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Your caregiver will place 2 clamps onto the cord within 30 seconds to a minute of the baby being born. |
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The cord is cut using surgical scissors by the caregiver, your partner or the woman. You may wish to nominate a person in your birth plan. |
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Your caregiver will remove the metal clamp (the one closest to the woman leading from the placenta) so the cord blood can drain into a receptacle (especially if cord blood is needed because the woman's blood group is 'negative') or |
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Cord blood is collected if being donated for treating others with leukaemia. |
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Your caregiver will wait for signs of the placenta separating. |
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The woman may be given a local anaesthetic (if an epidural or spinal block is not in place) for any suturing of small tear, while waiting for the placenta to be delivered. |
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The woman's abdomen is gently checked for any uterine changes and contractions. |
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Your caregiver may look for 'cord retraction'. This means the caregiver placing their hand on the woman's lower abdomen, just above the pubic bone and press down firmly. If the placenta has not separated and is still attached to the uterine wall, the cord will visibly retract a few centimetres back into the vagina. |
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Your caregiver may gently 'rub up' the uterus if there are signs of heavy bleeding to encourage the uterus to contract and expel the placenta more rapidly and / or |
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Your caregiver will administer another injection of oxytocic medication if the woman is bleeding more than the normal expected amount. |
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You may be transferred to the operating theatre if the placenta is not showing signs of separation (after 15 to 30 minutes). Your caregiver may need to manually remove the placenta. |
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Once clear signs of placental separation have been noted your caregiver will gently apply steady tension by pulling the cord and supporting your uterus with the other hand. |
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Your caregiver will hold the placenta in their hands and gently ease out the rest of the attached membranes. |
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Your caregiver may ask you to push or even cough to deliver the placenta and membranes out from your vagina and then place them into a receptacle or |
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A surgical clamp may be placed on the membrane that can be seen outside the vagina, so the membrane can be twisted around the clamp. |
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Your caregiver will examine the placenta, membranes and cord and note any abnormalities (you may wish to ask your caregiver to do this in front of you so that you can see your placenta, before taking it away). |
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If any pieces of the placenta or membranes are not accounted for, it will be noted on your paperwork as the placenta being 'incomplete'. Also the membranes can be noted as being 'ragged', both highlighting a 'wait and see' approach from your caregiver or staff in the postnatal ward. |
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Your caregiver will dispose of the placenta unless you wish to keep it to take home for any rituals. You may need to ask your caregiver not to automatically dispose of the placenta if you wish to keep it. |