When the Placenta Needs Help

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

What happens to placenta after birth

What happens to placenta after birth

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 […]

Checking placenta after delivery

Checking placenta after delivery

Why the placenta is examined The placenta is a temporary organ that supports fetal oxygenation, nutrition, waste removal, and endocrine signaling during pregnancy. Its appearance can reflect aspects of placental function and the intrauterine environment. Examining it after birth therefore complements the clinical history, maternal assessment, and newborn examination. A focused gross examination is recommended […]

Treatment for retained placenta

Treatment for retained placenta

What retained placenta means After the baby is born, the placenta normally separates from the uterine wall and is expelled during the third stage of labour. Retained placenta generally refers to failure of placental delivery within the timeframe used by the local maternity protocol, commonly around 30 minutes with active management or longer with physiological […]

Signs and causes of retained placenta

Signs and causes of retained placenta

What retained placenta means After the baby is born, the uterus contracts and the placenta usually separates from the uterine wall. The detached placenta then passes through the cervix and vagina. This stage is commonly called the third stage of labour. A placenta may be considered retained when it has not been delivered within the […]

What happens if placenta does not come out

What happens if placenta does not come out

What retained placenta means The placenta normally separates from the inner wall of the uterus after the baby is born and is then expelled during the third stage of labour. The timing varies according to whether physiological or active management is used, but a placenta that has not delivered within the period specified by local […]

Monitoring during third stage

Monitoring during third stage

Why monitoring continues after birth The birth of the baby is not the end of the immediate obstetric assessment. During the third stage, the placenta separates from the uterine wall and is expelled, while the uterus contracts to reduce blood flow from the placental implantation site. This contraction is a key physiological mechanism for limiting […]