Sacred Start Birthkeeping

When I started this page just about 1 month ago I couldn't have imagined gaining over 500 supporters in that timeframe! I just wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for following along. Your love and shares are greatly appreciated!

I also wanted to give a couple reminders:

Don't forget that I do offer my services virtually for birtheekping, lactation counseling, and birth trauma releasing sessions. Just message me for a free consult!

If you have an Instagram, and want to catch me over there too, just click the link below-

Instagram.com/sacredstartbirthkeeping

Again thank you so much for being here and receiving the info that I have to offer. I look forward to continuing growing this community and helping families gain knowledge surrounding pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and breastfeeding 💗

Sacred Start Birthkeeping's (@sacredstartbirthkeeping) Instagram profile • 20 photos and videos 47 Followers, 24 Following, 20 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Sacred Start Birthkeeping ()

The third stage of labor is also known as the birth of the placenta. After baby is born, the placenta will release from the uterine wall, contractions will continue, and it will be expelled from your body just like your baby. The time can vary greatly for this, ranging anywhere from a few minutes, to many hours later! Sadly in a hospital setting they are not as generous with time and will start forcing intervention after 30-60 minutes.

One huge piece of information to note, is that no one should ever tug on the umbilical cord to get the placenta out faster. This can cause hemorrhaging, uterine inversion, prolapse, and retained placenta. If you are not having heavy bleeding, there is no rush to get the placenta out. If are having heavy bleeding, herbal tinctures like Angelica and Motherwort can help to release the placenta and slow the bleeding. Once the placenta is out, if excess bleeding is still occurring, then you can take a Shepherds Purse tincture (never before the placenta is out) and put a piece of placenta in the cheek to stop it. Also note that latching baby right away helps with all of the above as well!

If mom experiences concerning symptoms that do warrant extra help, she and ONLY she, can gently try to wiggle the cord to see if there is any resistance, if not, the placenta has already detached and she can move the cord in a diamond like motion to lead it out of the birth canal. If there is any resistance, she should not mess with the cord either.

Sadly in a hospital setting, pitocin is given routinely for the third stage of labor. It is unnecessary and harmful, given it's toxicity and increased risk of postpartum depression. Of course, unless natural remedies do not work to stop a true hemorrhage and you are transferred so it is between a blood transfusion or pitocin, then the benefits may outweigh the risk. But it is never necessary as a prophylaxis. And it's also important to know the amount of blood loss that constitutes a true hemorrhage as well as taking your symptoms into account, not just what a hospital or provider declares.

Birthing the placenta itself typically doesn't hurt. The contractions are still uncomfortable, but, with the soft jelly like structure of the placenta, it slides out easily and painless, sometimes with a little cough or push, but not always necessary. Working with gravity by being upright also aids in an easier delivery, just like for baby!

For many women, fundal massage is traumatic for them. After the birth of the placenta many providers will aggressively knead the abdomen. This is really not necessary. Mom can palpate her abdomen to her own level of comfortability to ensure that the uterus is contracting/hardening back up afterwards.

Please always check the placenta after it's birth, and baby receiving all of their blood from it. This helps to make sure that you do not have any retained placenta, as during examining it you would notice pieces missing or a torn sac!

How long did your placenta take to be birthed if you did not have a managed third stage?