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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…