Benefits of a physiological third stage????

[Fleur]

Cheeky monkey - no need to feel ignorant - I haven't looked into any of this until now, and this is bub number 4!

I am assuming I had a managed third stage with the others, I think I did...TBH I really wouldn't know...so how's that for ignorant!

[BellyBelly]

You'd be surprised, I have seen many a hospital midwife do the whole super fast third stage thing. One of my clients had a quick pushing stage and the midwife whipped out the syntometrine shot, and my client said with horror, OMG whats that for (we'd not had a birth plan meeting, it was all very last minute but she had an awesome birth!) and before the midwife answered she'd already put it in her leg and then said, to stop a haemorrhage. Hmmmmmm.

[tk1999]

Can I thread hog for a minute (though it is still about third stage)

I had a meeting with my doula last Monday (22/6) and I must admit I did not know much about the managed third stage or physiological/natural third stage before then... infact in all honesty I didn't really know how the placenta came out - I just assumed it followed the baby

But after discussion with my doula and doing my own readings re benefits, processes etc I would like to try a physiological third stage... I want to have a delayed cord cut as well.

Can I ask - I am going to a public hospital as a private patient - will it be the hospital's 'policy' or my Obs stance that I should be looking into???

[SamiH]

#3 i had naturally - midwives totally respected my desire for 3rd stage natural too.

however my pesky placenta took 45 mins & they were starting to say 10 more mins etc .... i was fine with that by then & just wanted it out cos oh man i had contractions that were just as painful as ones during labour!!!!

short - bubs in arms

[BellyBelly]

TK, I would make it clear to both. You'd have a birth plan I assume, so you'd give a copy to your Ob and take a copy into the hospital too. On the BB birth plan templates I have, its got a signature at the end of it for the Ob to sign to say he's supportive of your wishes, so you just show the hospital.

[tk1999]

Thanks Kelly! I didn't know there were birth plan templates on here... with my doula we wrote our own and I included things I had seen on here but didn't know there were templates

It is true - you learn something new every day! Off to search for the template - thanks again Kelly

[Inertia]

I had 3 non synto enhanced third stages. Although they did clamp quick and give a tug every now and then. I remember with my first they were unhappy with how long it was taking and threatened me with needles! The third was fine at first - only it wasnt very phys. Lyta went pass the parcel and I was exhausted, so I did suffer a large pph. Since then mine have been completely managed.

So 1 out of 3 went sour and none really followed a true phys third stage.

However, my mum had 7 kids, all natural births, all but one were true phys third stages - no complications at all.

[Fleur]

Can I ask - I am going to a public hospital as a private patient - will it be the hospital's 'policy' or my Obs stance that I should be looking into???

Good question...

I have really left mine a bit late ...I should have brought this up at my 36 weeks appt. I would be asking for both although I imagine if you are private, your Ob would have more sway. However I have heard stories of Obs not making it for the birth.. in which case it might come down to who is there at the time kwim?

BUT regardless of that it is my understanding that this is your choice - they can't force you into any intervention?

Kelly - I'm pretty sure that's what happened with me - they just assumed that's how it would be done. I don't recall ever being given a choice. So I want this in my birth plan either way. If I do end up with a managed third stage, I would like it to be because I have made an informed choice...

- Whoops missed some of the replies here before I posted

[BekZ]

I had a retained placenta with DD2. I had the injection straight after birth and then was hooked up to a drip of syno (I think) for 1 hour post birth and the placenta would not move. I ended up having the placenta removed manually.

During this pregnancy I have asked every midwife and ob that I have seen about managed versus natural 3rd stage. Two of the mids have told me that if my placenta is going to be retained then no amount of management is going to move it, and both could not see why I shouldn't try a natural 3rd stage. The others, including the ob have basically insisted that I have a mangaed 3rd stage "just in case"!!!

Well I am confused!!!!

[Fleur]

...but 'just in case' what Bekz?

This is what I don't get...what is the worst that could happen with at least seeinghow things go? Can you do that, just see how it goes and have the injection etc if you need it?

[tk1999]

I am seeing my Obs in his rooms next Friday so will ask him then about third stage and his stance v hospital stance. I don't see the middies at the hospital until I am in labour (well that is the plan anyway) so will have to find out how I can see them re birth plan.

Thank you for this thread - it made me realise I need to start looking into these things a lot earlier than I thought I would!

[Snacks]

Can you do that, just see how it goes and have the injection etc if you need it?

Yup. My hospital's policy is to inject with synto regardless. However I asked if I could try without (and I had heard that the synto shot works quickly & efficiently if PPH begins to occur) and they allowed me to do so. (I had a birth plan on file but that midwife hadn't read it. I had prepped DH beforehand to tell the MW what I wanted.)
Placenta came out whole within 5 minutes. Unfortunately I did have some heavy bleeding and they asked me if they could give me the shot because they were worried. I ended up needing two shots to control my bleeding, but otherwise all was fine and I'm glad I gave it a try.
As for delayed clamping, I believe that's becoming a more popular choice and my MW was certainly very happy to wait for the cord to stop pulsing.
GL!