uterine massage during a physiologic (normal, hands off) placental birth.

Pulling or putting tension on the umbilical cord, sometimes called "controlled traction”.

Per research, cord traction is not necessary during a managed placental birth and there has been no research to uphold this practice during a physiologic placental birth.

In summary, YOU birthed your baby and YOU can birth your placenta just the same.

Meddling with placental birth is the same as meddling with the birth of baby, it can lead to poor outcomes.

If your birth was managed, you’ll likely be safer with a managed placental birth. If your birth was physiologic (normal), consider birthing your own placenta without midwife or physician interference.

Make sure to discuss your preferences with your midwife or physician prenatally as most by default like to rush placental birth and or do some of these strange things.

Sources:

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-pitocin-during-the-third-stage-of-labor/

https://midwifethinking.com/2015/03/11/an-actively-managed-placental-birth-might-be-the-best-option-for-most-women/

https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-019-2288-5