Practice around third stage came up in a recent conversation I was having, and I felt it was time this subject was explored, caginess put aside, and clarity about the NORMALness of a physiological third stage heralded high and loud.
As a student midwife, I was clear about the skills I wanted to learn; I was also very fortunate to have a mentor who was skilled in facilitating physiological birth, and another mentor whose trust in me enabled us to learn together about the third stage. I was, however, unique in being one of only a handful of students who qualified having gained this knowledge and developed this skill: most only knew how to 'manage' the delivery of the placenta. I know this is still happening and frankly I find it worrying.
It is normal within the hospital setting for managed third stage to occur; a reason cited to me is that it takes 'too long' to wait for the placenta.
Q1. How long does a physiological third stage take?
20 minutes is about average, maybe 30, very rarely an hour or more. If you assume it will take around 20 minutes, even in a busy unit, this should still be the time that the mother and baby are bonding and shouldn't be 'hassled'. Plenty of time therefore for the midwife to be quietly and attentively watching.
Q2. What about the risk of haemorrhage?
Firstly, in a physiological birth, the risk of haemorrhage is relatively low (I could reference this, but am choosing to use innate midwifery knowledge here). The clue in this statement is physiological birth, i.e. spontaneous onset, contractions regular and rhythmic, no pharmacological pain relief (okay, a little gas and air is fine), spontaneous explusive urges, no interference with the mother-baby dyad. In other words, with absolutely no intervention - just a mother working with her body, oxytocin flowing, adrenalin reduced, trust and patience high.
Okay, so it doesn't take as long as you might have thought, and mum might not bleed to death, but what about the shift leader who is knocking on the door asking if the placenta is out? What about the assumption from the woman that she will have the injection? If the shift leader is knocking, it is our job as midwives to politely, but firmly inform them that we will let them know if we have any concerns, we will update them as and when is appropriate, but will not accept people knocking on the door (you could point out that this is like trying to have a pooh with people hanging around outside, and maybe they would not be comfortable with that?). Midwifery is an autonomous profession, you have a duty of care to the woman, not the shift leader.
Q3. What about informed choice?
It is currently bang on trend for women to choose 'delayed cord clamping'; therefore half the work is done for you. You know the benefits of a physiological third stage - if you have supported her in a physiological birth, surely you are just continuing with that? I'm going to put my neck out here and say why does she need to make a choice? That would mean you are questioning her body, and getting her thinking brain to respond. Remember, at this point its all about the oxytocin - and quiet, watchful waiting.In The Midwife's Labour and Birth Handbook
there is a very good chapter on third stage and a clear explanation of what a midwife 'should' and 'shouldn't' be doing; Elizabeth Davis also offers a clear summary in her beautiful Heart and Hands: A Midwife's Guide to Pregnancy and Birth
book (definitely recommend that one). Q4. What do you do?
I myself have learnt FIVE key skills to supporting a physiological third stage :
1. Keep the woman warm after birth: if she is cold, it affects the physiology of the placental separation
2. Keep the room quiet: too much excitement raises adrenaline and impacts on uterine contractions
3. Watch carefully and listen fully: you will see the tell-tale trickle of separation and mum normally notices stomach pains4. Use gravity to aid delivery: the mother will normally push the placena out herself. However, toilets are magical here; help the mother to the loo, she will pee and pass the placenta all at once. Never fails if time is passing!
5. Do not Fear it - IT WORKS!
“Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood. “~Marie Curie
What thoughts do you have to share around the third stage?
angela xx
NZCOM has published quite interesting research on bleeding following physiological third stage. Many NZ midwives practice physiological as the default setting and as such there is now a large body of evidence that proves the safety of this approach.
ReplyDeleteIn my practice (now long since gone, I'm a subversive hospital midwife these days) I found women usually birthed on hands and knees or kneeling over something, and that it was then easy to pass baby through their legs, put a container between their legs and let them kneel back on their feet while they welcomed their baby. Take your gloves off and make a cuppa for everyone (while watching), wait for the baby to give a little cry (as the placenta shuts down circulation) and await the separation trickle, the grimace on the woman's face as the placenta delivering contraction happens, and then just encourage her to bear down. Practicing this way I never had a retained placenta in over 5 years.
Thank you for sharing - really interesting! Is it normal therefore for students to qualify experienced in Phys. Third stage? angela
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