The third stage in labour, is where you birth the placenta or afterbirth. It has become routine practise in hospitals to “actively” manage the third stage of labour by administering synthetic oxytocin. (Syntometrine, or similar). The reasoning for this is to speed up the third stage, and get the birth “over and done with”. However, interfering with the natural delivery of the placenta can have several drawbacks.
- Increased risk of post partum haemorrage (bleeding)
- Increased risk of retained placenta.
- Reduced blood flow to the newborn baby (the placenta is delivered slowly for a reason)
Delivering the placenta without medical intervention, and keeping the umbilical cord attached, means that the baby will continue to recieve maternal blood and oxygen, until it is ready not to. An intervention free third stage also has benefits to the mother, as the hormone oxytocin is at its peak during this time – facilitating feelins of euphoria and wellbeing.
