I can vouch for having the oxytocics cause a retained placenta. I had a syncto induction with my 3rd baby and even after she was born I still had to have the injection for the placenta (the drip had been turned off at the start of the 2nd stage of labour) So the only conclusion we can come up with for it is that my body was too overloaded with oxytocics (first synctocinon for the induction and then for the placenta) and it caused my uterus to clamp down tight on the placenta so it couldn't detach.

I did intend for it to be left for a while with my next birth, but the cord was wrapped tight around his neck and they had to cut it to be able to get him out as he was blue when he was born, so there are some instances like that where they will have to cut it pronto as there was no way they could get it over his head and away from his neck without cutting it. A situation like that too is also something they may try to pull on you too. If baby is a bit *flat* when they are born, *they* argue that the cord needs to be cut immediately, but there is strong evidence to suggest that infact leaving the cord intact is the best thing for baby in these circumstances. Obviously not if baby is really flat, but if they are just a little slow to get going.