Benefits of a physiological third stage????

[jackrose]

My research and readings agree with femme

delayed cord clamping actually can reduce incidence of anaemia and lead to higher blood volume due to the extra blood that the baby recieves through the cord as it continues pulsing until the placental transfusion is complete when the cord then becomes white. This is one of the benefits of delayed cord clamping.

In addition delaying the clamping of the cord can help avoid PPH in many cases as the placenta has less blood in it (it is in the baby where it belongs) and therefore the uterus can more successfully contract to expel the placenta.

With all that and this

The crying of the baby help to regulate the placental transfusion.

we have to remember that human beings are incredibly marvelously designed - the only problem is we don't trust our own bodies sometimes, do all sorts of things to interfere then get really worried about the outcomes of the interferences. Somehow we blame the natural state of our bodies in the end rather than looking at what the interventions do...

[Luna1991]

The comment that delayed clamping can lead to blood flowing back through the placenta in incorrect - physiological third stages are usually conducted in a squating/upright position (ideally the best position for labour and birth) and therefore gravity would prevent the blood from flowing upwards from babe to placenta. If this position is used it usually takes very little effort or time for the placenta to be expelled.

Physiological third stage is the recommended option when labour and birth have gone smoothly as it doesn't interfere with your natural hormones. Whilst there is a little more blood loss duirng the 3rd stage it is not normally dramatic enough to make a difference and if it does become dramatic then you can revert to active management.

Whilst active management may prevent some blood loss during the 3rd stage it can actually result in a heavier and longer lochia (the period type loss for days after birth) so either way the blood is lost.

Babies also benefit from the delayed clamping as they are meant to receive that influx of blood from the placenta and denying it through early clamping can lead to anaemia.