Birth: Birth – Delivery – Labor
Retained placenta explained

Retained placenta explained

What retained placenta means Retained placenta refers to failure of the placenta to deliver after the baby is born, or to retention of placental fragments or membranes inside the uterus. In many clinical settings after vaginal birth, a time-based diagnosis is considered when the placenta has not delivered within a set interval, often around 30 […]

How placenta is removed during cesarean

How placenta is removed during cesarean

When the placenta is removed After the baby is delivered through the uterine incision, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut according to the circumstances of the birth. Attention then turns to the placenta, which remains attached to the inner surface of the uterus. The placenta must be removed before the uterus can be repaired […]

When medical help is needed

When medical help is needed

When to call emergency services Call your local emergency number immediately when a person is experiencing a potentially life-threatening problem. In the United States, this is generally 911; other countries use different services. Do not wait for a routine appointment or an online consultation when there is a risk of rapid deterioration. Emergency warning signs […]

Active management vs natural delivery comparison

Active management vs natural delivery comparison

What the two approaches mean Active management of labor generally means a planned, protocol-driven approach that may include defined diagnostic thresholds, regular vaginal examinations, early amniotomy, and oxytocin augmentation when progress is considered slow. Historically, active-management packages were designed to reduce prolonged labor and the need for later intervention. The exact components vary between hospitals […]

Common myths about placenta delivery

Common myths about placenta delivery

Myth: The placenta is delivered at the same time as the baby The placenta is not usually born simultaneously with the baby. It remains attached to the uterine wall while the baby is delivered, then separates as the uterus contracts and becomes smaller. The separated placenta and membranes pass through the vagina during the third […]

Recovery and monitoring after cesarean placenta delivery

Recovery and monitoring after cesarean placenta delivery

The first hours: stabilization and surveillance The early postoperative period is a time of active surveillance, particularly when placental separation was abnormal, bleeding was substantial, or a placenta accreta spectrum disorder was suspected. Clinical teams repeatedly assess blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygenation, temperature, mental status, pain, vaginal bleeding, abdominal findings, and urine output. […]

Differences in third stage with surgical birth

Differences in third stage with surgical birth

What makes the third stage different in surgical birth The third stage of labor is defined the same way in every birth: it starts after the baby is delivered and ends when the placenta and membranes are out. The difference in cesarean birth is the setting and the mechanics. Instead of waiting for spontaneous placental […]

Keeping placenta and personal choices explained

Keeping placenta and personal choices explained

What keeping the placenta can mean Keeping the placenta may mean taking it home for burial, ceremonial use, photography, private reflection, or encapsulation. For some families, the placenta represents the biological relationship between parent and fetus or marks the transition into parenthood. After pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or a complicated birth, seeing or keeping the placenta […]

Placenta disposal in hospital

Placenta disposal in hospital

Why the placenta may be retained after birth Once the placenta has been delivered, clinicians first assess it in the context of the birth. The placenta, membranes, and umbilical cord can contain information relevant to complications such as preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, hypertensive disease, infection, unexplained fetal or neonatal illness, placental abruption, or significant […]

What placenta inspection reveals

What placenta inspection reveals

Why the placenta is examined at all The placenta is more than discarded tissue. It is the record of how the pregnancy was supported, and its appearance can sometimes explain what happened when a birth does not follow the expected course. That is why clinicians may inspect it soon after delivery, often before it is […]