| A ''physiological'' third stage is where the placenta is allowed to separate from the wall of the womb (uterus) and deliver without the help of drugs, but just gentle traction on the umbilical cord. This was routine prior to the 1920s, before the discovery and use of drugs that contracted the uterus. Major post-partum haemorrhages were common in those days (approx 15% of deliveries), and are now thankfully rare (less than 5% of deliveries) due to the common use of oxytocin/ergometrine drugs that are injected into your thigh at delivery of the baby. These drugs have minimal side effects but at worst may cause short-lived nausea and sometimes make you sick. |
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