natural or managed third stage

[Muguboo]

I had the injection and I never even considered the 'non natural' aspect after a mainly natural birth - but then I didn't go natural for hippy reasons (I don't mean that horribly it's just the best way I can think of expressing it and I can see why anyone who did want the 'hippy' route would not want the injection)

After birth people are messing around with you (I had a midwife literally bouncing on my tummy to dislodge clots while another peered up my tunnel (after squeezing out 8lb bubs that's a pretty good description lol) with a million megawatt light, I had stitches for the episiotomy, there were loads of people just milling about - believe me the quicker you can get done and out of that delivery room the better! The injection didn't hurt, the delivery didn't hurt (but felt super weird) and we were out to the peace of a curtained bed in a ward ASAP

 

[giz]

I've had both.

First birth, natural placenta delivery, it came out after 20 mins, but I fainted due to hemorrhaging and then haemorrhaged again 3 weeks later and it turned out I had a bit of placenta still inside.

This time I wasn't allowed a natural, so had to have the injection. I'm a wimp when it comes to injections and yes it hurt!! Placenta came out no problems this time.

I'm skeptical that the natural delivery was why I haemorrhaged. One doctor blamed me for choosing to have a natural placenta delivery! then another said it had nothing to do with it and it could have happened even if I had the jab. Noone will ever know.

 

[busymummy]

I had the injection with both mine with no problems. I am genuinly petrified of injections, but didn't even notice I'd been given it either time and it didn't hurt. i f it wasn't for it being written in my notes I'd have thought they hadn't given it! x

 

[Alexandra84]

I had a natural third stage with no problems. I really wanted it because I wanted them to delay clamping the cord. This is now thought to be much better for babies as there is still a lot of blood (up to a third of their total blood volume) that gets transferred to them through the placenta in the few minutes after birth and this reduces the chances of some complications and them becoming anaemic or low in iron later. Anyway, I gave birth, they cut the cord after a few minutes and then I got out of the pool and into the bed an they gave me the baby to breastfeed (this makes your uterus contract and helps deliver the placenta). LO suckled for a minute or two and then the placenta came out after a couple of very mild contractions. Nothing retained and no problems.

One thing that the midwife told me is that for most women the injection as not necessary and that if you do start to lose lots of blood then you can have it then (and would do in any case!)

 

[Rnicholls]

I had injection after it gives u a big contraction so it is delivered quickly x

 

[Sunshine_state]

I had natural labour (just g&a) but i did have the injection. Hardly felt the placenta coming out..I did bleed alot after. Don't know if it had anything to do with the injection or whether it would of happened anyway x

 

[ChloeNat]

With my daughter I had a natural placenta delivery. Took 15 mins tops. We waited until the cord stopped pulsating then OH cut the cord and I breastfed waiting for placenta to deliver. Felt very slight urge to push and out it came. No problems whatsoever x

 

[Kelly450]

I didn't have the injection. Really wasnt necessary for me. Placenta was delivered within id say 15 mins of baby. And only 10 after cord was cut. I wanted an entire natural birth x

Sent from my GT-I9300

 

[babyem]

I have no advice as I had an emergency C-section.. I'm just a nosey cow and wanted to see what everyones opinions were ha

Saying that, I never gave any thought to the third stage of labour before I was induced. I know that is LO had been born via natural delivery I wouldnt have cared either way, I didnt notice what the surgeons were doing once LO was out.

Tbh I didnt do a birth plan neither, didnt see the point as it never goes as you plan. Good job I didnt because everything I was against having done in labour had to be done anyway lol. X

 

[lozzle]

With DD I had the injection and ended up with placenta stuck and having to be removed by forceps

This time I would like delayed cord clamping and a natural third stage, basically deliver baby into my chest then leave me, baby and OH to bond with our baby. Midwife assures me they prefer to leave parents with LO to bond now instead of weighing etc so we can have an hour with him before they will do weight etc. this is all obviously only if everything is ok

 

[BunnyN]

As with everything there are advantages and disadvantages either way.

The thing i liked best about a natural 3rd stage and delayed cord clamping was that the baby can't be taken off you, lol. Those first moments are so special and i liked that they were not spent faffing with the cord, placenta, injections etc. But some women feel they cant enjoy cuddles until that part is over. My contractions stopped completely after the birth and only came back when the placenta was ready to come out and the break from the contractions while i held her was nice. I deliverd the placenta with two small pushes shortly after the cord was cut. I do believe that delayed cord clamping is better for the baby and the cord must be clamped before the injection is given. By that time there might not be much point in giving the injection a lot of the time but if the placenta is taking a long time to come the injection can be given at any point so you can take a wait and see aproach.

The injection reduces the risk of hemorrhage at the time of the birth but it slightly increases risk of hemorrhage in the days after the birth. After the injection has been given the placenta must be gotten out quickly which means doctors and MWs can be a bit over enthusiastic about pulling on the cord. Some women find that distracting or uncomfortable and can sometimes leads to the cord snapping or a part of the placenta breaking off and being retained. Retained placenta is fished out by hand (not very pleasant) and if that doesn't work may require surgery. Normally the injection will lead to a quick and straightforward 3rd stage though.

Some experts think that the injection which is a synthetic hormone interfere with the natural hormones that help with bonding and breastfeeding but not much is known about that.

A natural first stage can take a long time though often doesn't and you can opt for the injection at any point.

The injection is valuable to stop heavy hemorrhaging and in that case can save the mothers life so it is a good thing to have on hand.

 

[giz]

To add to the statistics then, having the injection had no impact on breastfeeding/bonding. Whereas interestingly I had a much tougher time breastfeeding my daughter after a natural placenta delivery. For 20 minutes we tried latching her on unsuccessfully. DS was drinking within minutes!

 

[Kimmyj_b]

My midwife is told me to have the injection as I have a high BMI and greater risk of bleeding a lot I believe!x

 

[l_maclean]

I had delayed cords clamping with Dd2 but had the injection. At 7am having laboured all night I was ready to sleep - I wanted that placenta put quick!!! Lol nod my labour had been different I'd have gone natural, but I was too damn tired

 

[bbee]

I've decided to have the injection , hopefully it's straightforward and no problems

 

[Mommyto3]

I had a retained placenta twice after having the injection. I was taken to theatre both times. It's really not what you want but try not to stress about it as its not that scary.

 

[BunnyN]

I had a retained placenta twice after having the injection. I was taken to theatre both times. It's really not what you want but try not to stress about it as its not that scary.

Just out of curiosity, would you avoid the injection if you had another one?

 

[SeonaidMac]

Yes I'd still have the injection and I had retained placenta.
If u have retained once you're more likely to have it again.
Nothing that says the injection causes it.. it can be due to a number of things.

 

[fao]

with my first, i was given the injection without my consent - they just did it! 3rd stage was painful. also a lot else was horrible about that birth when it need not have, thanks to hosp staff.

with my other 2, i had brilliant natural labours and a natural 3rd stage - breastfeeding does the same as the injection, i.e. makes your uterus contract. just put baby to the breast soon after delivery and that is the natural way to deliver the placenta! no drugs needed.

 

[Nikkinoodles]

Last time round I had the jab. I had opted to have it anyway but regardless baby had pooped in the waters so the had to cut the cord and suction the poop out of her nose and throat.

I hadn't given it much thought this time around until reading this and I'm not thinking I may opt for a natural 3rd stage. Or at least have the jab after cord has stopped pulsating (and cut).

I'm not worried about it being all natural in like someone said a "hippy" way. I just want it as drug free as possible for baby. So yes to gas and air but no to other drugs. But once baby is out and cut loose I'm not overly fussed! Xx