Intro
After your baby is born, the placenta still has an important final role. This organ, which supplied oxygen and nutrients during pregnancy, must separate from the uterine wall and leave the body. The period from the baby's birth until placental delivery is called the third stage of labour.
For many people, the placenta is delivered without difficulty within a relatively short time. Healthcare professionals then check that it is complete, monitor bleeding and uterine contraction, and decide whether any further examination or care is needed. Understanding these steps can make the immediate postpartum period feel less mysterious, particularly if the placenta takes longer to come away or if you have questions about what happens to it afterwards.
Highlights
The placenta is usually delivered during the third stage of labour after the uterus contracts and the placenta separates from its wall.
A midwife or doctor checks the placenta and membranes for completeness because retained tissue can contribute to ongoing bleeding or infection.
Most placentas are handled according to hospital policy, although some are sent for laboratory examination when clinical circumstances warrant it.
Eating the placenta, known as placentophagy, has not been shown to provide reliable postpartum benefits and may carry risks.
Heavy bleeding, worsening pain, fever, faintness or feeling acutely unwell after birth requires urgent clinical assessment.
The placenta is delivered after the baby
Birth is not physiologically complete when the baby emerges. The placenta remains attached to the inner surface of the uterus and must separate before it can be expelled. The uterus normally contracts and becomes smaller, causing the placental attachment site to shear away. Blood vessels that supplied the placenta are compressed as the uterine muscle contracts, which is an important mechanism for limiting postpartum blood loss.
Some people experience contractions and a further urge to push, while others notice only mild pressure or a sense that something is passing. The placenta may come away spontaneously, or a clinician may use controlled cord traction when appropriate. The approach depends on the circumstances of the birth, the care setting, the clinician’s assessment and the individual’s preferences where physiological management is suitable.
During this stage, the care team continues to assess vital signs, uterine tone and the amount of vaginal bleeding. Breastfeeding or nipple stimulation may encourage endogenous oxytocin release, which supports uterine contraction. In active management, medication such as a uterotonic may be offered or administered to help the uterus contract and reduce the risk of significant bleeding. These decisions should be explained by the maternity team, especially if there are risk factors for postpartum haemorrhage.
The placenta and membranes are checked
Once delivered, the placenta is usually inspected by a midwife, obstetrician or other trained clinician. The examination is intended to establish whether the placenta appears complete and whether the membranes and umbilical cord look as expected. The clinician may examine the maternal surface, where the cotyledons form the functional lobules of the placenta, as well as the fetal surface and the edges of the membranes.
This check matters because a missing fragment can indicate that placental tissue remains inside the uterus. A retained fragment may interfere with effective uterine contraction and may cause continued or increasing bleeding. It can also be associated with pain, fever or infection later in the postpartum period. A placenta that appears incomplete, has an unusual appearance or is associated with an unexpected clinical event may be sent to pathology for more detailed examination.
Not every placenta requires laboratory testing. Many are managed according to local maternity-unit policy after the clinical examination. If you want to see the placenta, have it photographed, take it home or request testing, ask the healthcare team before it is disposed of. Policies differ, and the placenta may need to be labelled, packaged and released under specific infection-control and consent procedures.
What retained placental tissue can mean
Sometimes the placenta does not separate fully, or a small piece of placenta or membrane remains in the uterus. This is commonly described as a retained placenta or retained placental tissue. The situation may be identified immediately if the placenta has not delivered within the expected period, if bleeding is excessive, or if examination suggests that part of the placenta is missing.
Management is guided by bleeding, maternal stability, the suspected amount and location of retained tissue, and whether the uterus is contracting effectively. Clinicians may encourage breastfeeding, change the person’s position, use medication to promote uterine contraction or perform an examination. If the placenta remains undelivered or bleeding is significant, manual removal may be required, usually with appropriate analgesia or anaesthesia and monitoring. A procedure to remove a small retained fragment may also be considered when clinically indicated.
Retained tissue can present after the initial birth period rather than being obvious immediately. Ongoing or unexpectedly heavy bleeding, passage of large clots, persistent pelvic pain, fever, unpleasant-smelling vaginal discharge, dizziness or faintness should not be dismissed as ordinary postpartum recovery. Contact your maternity service, doctor or emergency service according to the severity of the symptoms. In an emergency, especially with heavy bleeding or collapse, seek immediate help.
What usually happens to the placenta afterwards
After the clinical examination, the placenta generally follows one of several routes. If there is no indication for further testing and the family has not requested its release, the hospital or birth centre usually disposes of it through its regulated clinical-waste process. This is a routine part of maternity care and does not imply that anything was wrong with the placenta.
Pathology examination may be recommended when there has been preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, suspected infection, placental abruption, unexplained stillbirth, unusual bleeding, maternal or neonatal illness, or an abnormal placental appearance. The exact indications vary between healthcare systems. A pathology report can sometimes provide information about inflammation, vascular problems, infarction, haemorrhage or other findings that may help explain the pregnancy or birth. It does not always identify a clear cause, and results may take time.
Some families request to take the placenta home for cultural, spiritual or personal reasons, such as burial or ceremonial use. Whether this is permitted depends on local regulations and the facility’s policy. The placenta may be treated as potentially infectious material, so staff may require written consent, suitable sealed packaging and instructions for transport and storage. Ask in advance if this is important to you, because arrangements may be difficult after birth.
Placenta consumption and the evidence
Some people choose to consume the placenta after birth, in a practice known as placentophagy. It may be eaten raw, cooked, dehydrated and encapsulated, or prepared in another way. Supporters have claimed that it improves mood, energy, iron status, lactation or postpartum recovery. However, a review of the available evidence found no reliable proof that placenta consumption provides these benefits.
Processing does not necessarily remove all hazards. The placenta can contain bacteria or viruses, and preparation methods may not reach temperatures or durations sufficient to eliminate infectious organisms. There are also concerns about exposure to environmental contaminants and hormones or other biological substances. The review identified potential risks, including infection and exposure to environmental toxins. Contamination could affect the person who consumes the placenta and, depending on feeding and handling practices, may have implications for a breastfeeding infant.
If you are considering consuming your placenta, discuss the plan with your obstetric clinician, midwife or another qualified healthcare professional before making a decision. A healthcare professional can explain local public-health guidance, individual risks and safer alternatives for addressing concerns such as fatigue, low mood, anaemia or milk-supply difficulties. Placenta consumption should not replace assessment or treatment for postpartum complications.
Recovery after placental delivery
After the placenta has been delivered, the care team usually reassesses the uterus, vaginal bleeding, perineum, pain and vital signs. The uterus should feel firm as it contracts. Some bleeding is expected after birth, and the amount generally changes over time, but the pattern and volume matter. A small retained piece of placenta can sometimes be responsible for continued bleeding after a vaginal delivery, so persistent bleeding deserves professional review.
Postpartum care is also an opportunity to ask what was seen during the placental examination, whether the placenta was sent to pathology and how you will receive any results. If a report identifies a placental abnormality, your clinician can explain whether it has implications for the newborn, future pregnancies or neither. Many findings are nonspecific and do not predict a future problem on their own.
Seek urgent medical help for bleeding that is heavy or rapidly increasing, faintness, shortness of breath, chest pain, severe or worsening abdominal pain, fever, confusion or a feeling that something is seriously wrong. Contact your maternity team promptly for persistent bleeding, large clots, increasing pain, fever or foul-smelling discharge. Your postpartum observations are clinically meaningful, and you deserve clear explanations and timely care.
When to seek urgent help
- Heavy or rapidly increasing vaginal bleeding, especially with weakness, dizziness or faintness
- Severe or worsening abdominal or pelvic pain after the placenta has been delivered
- Fever, chills or foul-smelling vaginal discharge
- A placenta that has not delivered, or concern that it was incomplete
- Shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion or collapse
Tools & Assistance
- Ask your midwife or obstetric clinician whether the placenta was complete and whether it was sent to pathology.
- Keep the maternity unit, obstetric service and local emergency number available during early postpartum recovery.
- Use your discharge instructions to track bleeding, pain, temperature and any follow-up appointments.
- Request written information about placenta release, storage, transport or burial if this is relevant to your family.
- Discuss fatigue, low mood, anaemia, fever or feeding concerns with a qualified healthcare professional rather than self-treating with placenta products.
FAQ
Does the placenta always come out immediately after the baby?
Usually it is delivered during the third stage of labour, but timing varies. If it does not separate or bleeding becomes concerning, the maternity team will assess the situation and may recommend medication or a procedure.
How do I know whether the whole placenta was delivered?
A trained clinician examines the placenta and membranes after delivery. If a section appears missing, or if bleeding continues unexpectedly, further assessment may be needed for retained placental tissue.
Can I take my placenta home?
Some facilities permit this for personal, cultural or ceremonial reasons, while others do not. Ask the birth facility about consent, packaging, infection-control requirements and transport arrangements.
Is eating the placenta proven to help recovery or milk production?
No reliable evidence establishes these benefits. Preparation may not eliminate infectious organisms or contaminants, so discuss the risks with a healthcare professional before considering it.
Is postpartum bleeding always normal after the placenta is delivered?
Some bleeding is expected, but heavy, increasing or persistent bleeding can signal a complication, including retained placental tissue or poor uterine contraction. Seek medical advice promptly when bleeding concerns you.
Sources
- PubMed — Consumption of the Placenta in the Postpartum Period
- NHS — What complications can affect the placenta?
- MedlinePlus — After vaginal delivery - in the hospital
Disclaimer
This article is for general information and does not diagnose, treat or replace advice from your midwife, obstetrician, doctor or emergency service. Seek urgent medical care for heavy bleeding, severe pain, fever, faintness or any rapidly worsening postpartum symptom.
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