What happens in the third stage of labour?
In the third stage, you deliver the placenta – the baby’s life-support system that has supplied your baby with nutrients, and taken waste products away, as it has grown inside you. After the baby is born, contractions resume after a few minutes, but at a much lesser intensity. These contractions cause the placenta to peel away from the wall of the uterus and drop down into the bottom of your womb. You will probably feel that you want to push. The placenta, with the membranes of the empty bag of waters attached, will pass down and out of your vagina. Your doctor will carefully examine the placenta and membranes to make sure that nothing has been left behind. She will also feel your tummy to check that your uterus is contracting hard in order to stop the bleeding from the place where the placenta was attached.
