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The Third Stage
Stage three consists of the delivery of the placenta or afterbirth.
During pregnancy the placenta is attached to the wall of the uterus
and connected to the baby via the umbilical cord. It provides the
passage through which nutrients and oxygen from the mother pass to
the baby.
After or during the final stage of your baby's birth, you may be
given a syntometrine injection which will aid in speeding up the
delivery of the placenta, thus the third stage could be over in
three minutes, whereas without the injection this stage could take
up to 30 minutes and there is a greater risk of haemorrhage. If any
stitches are necessary to repair the perinium, they'll be done now
under local anaesthetic.
The long wait is finally over and the 'elated mommy' can now lie
back and marvel at the sight of her little miracle, so tiny but yet
so complete. After your newborn has endured his first ever medical
check-over, Mommy and Baby will be wheeled into the ward, and with
the intensity of labour behind her, she is now about to embark on
the next chapter in the saga of motherhood!
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