Active versus physiological third stage?

I'm planning a natural birth, so definitely want to birth the placenta naturally. As I'm also wanting to breastfeed first before anything else is done (apgar test etc) it's meant to be really helpful anyway:

"Breast feeding immediately after birth releases the bonding hormone oxytocin which helps to expel the placenta by contracting the uterus and safeguards against hemorrhage. "

I see the placenta as a really important part of my pregnancy, as it is what baby lived off, what gave it it's nutrients etc. The least I can do is give it the respect it deserves, as it's so appropriately called, the tree of life.

Check out this amazing pic http://www.beautifulbellies.co.nz/Placenta%20Prints

yeah aren't they amazing!! early on in my pregnancy i didn't really think anything of the placenta really, but the more i read, the more i realised how truly amazing the placenta and the female body really is. the placenta is another living being giving life and vitality to our little beings. purely miraculous

i did look into lotus birth as well, and will talk with my mw about it. DH thought it interesting too, but as we're doing quite a few things that may seem "alternative" to our nearest and dearest, i think we don't want to alienate everyone anymore. but we'll see lol

I had planned on a natural placental delivery, but after a long 2nd stage, I ended up needing the help of forceps, and I lost about half a litre of blood when my baby came out. So was not given the option really, they just gave me the jab and it was all out and over very quickly, and I didn't feel it.

Hi,

I didn't really talk to my MW bout what was going to happen in the 3rd stage, to be honest i didn't know anything about this!!....I do remember my MW asking me if i wanted to keep my placenta or not and i was like ewww no!! as I'm not too keen on blood and guts!! but this is really interesting!!

I know it took like 20mins just to birth the placenta and they ended up giving me the jab!! and had to birth it squatting!! not nice especially being tired and cant hardly hold ur weight coz ur legs are like jelly! They asked me to cough, and nothing happened they even tried pushing on my tummy while giving it a bit of a yank and nothing happened!! Weird!! and i was b/f too, I cant member if i had contractions when all that was happening either!

Edited by Jadeybabe

I had the injection as we were collecting cord blood so it needed to come out asap. Third stage labour was listed as 8 minutes on my hospital forms so it was pretty fast.