2. Definitions and Principles
Third stage â From birth of the baby, until complete
expulsion of placenta and membranes, and control of
haemorrhage.
Physiological v Active management
3. Definitions and Principles
Physiological management
â˘Leave cord intact
â˘Placenta expelled by normal physiological processes
aided by gravity/maternal effort
Active management
â˘administration of prophylactic uterotonic,
â˘clamping and cutting of umbilical cord
â˘delivery of the placenta by Controlled Cord Traction
(CCT) / modified Brandt Andrews.
4. Definitions and Principles
Delayed cord clamping â Recent interest in delaying
cord clamping to enable neonate to obtain extra
blood and prevent anaemia.
Lotus birth â cord is kept attached to placenta until it
separates from umbilicus
http://sarahbuckley.com/lotus-birth-a-ritual-for-our-times
5. Separation and descent of the placenta
Mechanical factors
⢠Retraction during second
stage results in reduction in
size of placental bed by 75%
⢠Placenta becomes
compressed
⢠Blood in intervillous spaces
forced back into decidua
⢠Oblique muscle fibres clamp
down on blood vessels
⢠Vessels become tense,
congested
6. ⢠With next contraction
vessels burst, blood seeps
between spongy layer of
decidua and the placenta
⢠Placenta separates and
falls into LUS
⢠Uterus contracts strongly
and placenta expelled
7. Schultze method of separation (A)
⢠Placenta separates usually
centrally first forming
retroplacental clot
⢠Increased weight continues
separation process and
peeling of membranes off
uterine wall.
⢠Clot enclosed in
membranous bag and
expelled fetal surface first
⢠Associated with less blood
loss and complete
membranes
8. Matthews Duncan method of separation (B)
⢠Placenta separates from a
lateral border
⢠Blood escapes, no clot to aid
process
⢠Placenta descends by
slipping down uterine wall
⢠Placenta expelled maternal
surface first
Associated with ragged,
incomplete membranes and
increased blood loss
9. Haemostasis
Potential blood loss through
placental site 500-800mls per
minute!
Haemostasis achieved by
⢠Ligature action of oblique
muscle fibres (living ligatures)
⢠Direct pressure from uterine
walls with contraction
⢠Activation of coagulation
cascade â rapid clot formation
⢠Oxytocin â neonate nuzzling,
breastfeeding
10. Physiological/expectant management
Normal physiological processes expel placenta.
Takes 10 â 60 mins, occasionally longer
Calm, quiet environment
Put baby to the breast
Upright position - gravity aids process
Watch and wait
Contraction with pressure felt by mother
Maternal effort will deliver placenta/ may need
gentle assistance/twist to remove membranes
12. Active management
Oxytocic drug given with
anterior shoulder or soon after
birth
Early cord clamping?
Observe for signs of separation
Counter traction above
symphysis pubis
Deliver by Controlled Cord
Traction (CCT) / modified Brandt
Andrews.
Takes 5-15 mins
Mother plays passive role
13. Uterotonic drug choices
Syntocinon â IV/IM 5iu â drug of choice
Ergometrine â IV 0.25 â 0.5mg, not used routinely
Syntometrine â IM 1ml contains syntocinon 5iu plus
0.5mg ergometrine
Misoprostol (prostaglandin analogue) â
Oral/vaginally/rectally 400-600 microgrammes.
Useful where no refridgeration facilities
NB Use of ergometrine in any combination not
recommended if raised BP
15. Midwifeâs role
Be aware!
Maintain asepsis - laceration/bruising/open
placental site
Observation of mother and baby
After expulsion of placenta and membranes
â˘Cord blood if required
â˘Check fundus well contracted
â˘Examine birth canal for lacerations (?PR)
â˘Estimate and continue to observe blood loss
â˘Examination of placenta and membranes
16. Cord Blood Sampling
Required
â˘When motherâs blood group is Rhesus Negative
â˘When atypical maternal antibodies are present
â˘Where haemoglobinopathy is suspected
â˘When there has been concern about the neonate
during labour or immediately after birth (NICE
2014)
Taken from fetal surface of placenta or cord
17. Paired cord sampling
âPaired samplesâ - both arterial and venous samples
taken from the cord.
Carried out routinely in some units
Selectively for circumstances such as
â˘Babies having had fetal blood sampling in labour
â˘Instrumental/Caesarean/Vaginal breech births
â˘Babies with Apgar under 5 at 1min
â˘Babies with severe growth restriction
â˘Babies >24 wks<37 wks
20. The placenta at term
Flat, round/oval
Approximately 20cm diameter, 2.5 cm deep
Weighs approx. 1/6th weight of fetus
Usually situated in Upper Uterine Segment.
Two surfaces â maternal, fetal
23. Fetal surface
Lies adjacent to the fetus
White, glistening
appearance
Umbilical cord joins,
usually centrally
Cord vessels radiate out
across surface
Cord and fetal surface
covered by amnion.
24. Umbilical cord
Approximately 50cm long, 2cm thick, spiral twist
Contains two umbilical arteries, one vein
Vessels enclosed in Wharton's jelly
Covered by amniotic membrane continuous with that covering
fetal surface
25. Fetal membranes
Chorion
⢠Formed from the
trophoblast of the embryo
⢠Opaque in appearance,
thick, friable
⢠Continuous with edge of
placenta
Amnion
⢠Secretes amniotic fluid
⢠Smooth, transparent
⢠Covers fetal surface of
placenta
26. Amniotic fluid
Also known as liquor amnii
â˘Produced continuously by the amnion
â˘Clear straw coloured fluid
â˘99% water and 1% solid matter
â˘Made up of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and
phospholipids, electrolytes, urea, uric acid, and
creatinine, enzymes and placenta hormones.
â˘Contains fetal epithelial cells, vernix caseosa and
laguno - makes liquid milky
27. Amniotic fluid
â˘Fetus recycles it â swallowing/urinating
â˘Approximately 1000ml at term
â˘Maintains a constant temperature
â˘Cushions fetus
â˘From uterine walls
â˘From the noises of body systems
â˘From the pressure of the cervix during labour
28. Why examine the placenta and membranes?
To rule out any abnormalities which may indicate
fetal anomalies
To ensure placenta and membranes expelled
complete
⢠Retained placenta/membranes lead to
haemorrhage or infection
30. Lay on flat surface and examine both surfaces
â˘Maternal surface â missing cotyledons, infarctions,
position of blood vessels
â˘Fetal surface â insertion of cord,
â˘Presence of two membranes
Check umbilical cord for three vessels, 2 arteries, 1
vein
Dispose appropriately
36. Cord anomalies
Vasa praevia
â˘Blood vessels from the placenta lie over the cervical
os
â˘Risk of rupture and haemorrhage if artificial rupture
of membranes
â˘Spontaneous rupture usually follows more friable
membrane route
Absence of blood vessels
38. Immediate care
Skin to skin â maintain infant temperature
Dispose of all equipment appropriately including
placenta (mother may wish to keep this)
Carry out postnatal observations including blood loss
Carry out neonatal examination
Make mother comfortable
Encourage breastfeeding
Documentation
Observe mother and baby for one hour
39. Sources
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence 2014 Guideline CG
190 Intrapartum care for healthy women and babies. NICE, London
Marshall J, Raynor M (eds) 2014 Mylesâ Textbook for Midwives 16th ed
Elsevier, Edinburgh
MacDonald S, Maguill â Cuerden J (eds) 2011 Mayesâ Midwifery 14th
ed. Elsevier, Edinburgh
Wylie L 2005 Essential Anatomy and Physiology in Maternity Care 2nd
ed. Elsevier, Edinburgh
Editor's Notes
Uterotonic â causes smooth muscle of uterus to contract
Cochrane review
In this updated version of the review we have included 15 trials (involving a total of 3911 women and infant pairs) carried out in a number of countries over a long timeframe.
There were no significant differences seen between early and late cord clamping groups for the primary maternal outcome of severe postpartum haemorrhage or for the secondary outcomes of postpartum haemorrhage of 500 mL or more or mean blood loss. No included trials reported on maternal death or severe maternal morbidity. Maternal haemoglobin values were not significantly different between women in the early and late cord clamping groups in the days after giving birth.
No significant difference between early and late cord clamping was seen for the primary outcome of neonatal mortality or for most other neonatal morbidity outcomes. There was a significant (101 g mean) birthweight increase seen with late, compared with early, cord clamping. However, significantly fewer infants in the early cord clamping group required phototherapy for jaundice than in the late cord clamping group. Haemoglobin concentration in infants at 24 to 48 hours was increased in the late cord clamping group. This difference in haemoglobin concentration was not seen at subsequent assessments. However, improvement in iron stores was significant (with infants in the early cord clamping over twice as likely (risk ratio (RR) 2.65 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04,6.75) to be iron deficient at three to six months compared with infants whose cord clamping was delayed. In the only trial to report longer-term neurodevelopmental outcomes so far, no overall differences between early and late clamping were identified at four months.
75% Baldock 2006
Stables 40.3
Maternal choice
Given with anterioe shoulder, after birth, after placenta is expelled
Ergo â no BP or if not checked either alone or in syntometrine
Misoprostol â unpleasant side effects â not used routinely in the UK
Such as sickle cell
All babies of diabetic mothers, i.e. insulin, metformin and diet controlled ⢠All cases of shoulder dystocia ⢠All cases with intrapartum fever >38 ⢠All multiple pregnancies ⢠All babies of mothers with thyroid disease ⢠All babies with intrapartum pathological CTG trace. ⢠All babies with severe growth restriction ⢠All preterm babies greater than 24 weeks. ⢠All babies with thick meconium during labour.
The water in amniotic fluid is exchanged as often as every 3 hours. It is swallowed by the fetus â absorbed through the intestines into the circulation, carried to the placenta where it passes to maternal blood.
Total volume of amniotic fluid increases throughout pregnancy until 38weeks 1000-1500ml. It then diminishes until term until 800ml remain