postpartum retained placental fragments defined

Heavy bleeding or blood clots from your vagina – it may be difficult to know what ‘heavy’ is so wear a sanitary towel (never a tampon) to show your midwife or doctor if you’re worried.But contact your doctor or midwife if you have any of these symptoms in the days and weeks after giving birth. It is normal to feel some discomfort, cramping and bleeding after delivery. These are sometimes called ‘retained products of conception’. What if some of the placenta is left in my womb?Įven if you have your placenta removed in this way, there is a risk that some small pieces of tissue or membrane may be left behind. There is a risk of infection, so you will be given antibiotics through the drip in your arm and prescribed more oral antibiotics. If it is in your womb, they will detach the placenta from the wall with their fingers and gently pull it out.

If the placenta is sitting in the cervix your obstetrician can remove it pull it out through your vagina. The operation happens manually (using the doctor’s hands). You will be offered an epidural or spinal anaesthetic, which means you will be awake but you will not feel any pain.

Tell the midwife or doctor if you are still in pain during the examination as they can stop and give you more medication. This can be painful, so you will be offered some pain relief. You will then be offered a vaginal exam to find out exactly where the placenta is. This is given through an intravenous cannula, a thin tube that is be inserted into a vein, typically in your hard or the crease of your arm. Your medical team will give you medication that will reduce the risk of heavy bleeding and keep your womb contracted. Your baby can stay with your birth partner if you do not want them to come with you, or there is a medical reason why they cannot come. Your birth partner and newborn may be able to come with you to theatre if you want them to. If they cannot remove it by hand, you will be taken to an operating theatre where an obstetrician (a doctor who specialises in delivering babies) will remove the placenta. If this does not work, your midwife or doctor will talk to you about removing the placenta by hand (manually). Oxytocin helps to increase your contractions and speed up delivery of the placenta. The womb can become tired after a long labour and contractions can become less effective after the baby is born.

switching to active management with an injection of oxytocin.

asking you to change your position (for example, by moving to a sitting or squatting position).

massaging the top of your womb through your tummy.

asking you to breastfeed your baby to release more of your body’s own oxytocin, which makes your womb contract.

Your doctor or midwife will advise different ways to get the womb to contract and the placenta to come away, such as: Although this sounds scary, your midwife or doctor will be ready to treat PPH in any setting where you are giving birth. This can be life-threatening if it is not treated. If a retained placenta is not diagnosed and treated, it can cause heavy bleeding, which is known as primary postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). Up to 3 women in every 100 are diagnosed with a retained placenta.

1 hour of your baby’s birth if you have physiological management.

30 minutes of your baby’s birth if you have active management.

Your doctor or midwife will diagnose retained placenta and discuss treatment options with you if all or part of the placenta remains in the womb after: The time will depend on which method of management you had. You will be diagnosed with a retained placenta if it isn’t delivered in a certain amount of time. It needs to be removed to prevent complications such as heavy bleeding. What is a retained placenta?Ī retained placenta is when some or all of the placenta stays in your womb (uterus). Your midwife or doctor can talk to you about the pros and cons of each option.įind out more about delivering the placenta.

Physiological management is when you deliver the placenta after the birth yourself without being given medication.

Active management is when a drug called oxytocin is injected into your thigh to make your womb contract and help the placenta come away more quickly.If you have a vaginal birth, there are 2 ways to deliver the placenta. If you have a caesarean section, the placenta will be delivered by your medical team after your baby is born. It needs to be treated early to avoid complications. Delivering the placenta is called the third stage of labour.Ī retained placenta is when part or all of the placenta is left in the womb after you have your baby. After your baby is born, your body needs to deliver the placenta, which kept your baby nourished throughout pregnancy.

Postpartum retained placental fragments defined