Stage Three: Delivery of the Placenta

Ten to 20 minutes after the birth, lighter contractions will begin again, to push the placenta out. Your midwife will feel your tummy to make sure that it is contracting strongly enough for the placenta to come away from the wall of your womb and be delivered through the vagina, she may help it along a little by pushing. It usually takes a few minutes, but can take up to an hour and most women are surprised by how easy it feels compared to the birth itself. After it has come out, it will be carefully checked to make sure there is nothing left behind which can cause infection.

• Early Signs
• Feelings of Heaviness
• Tiredness
• Loss of Mucus Plug
• Contractions
• Pain
• Timing
• Effects of Contractions
• Breaking Waters
• What Happens
• When should you go to hospital?
• In Hospital
• Examinations
• Monitoring
• Medication
• The Epidural
• Should Daddy be there?
• The Birth
• Stage One: Dilation of the Cervix
• Stage Two: Delivery
• Stage Three: Delivery of the Placenta
• Episiotomy
• Foceps and Ventouse
• First Minutes with Your Baby
• He cries!
• The Importance of the First Hour
• Early Care
• How long do you spend in hospital?