becmc, I got the strong impression from the midwife educator taking the class that the injection was a matter of convenience for the doctor- her exact words were "sometimes it takes up to 12 hours for the placenta, and you can hardly expect them to hang around all day!"
She's a bit of a stand-up comic, which certainly keeps the blokes in the class paying attention, but that bit jarred with me. Anyone who's had a natural 3rd stage- does it really take 12 hours? I'd read somewhere it was more in the realm of 1 or two. And if it's really needed, the midwives can give it to me. I want the cord not to be cut until it stops pulsing as well- the baby can have all the cord blood it wants.
(Remind me to stress this point when next talking to my doctor.)
Thanks again, everyone!
Kirsten