Labor and delivery (11)
- Signs of labor: Know what to expect
- Episiotomy: Can you deliver a baby without one?
- Labor and delivery: Pain medications
- see all in Labor and delivery
Postpartum care (7)
- Exercise after pregnancy: How to get started
- Maternity leave: Tips for returning to work
- Weight loss after pregnancy: Reclaiming your body
- see all in Postpartum care
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Stages of labor: Baby, it's time!
Stage 3: Delivery of the placenta
After your baby is born, your health care provider must deliver the placenta and make sure your bleeding is under control.
Length. The placenta typically is delivered in five to 10 minutes, but may take up to 30 minutes.
What you can do. Relax and enjoy your baby, whom you can hold and possibly breast-feed at this point.
You'll have mild contractions. Your health care provider may massage your lower abdomen to encourage your uterus to expel the placenta. You may be asked to push one more time to deliver the placenta.
Your health care provider will examine the placenta. If it's not intact, remaining fragments must be removed from the uterus to prevent bleeding and infection.
You may need stitches or other repair work. If so, you'll receive an injection of local anesthetic in the area to be stitched if it's not numb already. You may also be given medication to encourage uterine contractions and minimize bleeding.
Now what?
Your preparation and effort have paid off. Savor this time with your baby and try to get some well-deserved rest.
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